President Nelson Announces New Official Church Symbol
Apr 4, 2020, 8:15 PM | Updated: 9:43 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – President Russell M. Nelson announced a new symbol “that will signify the central place of Jesus Christ in His Church” at the conclusion of the special Saturday evening session of the 190th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The symbol features a representation of Bertel Thorvaldsen’s Christus statue under an arch, along with the name of the Church within a cornerstone.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
“At the center of the symbol is a representation of Thorvaldsen’s marble statue, the Christus,” President Nelson said. “Symbolically, Jesus Christ is standing under an arch. It portrays the resurrected, living Lord reaching out to embrace all who will come unto Him. The arch reminds us of the resurrected Savior emerging from the tomb on the third day following His Crucifixion.”
President Nelson said the symbol will be used as a visual identifier for official literature, news and events of the Church.
“It will remind all that this is the Savior’s Church and that all we do, as members of His Church, centers on Jesus Christ and His gospel,” he said.
"As followers of Jesus Christ, living in a day when the COVID-19 pandemic has put the world in commotion, let us not just talk of Christ or preach of Christ or employ a symbol representing Christ.
"Let us put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ into action!"@NelsonRussellM
— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (@Ch_JesusChrist) April 5, 2020
Detailed usage guidelines are being developed, according to Church officials, including possible uses of the new symbol around the world.
The symbol is being created in 110 languages and officials said that process will take several months to complete.
President Nelson said the symbol is a continuation of placing the focus on the full form of the Church’s divinely revealed name.
Since his announcement in August 2018, the Church’s leaders, websites, departments, social media accounts, related entities and members use the correct name of the Church.
“We have gone to these extraordinary efforts because when we remove the Lord’s name from the name of His Church, we inadvertently remove Him as the central focus of our worship and our lives,” President Nelson said. “When we take the Savior’s name upon us at baptism, we commit to witness, by our words, thoughts, and actions, that Jesus is the Christ.”
