Officially titled Christus, and sometimes called Christus Consolator, this statue of the resurrected Savior by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen is known around the world.
The Original Christus in Copenhagen
In 1807, the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen, Denmark, burned during the British bombardment of the city. As the church was rebuilt, Thorvaldsen was commissioned to create statues of Christ and His Apostles for it. A plaster model of the Christus stood in the church for its consecration in 1829, and the finished statue, carved from Italian Carrara marble and about 11 feet tall, replaced it in 1833. The pedestal bears the Danish inscription "Kommer til mig," meaning "Come to me," a reference to Matthew 11:28: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
How the Christus Came to the Church
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is known around the world for its use of the Christus. That association began in the 1950s with President Stephen L Richards, First Counselor to President David O. McKay, who had been deeply moved by the original statue in Copenhagen. He arranged for a marble replica to be carved in Italy as a personal, anonymous gift to the Church. Sadly, he passed away just days before the finished statue arrived in Salt Lake City. The Christus was unveiled in the North Visitors' Center on Temple Square in 1967, where it welcomed millions of visitors for decades.
Today the Church displays Christus replicas in visitors' centers around the world. After the North Visitors' Center was removed during the Temple Square renovation, a Christus was included in the new Temple Square visitors' center, which opened in 2026.
Rome and the Church's Symbol
In 2019, the Christus was featured at the dedication of the Rome Italy Temple, in a visitors' center where it is flanked by replicas of Thorvaldsen's statues of the Twelve Apostles. Then, in April 2020, President Russell M. Nelson introduced the Church's new symbol, which centers on the Christus.
Bringing the Christus Into Your Home
Many Latter-day Saints keep a Christus statue in their homes as a daily reminder of the Savior's invitation to "come unto me." When choosing one, consider:
- Size: small statues fit a desk, nightstand, or shelf, while larger statues make a centerpiece for an entryway or living room.
- Material: marble statues offer the look and weight of the original, while polyresin statues are lighter and more affordable.
- Occasion: a Christus makes a meaningful gift for baptisms, missionaries, temple marriages, new homes, and Christmas.
Shop our Christus statue replicas in a range of sizes and materials. You can also share the Christus through necklaces, ornaments, keychains, and even personalized scriptures with a Christus symbol on the cover.
For generations to come, the Christus will continue to represent the faith Latter-day Saints have in Jesus Christ as their risen Lord and Redeemer.
Shop Christus Gifts
Bring the Spirit into your home with our collection of LDS art, from framed art of the Savior to temple art and Church proclamations. You'll also love our LDS gifts collection.
You Might Also Like