Book of Mormon Art Contest Galleries

One by One

I created most of this piece on my mission. I was struggling to understand how Christ could individually love me. This scripture changed my perspective. I love how Christ works with us individually, one by one. As Elder Bednar put it, "you are a one, not a multitude." I painted it with watercolor and then recently digitally changed some of it to fit more of what I was going for.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 17:21.

Dancing Daughters

The story of the kidnapping of the Laminate daughters is a story we often overlook. Typically, the story is used to highlight the wickedness of the priests of Noah, and we often gloss over the horrible tragedy that is taking place: not only is this abduction; this is rape. The BoM only spends two verses depicting the lives of these women before the abduction, so I wanted to immortalize the joyfulness of these daughters’ gathering via bright colors and vibrancy. Created with Dall-e AI.

Inspired by Mosiah 20:1-2.

Adam Fell that Man Might Be

Another name for this piece could be "Decision of a Lifetime" as it depicts Eve choosing to partake of the fruit, and by so doing allowing all of God's children to come to earth and have joy and tribulation. Eve is one of the few women named in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon, the artist feels strongly that there needs to be more positive artwork depicting our first mother. It was created with collage, which builds upon each individual piece, just as the Book of Mormon builds upon the Bible and the truths found therein.

Inspired by 2 Nephi 2.

Look to Life

Amongst the multitude in 3 Nephi 17 were many Nephite children. The title of this piece is “Look to Life”, inspired by a mental image of innocent, believing children surrounding Jesus and by a child’s inclination towards and fascination with the living. This work’s composition is intended to evoke intimacy, curiosity, and togetherness. The butterfly, the piece’s focal point, is representative of transformation and hope, which Christ offers to those with a pure heart and a willingness to turn to Him, as shown literally in this piece. A subtle difference in value between the children's feet implies a variation in skin tone, and the lack of color ultimately leaves the viewer to interpret as they may.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 17.

Parting Words to a Faithful Son

Pencil on 8.5x11. Alma Chapter 38 has had the most impact on my life in the last year. The words so lovingly delivered from a father to his son has guided me through the ups and downs recently in my life. Not much is said about Shiblon in the Book of Mormon, other than about his righteousness. Sometimes I feel the same as this son, if my role in someone's story only consists of a few words, I would want it to be about my dedication to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the good that got me to the point I am at now. Oftentimes when discouraged, I replace my name with Shiblon's and imagine the advice coming from a Heavenly source. I really wanted to convey the message so reverently given to Shiblon by creating this piece out of the words spoken. Enjoy!

Inspired by Alma 38.

King Mosiah in his glory

The artwork is meaningful to me because it represents the ideals of leadership that I strive to uphold. King Mosiah was a man who was willing to sacrifice his own comfort and safety for the good of his people. He was a man of peace who sought to resolve conflict through diplomacy and understanding. He was a man of faith who trusted in God to guide him and his people. The medium of the artwork would be digital art, which would allow for a high level of detail and realism This is an AI generated image.

Inspired by Mosiah 6.

Creation

The inclusion of Heavenly Mother in this scene of creation was important to me because I am certain she was just as concerned with our coming to Earth as was our Heavenly Father. Here, he shows her the world designed and created to aid their children in becoming like them. Her hand resting gently on her belly, like many other artworks, alludes to pregnancy but also the divinity of motherhood and parenthood as modeled by our Heavenly Parents. 1 Nephi 17:36 suggests that this world was created "that it should be inhabited" by mankind. This element in our Father's plan is central to our ability to learn, resulting, if we should choose it, in us becoming like our Heavenly Parents. I think of the foresight and wisdom it took send their children away from their direct presence for a time with the hope and trust that they would return with even more than they left with.

Inspired by 1 Nephi 17.

Women of Faith

My art piece is a depiction of the daughters of Ishmael, Ishmael’s wife, and Sariah as they leave Jerusalem. Creating this piece was meaningful to me because theirs was a story of faith and trust in the Lord. I created this prince using watercolor and ink pen in watercolor paper. I believe that we all react differently when the Lord has called us to do something hard. When I received revelation to serve a mission, I didn’t take this responsibility joyfully at first. I was scared and wondering if I could truly go forth and trust the Lord in this call. But in the end I learned that His plan is always better than ours. In this piece, I chose to depict the different phases that we may go through when called on by the Lord. Some of the women in my painting look forward, while some nervously look back. No matter their reactions, doubts, or anxious anticipations, they all went forth which deems each one of them as “Women of Faith”.

