Ask a Mormon

My friend emailed me a few questions regarding the Mormon faith a while back. Since one of her questions pertains to this very special week, I thought I would share in case anyone else was wondering....

Why don't Mormon's observe Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Lent?

First I must say I am not expert, but I will I attempt to explain what I know and how these “holidays” (for lack of a better word) and rituals are related and viewed in Mormon faith.

Ash Wednesday is the day of repentance and reflection and marks the beginning of Lent, which is the period of time between Ash Wednesday and Easter, dedicated to reflection, repentance and the self control. Palm Sunday celebrates the event of Jesus coming to Jerusalem spoken of in the four gospels and also prophesied of prior to Christ’s birth. Good Friday is a day dedicated to the remembrance of Christ’s crucifixion.

When talking about these religious “holidays,” it is hard to generalize on the specifics of how different religions observe each of these events. Each religion has their own rituals; even the same religion in a different part of the world may observe them differently. Although the rituals are not consistent the beliefs and meaning behind these practices, for the most part, are generally the same-- they are all related to Christ and the events leading to His crucifixion.

These “holidays” are used as means where one can remember Christ and the events leading to his death; however, according to the New Testament these “religious holidays” were not practiced, but rather were instituted much later. The Mormon doctrine is that The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints (or Mormon church) is the same church Jesus established while He was on earth. After Christ died and the twelve men, that he called to be his apostles and lead his church, were killed, the church and the doctrines that Christ taught were either lost or changed over time. With this, many different churches and different religious practices were established as righteous men tried to grow closer to God and understand the Bible’s teachings. Because the Mormon church is the same church Christ established when He lived, we do not add or take away from any of the churches original doctrines. Although, the Mormon faith recognizes the importance of the events in which these “holiday’s” are based, we do not recognize the rituals associated with them as necessary for ones salvation.

The Mormon faith most certainly believes and gives the utmost reverence to these events leading to His death. However, the Mormon faith does not reserve a specific calendar date to observe these specific “holidays”-- we strive to repent, practice self-control, fast, and remember Christ’s sacrifice all year long. Another reason the Mormon faith does not observe these “holidays’ is because the Mormon faith chooses not to focus on a dead Christ, but rather it chooses to focus on a resurrected and living Christ. The Mormon message is that “...when the Savior rose from the tomb, He did something no one had ever done. He did something no one else could do. He broke the bonds of death, not only for Himself but for all who have ever lived—the just and the unjust (see John 5:28–29).”

My friend emailed me a few questions regarding the Mormon faith a while back. Since one of her questions pertains to this very special week, I thought I would share in case anyone else was wondering....

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