Comments on: Following in His footsteps

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:09:38 +0000

The copy of Jesus the Christ that I just finished searching was exactly the same edition printed at least as far back as 1922, made from the same printing plates. I can find no note of any kind saying that Christ was married to Mary Magdalene, or even that he "more than likely" was married to Mary Magdalene.

Pages 263-265 discuss the fact (or view) that although traditions identify an unnamed repentant harlot as Mary Magdalene, there is no scriptural foundation for that tradition.

Pages 678-683 discuss Mary Magdalene's close friendship with the Lord and her experiences with Christ following his resurrection.

Those are the only refernces to Mary Magdalene I have been able to find in Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage.

By: Mary Siever

Mary Siever — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:37:19 +0000

I used to have an older copy (don't have it anymore) and it didn't actually say He was married to Mary Magdalene but that He more than likely was, due to the evidence (He appeared to her first, etc) but I am sure that was opinion. I don't think we really know one way or another.

By: Jeff Milner

Jeff Milner — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 22:04:14 +0000

Ed: Does anyone have an OLDER copy of Jesus the Christ?

Do you have the page number?

By: Ed Noonan

Ed Noonan — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:30:57 +0000

I swear that when I was on my mission in 1966 I read in Jesus the Christ (Talmage) that one of the footnotes said that Jesus was married to Mary M.

The Jesus the Christ does not have this footnote any more. Does anyone have an OLDER copy of Jesus the Christ?

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I see no reason why Jesus could not have been married and fathered children. The absence of any biblical support for this not prove that it did not happen.

By: Ian

Ian — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I am forced to agree with you guys. I see no reason to beleive that he was not married, or had children. It wouldn't suprise me in the least if it were Mary Magdeline.

It's always an interesting thought anyway.

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

If I remember right, Talmage sort of hints at the Magdelene theory in Jesus the Christ. Funny thing is, most of the Christian world seems to have this tradition that she was a harlot. Any clue where that idea came from?

By: Mary Siever

Mary Siever — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I think He was married to Mary Magdalene. And whether she was a prostitute or not before that, it makes no difference as the Atonement and repentance make her pure anyway. In spite of what some people seem to think (like James E Talmage for one)that once a sinner the blot is always there. So she may well have been, but that wouldn’t matter to the Saviour once she repented.

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mary, I wasn't commenting on whether she was or wasn't a harlot. I'm just wondering where the idea came from, because, like Elder Talmage, I can find no support whatsoever for that idea in the scriptures.

It's like other European Christian traditions that have found their way into art and music: Mary rode a donkey, the wise men were kings and were three in number, Joseph was rather old when he married Mary, angels were "singing" to the shepherds, and so on. Can't find one iota of scriptural support for them, so I wonder where they came from.

I also don't know where Elder Talmage espoused the idea of "once a sinner the blot is always there." Did you read that in one of his books somewhere?

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I’ve heard of the “nail in the board” visual aid designed to teach the same heresy as the pin through the cushion. I’m glad more people seem to have clued in on the fact that Christ’s atonement was infinite.

To be kind, maybe people are just trying to teach that you can’t get back the past misery caused by sin, or the time lost, even when sin is utterly erased.