Inspired by 1 Nephi 16.

Taught by their Mothers

Digital painting done in Procreate; time elapsed: about 12 hours.

Inspired by Alma 46.

Witness of Abish

To me, Abish's story of faith and testimony is a key highlight in among the many told by the Book of Mormon. It is remarkable to me how the Book of Mormon describes that the gospel of Jesus Christ came to her family by the means of a remarkable vision that her father received. While that experience may have had a powerful impact on her, my heart firmly believes that Abish must have had spiritual experiences of her own that helped her to personally come to know and love the Savior. The art style that I employed seeks to achieve a harmonious interchange between ancient and contemporary elements that conveys the message that it is crucial for us modern disciples of Christ to frequently reflect on and even internalize the experiences and examples of saints of ancient times. The detailed line work is inspired by the artistic style of medieval woodcutting technique while the general shapes and colors reflect a more contemporary minimalistic style. The Book of Mormon is a key element of helping us in this endeavor, and every individual story of faith has an important lesson that we can learn precious and hidden treasures of truths from. The warm gold-centric colors employed are a simple reference to the golden plates that we obtained the Book of Mormon from, and reminds the reader that the Book of Mormon in an very important sense, is a collection of stories about individuals coming unto Christ and their efforts in trying to establish a loving and true relationship with Him. This earnest endeavor is still the same for those who faithfully seek Christ today. Medium: Digital canvas.

Inspired by Alma 19.

Hagoth's Odyssey

The image, titled "Hagoth's Odyssey," depicts a character named Hagoth from the Book of Mormon, a sacred text of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hagoth stands proudly before his meticulously crafted ship just before embarking on his final journey. Using a mix of traditional and digital mediums, I sought to convey the grandeur of this courageous shipbuilder's expedition. Inspired by the spirit of exploration and faith, the artwork symbolizes the triumph of determination and the unyielding pursuit of discovery. Through this portrayal, I hope to honor Hagoth's legacy and the adventurous spirit he represents within the pages of history and scripture. In following Hagoth's example, we can strive to be leaders in our own journeys, fearlessly charting new paths and inspiring others to venture into the unknown with us. By shining our light into the darkness, we, too, can discover uncharted territories and leave a lasting impact on the world, just as Hagoth did through his visionary spirit and courageous pursuits. Created with AI.

Inspired by Alma 63.

As Many As Would Repent

I always appreciated this verse as it explains the way the Nephites handled the captured Gadianton robbers with love and respect. The robbers’ standing at their imprisonment did not affect how they were treated. They were all given the word of God, which I have represented with the teal shape that appears in each vignette. I wanted my piece to tell the story in this verse dynamically and chromatically. Progressing from left to right, the colors transition from a deep, sinful purple to a light, repentant yellow. The figures, the one to the left representing a robber and the one on the right representing a nephite, act through the conversion process described in the verse. The robber is initially upright in prideful rejection, then sorrowfully slumped in acknowledgement of sin, proceeds to turn around, opening up their posture until arm-in-arm with their missionary guide. The figures are drawn in colored pencil. The background painted with water colors. The water-resistant canvas board and pencil allow the water color drips to run in interesting ways around the characters- sometimes over them, sometimes around. The high concentration of drips on the left are reminiscent of prison bars, which become fewer and shorter as the robber progresses up across the canvas.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 5:4.

The Sole Amalekite (conversion amid opposition)

This is the Amalekite who was the only one within his tribe who responded to the gospel brought by the sons of Mosiah and Alma. Although he is mentioned only once in Alma 23:14, I know that it would have taken an incredible amount of faith and trust in the Lord to leave, not just his family, but his entire way of life and culture behind. He is a true Book of Mormon hero. For this piece, I used yarn, embroidery thread, and a really nice stick. I loved making this piece and it is a reminder to me that no matter who is standing with you, it's always right to stand in holy places.

Inspired by Alma 23.

