Significance Of Dedicating Statues?
It is obvious that we dedicate special buildings like Chapels and Temples to the work of the Lord, but what is the significance of dedicating a statue?
I wonder if this dedication is more of a secular dedication than a religious one. The secular community also holds dedication ceremonies for statues and buildings, etc. It is more just a celebration of the completion of whatever is being dedicated than anything else in those situations.
I agree. Schools, stores, bridges, commercial buildings -- a lot of secular structures are "dedicated". You know, now that I thinka bout it, I've never actually been to a dedication of that type... I wonder what they dedicate those things "to"??
Roz
I don't think they actually dedicated them "to" anyone. Usually is it just a ceremony where they officially open the building or display the statue. There are often speeches about the person who did the statue and the person of whom the statue represents or some speech about how great the new building is, etc. Really just a celebration of the opening of whatever is being dedicated.
Why as latter day saints we create statues?
The 10 commandments were replaced when Christ was here by the higher laws. When they were given they were under the lesser priesthood. When everything had to be spelled out and it was the letter of the law. They were used to seeing graven images of their gods and worshiping them. So that law was giving specifically to tell them to stop doing that.
When Christ came he was asked which commandment was te greatest. He said "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matt 22:36-40)
So he pretty much said, You are big boys and girls now, you need to think a bit for yourselves now and as long as you are doing these 2 commandments then that is what is expected. So if you are making statues and saying they are your God and are worshiping then that is wrong, but if you are not worshiping them, but seeing them as art, that's fine.
Ronan, are you suggesting the ten commandments and all other laws have been replaced? That's what your post sounds like.
The words of the Savior suggest otherwise: