In a report published August 26, art historian Jenny Champoux and theologian Mike Huston explored the theological implications of changing depictions of Jesus. The discussion focused on how new images of a suffering Christ might influence Latter-day Saint theology regarding the atonement, race, and embodiment.
The conversation addressed the shift from the traditional Christus, which portrays a resurrected and triumphant Christ in white marble, to new sculptures at Temple Square. These new works depict a Christ in Gethsemane and a Christ struggling under the weight of the cross.
Participants including Margaret Olsen Hemming and Caroline Kline joined the discussion to examine the value and potential dangers of depicting a suffering Christ. The dialogue considered how an expanded visual vocabulary might change how Latter-day Saints understand God, suffering, and one another.
The discussion explored whether a more vulnerable and embodied Christ could open new theological possibilities for the faith. The conversation examined the racial implications of the traditional white Christus and the power of religious art to shape the perception of Jesus.