Hagoth finds the Pacific Islands

This work represents Hagoth and his people finding the Pacific Islands. These people will have no written record, however they are descendants of the Abrahamic covenant so God will prosper them. In this image the people have been sailing for so long their sail is losing its blue color, and the people are exhausted. In desperation the people have been turning to God praying that he will help them land safely. In his mercy and benevolence God has answered their prayers and the Pacific Islands can be seen in the distance. This is another part of Jesus' flock and they will not be forgotten. I rendered this image in watercolor for two reasons. The first because the Pacific Islanders culture was built upon seafaring, and secondly water colors is a very gentle medium, just like the aid God gives us. It is by taking a step back and recounting all the gentle nudges of God that we can see his full picture. Thank you for your time!

Inspired by Alma 63.

Sariah Mourning in the Wilderness

In 1 Nephi 5: 1-8 Sariah's sons have yet to return from Jerusalem after trying to retrieve the plates of brass. Sariah is overwhelmed with fear and confusion as she is worried for the safety of her sons but also trying to obey and trust this commandment from God. When I read this, I do not imagine Sariah murmuring like Laman and Lemuel and being unfaithful. Rather I see her as a mother who has just watched her children leave on a dangerous journey and a wife who has supported her husband's visions and is finally expressing how hard it has all been. If Lehi and Sariah's society and traditions were similar to others throughout history, the woman's big focus was on taking care of a family and keeping a home. Now both of these things have been frustrated for Sariah. Even before they left, the town was mocking and threating her husband. At this point Sariah had endured so much and she simply felt overwhelmed and emotional. This story of a complex woman along with the phrase in Enos 1:10 which states “And while I was thus struggling in the spirit…” are what inspired my painting. Sometimes it does take a lot of struggling to follow the spirit and that is precisely what makes us living, dynamic people. Sariah is a strong Book of Mormon woman whose example of righteous struggle is beautiful and comforting. The medium is oil on canvas.

Inspired by 1 Nephi 5 and Enos 1:10.

Nevertheless I Believe

The wife of King Lamoni, queen of the Lamanites, was a woman of great faith. Everyone around her believed her husband dead, but she turned to divinely appointed sources and asked the prophet. The instant he told her that Lamoni was not dead, she believed. I have a powerful testimony of both the scriptures and the living prophet. This story, of a woman’s unwavering faith, inspires me to be better and trust the lord. “Nevertheless I believe” she said to the Prophet. In turn, Amon proclaimed: “there has not been such great faith among all the people of the Nephites” (Alma 19:10). I strive to someday have as powerful faith as she does. I hoped to capture a feeling of faith and emotion in this artwork, and show the expression of a woman trusting in the lord. I used a digital medium, using Clip Studio Paint on the iPad. Even when it seems like the entire world is saying one thing, listen to the prophet. Listen, and believe.

Inspired by Alma 19.

The Land of Desolation

To be able to understand any group of people, it is important to understand the environment in which they live. For many cultures, the land is linked to prosperity, history, and spirituality. Artistic depictions of the Book of Mormon typically spotlight the human figure, assumably interest modern viewers and centralize certain characters’ stories. While artistic depictions that focus on people can of course reveal elements of that person’s culture, I wanted to delve into this underrepresented realm of Book of Mormon art: people’s connections to their land. This piece aims to capture the melancholy of the destroyed Nephites leaving their lands for the Land of Desolation as describe in Mormon 3:5. The aridness of the land reflects the symbolic state of the people. Being divorced from their original land mirrors the Nephites’s separation from their righteous history.

Inspired by Mormon 3:5.

Oh Blessed Jesus!

I painted in acrylic on canvas the Lamanite Queen and Abish, hoping to capture the moment after Abish reaches for the Queen's hand, and the Queen exclaims in faith, "O blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful hell! O blessed God, have mercy on this people!" (Alma 19:29). These women are powerful examples of faith and courage to me, and it is so important to me to see them represented and talked about, especially in a culture where the usual examples of people of faith and leadership are male. To see a Queen, and her servant, speak out and be respected, is so uncommon in our scripture. These women ought to be remembered, and their examples followed.

Inspired by Alma 19.

