What Would the Savior’s Flag Look Like?

            I have been pondering something for the past several weeks that I will share with you tonight. I sing a hymn before I kneel for my morning prayer. Over the past months, I have felt as though American citizens are fighting a war. The contention is between Democrats and Republicans, but the war is between good and evil.

Socialism is evil and leads to communism, which is an even greater evil. The problem is that there are open supporters of socialism in Congress trying to move our nation away from our constitutional government and into a socialist one. This feeling that we are at war has weighed heavily on my heart and spirit, and I have heard numerous other people remark that we are fighting a spiritual war as we strive to save America from those who wish to “fundamentally transform” it into a different type of country.

I have long made it a practice to sing a hymn prior to kneeling for my morning prayer. Lately, I have been drawn to military-sounding hymns. I have chosen to sing hymns such as “Onward, Christian Soldiers” (Hymns, 246), “We Are All Enlisted” (Hymns, 250), and “We Are Marching on to Glory” (Hymns, 225).

            A couple of weeks ago while singing “We Are All Enlisted,” I had a learning experience that I would like to share with you. I sang the first verse that goes as follows:

We are all enlisted till the conflict is o’er;

Happy are we! Happy are we!

Soldiers in the army, there’s a bright crown in store;

We shall win and wear it by and by.

Haste to the battle, quick to the field;

Truth is our helmet, buckler, and shield.

Stand by our colors; proudly they wave!

We’re joyfully, joyfully marching to our home.

            The second and third verses make it clear that the “army” is composed of Christians who are fighting against the world and for the Savior. The soldiers are fighting for the kingdom of God. However, I want to discuss something in the first verse.

            I came to the line “Stand by our colors; proudly they wave!” I tried to imagine the colors that Christians would wave, and my first thought went to the Stars and Stripes, the flag of the United States of America. I immediately thought that the “colors” would be red, white, and blue but realized that a Christian flag would not be the Stars and Stripes.

            I began pondering the idea of a Christian flag. I love the American flag, and I know that America is the promised land that was held in reserve for people who will serve Jesus Christ. However, I do not believe that the Savior’s army would be carrying the American flag. So, what kind of a flag would Christians carry?

            I thought that red, white, and blue could be the colors on the Savior’s flag because red stands for love, white stands for purity, and blue stands for loyalty. However, I distinctly understood that the flag would look different than the American flag. I began to consider the design that would go on the Savior’s flag. Many people may expect that a Christian flag would have a cross on it, but I do not believe that there would be a cross on the Savior’s flag.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members of this Church believe in Jesus Christ and are Christians. However, this Church does not use a cross on its buildings, web sites, literature, or anything else. We believe in a risen Christ, a Christ who lives and leads His Church, and we believe that the cross is reminder of the Savior’s death. Therefore, I did not consider a cross.

I considered having a picture of Christ on the flag and debated the colors for His robe and other clothing. I thought about the colors for several days and could not decide on a color scheme. The matter sat at the back of my mind for several days. Suddenly one morning, I knew exactly what should be on the Savior’s flag.

Heavenly Father, through the Holy Ghost, reminded me that the emblem for the Savior’s Church was revealed to His Prophet, even President Russell M. Nelson, several years ago. When this thought entered my mind, I immediately understood why the emblem would be perfect for the Savior’s flag. I am still contemplating the colors for the Savior’s flag, but I know without doubt what the main design should be.

In his April 2020 General Conference talk, which was given in a special Saturday evening session, President Nelson introduced a new Church symbol, which signals “the central place of Jesus Christ” in His Church. In a Church News report on the meeting, Jason Swensen wrote the following description:

Aptly, the symbol includes the name of the Church – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – contained within a cornerstone. As taught since Biblical days, Jesus Christ is the “chief corner stone” of His Church (Ephesians 2:20).

“At the center of the symbol is a representation of Thorvaldsen’s marble statue the Christus,” said President Nelson. “It portrays the resurrected, living Lord reaching out to embrace all who will come unto Him.

“Symbolically, Jesus Christ is standing under an arch. The arch reminds us of the resurrected Savior emerging from the tomb on the third day following His Crucifixion.”

The new symbol, he added, should feel familiar to all identifying the restored gospel with the living, resurrected Christ.

“The symbol will now be used as a visual identifier for official literature, news, and events of the Church. It will remind all that this is the Savior’s Church and that all we do, as members of His Church, centers on Jesus Christ and His gospel.”

            President Nelson did not include a flag in his list of items, but he could have. Swenson included a picture of the symbol in his article, and you can see it here. At this point, I am thinking about a flag made of royal blue with the emblem in white on it – similar to how the symbol is shown and signaling that soldiers in the Savior’s army are loyal to Him.