The Christus Statue: History, Symbolism, and How to Honor It in Your Home

Walk into almost any Latter-day Saint visitor center in the world — Temple Square in Salt Lake City, the Rome Italy Temple visitors' center, the Washington D.C. Temple, the Hill Cumorah — and you'll be greeted by the same figure: an eleven-foot marble statue of the resurrected Christ, arms outstretched, wounds visible in His hands, feet, and side, quietly inviting you closer. This is the Christus.

For millions of Latter-day Saints, the Christus is more than a piece of religious art. It's a visual anchor — an image imprinted from childhood visits, a symbol that appears on Church websites and in general conference broadcasts, and an inspiration for the small hand-finished replicas found in Latter-day Saint homes across the world.

The history: Bertel Thorvaldsen's masterpiece

The original Christus was sculpted by the Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen between 1821 and 1827 for the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen, Denmark, where it still stands today. Thorvaldsen, a Lutheran, considered it his masterpiece — a departure from the suffering-on-the-cross depictions common in European Christian art of the era. Instead, Thorvaldsen chose to depict the resurrected Christ, standing, arms open, wounds visible but transformed.

Beneath the sculpture is inscribed "KOMMER TIL MIG" — "Come Unto Me" — from Matthew 11:28. It is this posture, and this invitation, that has made the Christus one of the most beloved depictions of Christ in the Christian world.

Symbolism in every detail

Thorvaldsen packed the sculpture with intentional detail:

• The outstretched arms — invitation, not command. Christ waits for the viewer to come to Him, He does not compel.
• Visible wounds in the hands, feet, and side — the marks of the Atonement, permanent and glorified rather than hidden after the Resurrection
• Standing posture — the resurrected, living Christ, not the suffering Christ of many crucifixion pieces
• The gentle downward gaze — meeting the viewer at eye level, personal rather than distant
• Bare feet — a subtle reminder that He walked among us, and continues to walk with us

The Christus in Latter-day Saint faith

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints commissioned an eleven-foot marble replica of Thorvaldsen's Christus for the North Visitors' Center on Temple Square in 1966. In the decades since, replicas have been placed in visitors' centers around the world, and the image has become deeply woven into Latter-day Saint worship — appearing on Church websites, in seminary manuals, and in general conference broadcasts.

For members, the Christus is a visual expression of a central truth: that Jesus Christ lives, that His arms are open, and that His invitation to come unto Him is real and personal. Standing before the Salt Lake Christus, many members describe a feeling not just of reverence, but of being personally beckoned.

Bringing the Christus into your home

Because visits to Temple Square or visitors' centers can't be a daily experience for most members, small hand-finished Christus replicas have become a beloved feature of many Latter-day Saint homes. Placed on a mantel, entryway table, or a shelf in a family room, a small Christus becomes a quiet daily reminder of the Savior's invitation.

Considerations when choosing a Christus for your home:

• Size — most home Christus statues are 8-16 inches tall, appropriate for a mantel or shelf without overwhelming the space
• Finish — traditional white marble-style finishes match the visitor center original; bronze and other finishes are more contemporary
• Base — sculpted bases can add height and formality; simple bases are more understated
• Placement — many families place theirs in an entryway or living room where it's the first thing seen when entering the home
• Lighting — a small directed light above or below the sculpture transforms it in the evening, and many families keep it lit continuously as a symbol of Christ's constant presence

A gift that carries meaning

A small Christus statue is one of the most meaningful gifts a Latter-day Saint family can give or receive. It's appropriate for newlyweds building their first home, for missionaries preparing to leave, for a family moving into a new house, or for grandparents wanting to leave something that will last. Unlike many gifts, it becomes more meaningful over time — a fixed presence in the home that witnesses decades of family life.