telson, thanks for the link. It does seem to be quite militant in its beliefs, but I think it has some good information.

http://koti.phnet.fi/elohim/marymagdalene.html

I suspect this is folklore since, as far as I know, even bones can be eventually broken down by the elements. I presume that the ones that archaeologist dig up only survived because the conditions were right. I’m guessing that there are many people who have lived on this earth who have not left a single trace of their physical body. Yet they will be resurrected.

“Now perhaps this is Mormon folklore talking–but I suspect other Christian religions feel the same way.”

I think you’re right because I do remember my Calvinist Baptist friend telling me many years ago that if Christ’s bones were ever found, his faith would be destroyed. I was a bit surprised but didn’t ask him any more about that at the time. I guess now I know why he said that.

I remember watching a documentary about a certain tribe in Madagascar who dig up their dead once a year and “visit” with them, tell them about the past year’s happenings, etc. It was bizarre and beautiful at the same time to see people literally cradling a bag of bones and having a nice family visit.

Personally, I’ve never cared one way or the other about cremation. And yet I know my dad is really bothered by the thought of it, particularly because my grandparents have expressed a desire to be cremated when they die. Some people, I think, take comfort in knowing that their loved one’s body is still “there.” And I can understand that.

One thing that I’ve found interesting about Norwegian culture is that even though very few of them are religious and hardly anyone goes to church, they are very dedicated to upkeep of their loved ones’ gravesites — even distant relatives that they weren’t particularly close to. If you visit a Norwegian cemetery, it’s hard to find a single grave that doesn’t have fresh flowers in front of it at all time, which of course requires regular tending to in the summer months. As well, at Christmas, birthdays, and special days, people will bring flowers to the grave (summer) or light a candle (winter). On Christmas Eve, when it gets dark really early, the cemetery is a sea of lighted candles. It’s really quite beautiful! To not take care of the gravesites in your family is something that would be considered pretty shameful and neglectful.

Ironically, back home where people are a bit more religious, it’s not such a big deal. Even in my own family and among church members I knew, I don’t think hardly anyone would ever visit the graves of relatives regularly, except perhaps on special days. My family never visited the graves of relatives unless we were out for a stroll in the cemetery and happened to pass by. (Sounds callous, I know. ) And I’m no exception. I guess it’s because I don’t really think of the person being “there.” I’ve told my husband that if I go before him, I could be buried in a cardboard box for all I care, because I personally feel so little attachment to the body once the spirit is gone. And yet I really respect and admire the practice of tending to a person’s physical remains and resting place. Perhaps if someone really close to me died, I would want to frequent the gravesite.

It’s funny, I was thinking of this just yesterday when a patient, whose family was estranged and wanted nothing to do with her, died during my shift. They don’t embalm bodies in Scandinavia (one of the funeral practices that are quite different here), so after the nurses washed and dressed the body, the rest of us at work went in to view her. It felt a bit strange, because to me, it wasn’t “her.” She had moved on, in my mind. I’m not a fan of open caskets or viewings because those tend to be the lasting images of the person that stay in my head. And I don’t like to remember them that way.

It’s interesting that despite all my issues with Mormonism and lack of spiritual manifestations (like whenever I know people at work are close to death, I’m always on the “lookout” for any indications of spirits coming to accompany the person home, etc, but so far nothing), the Mormon concept of the afterlife is so deeply-ingrained into me that I just can’t really imagine it any other way. Maybe that’s why I see the physical remains as becoming so irrelevant once the spirit is gone.

I had a great talk with her pastor. Before I could pull out the Job scripture, he did. I told him what my date had said, and he said something classic.

“Am I surprised? Yes, and no. Yes, she ought to know better, but I’m not surprised that people in my congregation don’t know better.”

I don’t know how the CoC portrays the resurrection, but I know I’ve been in LDS church meetings and heard that if the bones are no longer in the grave, then the person has been resurrected. Now perhaps this is Mormon folklore talking–but I suspect other Christian religions feel the same way. I think option 2 makes a lot of sense, but I’m not sure that mainstream Christians believe in such a thing–especially since many Evangelicals and Catholics are against stem cell and/or cloning techniques.

FD, on your question about cremation, I think you’ll find this link informative (it is lower on the page). Quoting briefly,

Where do Latter-day Saints fit into this picture? We reaffirm the perspective that the body is good and, as a creation of God, is to be respected. But as the Church has moved into nations other than the United States, there has been recognition that cultural practices differ. Generally, Latter-day Saints in the Western world have felt that nothing should be done which is destructive to the body. That should be left to nature. Church leaders have counseled that only in unusual circumstances or where required by law should cremation take place. 11

Ultimately, after consultation with the Lord and with priesthood leaders, the family must decide what to do. If the person has been endowed, some special instructions are available for the family from local priesthood leaders. Even if a body is cremated, a funeral service may be held if the ashes are buried or deposited in a mausoleum. 12

Where there is no overriding reason to cremate, burial is still the preferred method of handling our dead. In the end, however, we should remember that the resurrection will take place by the power of God, who created the heavens and the earth. Ultimately, whether a person’s body was buried at sea, destroyed in combat or an accident, intentionally cremated, or buried in a grave, the person will be resurrected.

Now, I know the Bruce R McConkie says in Mormon Doctrine that cremation is bad. However, his father-in-law Pres (and prophet) Joseph Fielding Smith said it is ok. The Ensign article above doesn’t encourage cremation, but there is nothing wrong with it either.