MORMONISM: GETHSEMANE OR CALVARY?
In the official LDS newspaper a Mormon prophet explained that the atonement for sin happened in the Garden of Gethsemane. “What happened in that garden, said President Ezra Taft Benson, `was the greatest single act of love in recorded history.
“`It was in Gethsemane that Jesus took on Himself the sins of the world, in Gethsemane that His pain was equivalent to the cumulative burden of all men, in Gethsemane that He descended below all things so that all could repent and come to Him.'”
“`That holy, unselfish act of voluntarily taking on Himself the sins of all other men is called the Atonement’.” (LDS Church News, 1 June 1991, p.14 or Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.15)
BLOODY SWEAT OR THE BLOOD OF THE CROSS?
Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie wrote, “Forgiveness is available because Christ the Lord sweat great drops of blood in Gethsemane as he bore the incalculable weight of the sins of all who ever had or ever would repent.” (The Promised Messiah, p.337) “In a garden called Gethsemane, outside Jerusalem’s walls, in agony beyond compare, he took upon himself the sins of all men on condition of repentance.” (p.552)
McConkie wrote, “And as he came out of the Garden, delivering himself voluntarily into the hands of wicked men, the victory had been won. There remained yet the shame and the pain of his attest, his trials, and his cross. But all these were overshadowed by the agonies and sufferings in Gethsemane. It was on the cross that he ‘suffered death in the flesh,’ even as many have suffered agonizing deaths, but it was in Gethsemane that `he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.'” (The Mortal Messiah, pp.127-128)
IS THE MORMON VIEW OF THE ATONEMENT TO BE TRUSTED?
How often in the Bible is Gethsemane mentioned? Only two times! Mormon leaders will point to Luke 22:44 saying, “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” What credible teacher would build such a monumental doctrine of the atonement through an “as it were”? The Bible says nothing about Gethsemane being the atonement.
WHERE HAVE YOU PLACED YOUR FAITH?
The New Testament is replete! Where did Christ bear our sin? The burning passion and pulpit of the apostles of Jesus Christ was in the preaching the blood of the cross!
“I delivered unto you first of all …that Christ died for our sins.” (1 Cor. 15:1-4)
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” (Rom. 5:8-11)
“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor. 1:17-18)
“For I determined not to know anything among you, save
Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Cor. 2:2)
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 6:14a)
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” (Eph. 1:7)
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” (Eph. 2:13)
“And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2:8)
“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” (Col. 1:20)
Hebrews 9:22 states that without the shedding (not sweating) of blood, there is no remission of sins.
LDS leaders sometimes mention that Christ died on the cross in order for the resurrection to take place. Marion Romney, a member of the LDS First Presidency, explained, “Jesus then went into the Garden of Gethsemane. There he suffered most. He suffered greatly on the cross, of course, but other men had died by crucifixion; in fact, a man hung on either side of him as he died on the cross. But no man, nor set of men, nor all men put together, ever suffered what the Redeemer suffered in the garden. He went there to pray and suffer’.” (Conference Report, October 1953, p.35)