Alma 50:31

Gouache and water color on multi-media paper. Morianton's maid servant risks her life escaping his camp to tell the enemy--our hero Captain Moroni--their plans. Captain Moroni and his army are able to triumph over Morianton's army because of the maid servant's bravery. At the left, the maid servant (in a green dress muddied from her escape) speaks to Moroni (standing in the shadow of the tent). She gestures to the enemy camp at the edge of the beach. The single verse that captures her story and bravery stands as a plaque above the image. The border around the painting and painting the verse is inspired by Minerva Teichert's style. The coloring of the tent is inspired by the "coat of many colors", symbolizing that Moroni's camp is protected by the Lord as compared to the other camp, whose tents are made from animal skins, symbolizing their trust in the strength of man. I treasure the story of Morionton's maid servant because it captures her bravery in leaving a toxic situation, and the impact for good her decision had on the Nephite/Lamanite conflict.

Inspired by Alma 50.

One by One

This painting is a depiction of the Savior blessing the precious Nephite children. After He had commanded that they be brought to Him, and was encircled by them, he prayed and wept on their behalf. As a mother, I know what a blessing it is to care for Heavenly Father’s precious children. They bring with them a holy light. We are responsible for protecting them, loving them and teaching them the ways of the Lord so they can better let their light shine. When I painted a depiction of this sacred scene, I used pastel colors in the children’s clothing as a way of showing the light each child holds. I find it quite significant that the Savior blessed the children one by one, as individuals. I imagine that took a long time! Yet, He, and the multitude, gave each child the time they deserved. I left detail out of certain areas of the canvas to portray the fact that each child the Savior blessed had their own, sacred and special moment. This is also to emphasize the significance that each child is an important, and loved individual. We all need one-on-one with our Savior so we too can feel His love for us. I imagine this moment must have been a teaching moment. Not only did the Savior teach them that they were loved individually, but He also taught them to love individually by blessing them one at a time. The other children painted, stand close to the Savior with their attention on the child being blessed. As they that wait for their turn, they see the importance of the individual child and the love the Savior has for that child. I used different hues of metallic gold paint as the background to represent the holiness of this important moment in the Book of Mormon history. The dark red blanket the blessed child is wrapped in, reminds us that, prior to this event, the Savior bled and died for those children. They are the most precious of gems, and each child on earth should be seen as a gift; both from our Heavenly Father for loaning them to us, and to the Savior for saving them with His own life.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 17:21.

Weakness in Writing

My painting titled “Weakness in Writing” is inspired by Nephi and the other authors of The Book of Mormon and their struggles to put together a book that they felt was worthy of the Lord. Although we know Nephi as someone “large in stature” who seemed to always know the right thing to do, there was a lot more to his character than could be written in The Book of Mormon. I imagine he had many struggles and fears, and just like us felt he was unworthy for the task put before him. Not only was the physical act of engraving the plates difficult, but also the spiritual task. Much like our prophets today, this likely required an amount spiritual attentiveness that would be difficult to maintain then, and especially now. I know how it feels to believe I am inadequate and unworthy, and I often let that stand in the way between me and Heavenly Fathers plan for me. I am inspired by Nephi and his diligence and patience to forge and engrave the plates, and I will forever be grateful for the inspired words that were prepared for us today.

Inspired by 2 Nephi 33.

My Joy is Full

The scene I wanted to depict is from 3 Nephi 17 where the Savior expresses His compassion to the people of the ancient Americas. This passage of scripture is deeply significant to me because it gives me a glimpse of Christ’s joy and compassion. I wanted to attempt to capture what He must have felt and what the people present were able to experience in that special and unique moment. I love sharing my testimony through art. This is mixed media. I first sketched an image and then digitally drew over it.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 17.

Parallel Fates

This piece is supposed to show the parallelism between Ether and Moroni and appreciate their sacrifices. They both were the last believers of their people and the scripture keepers as well. They both experienced rejection and exile and watched their people fall. They both kept their respective records safe so that the history of the Jadeites and the Nephites would be preserved.

Inspired by Ether 12 through Moroni 10.

Bridge Between Divided Nations

In this picture, Aaron, after hearing the desperation of the queen, reaches to lift King Lamoni’s father who had fallen to the earth after mightily praying to the Lord. In this moment we see the bridge between 2 divided nations: the Nephites and the Lamanites. As a result of the willingness of Alma, Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni to serve and teach their brethren, many miracles occur, and the Lamanites grow in the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a direct result of Aarons teachings, King Lamoni’s father sends a proclamation allowing the word of God to be preached throughout all the land. I am impressed with the brotherly love that these powerful missionaries showed towards those who were considered their enemies. This picture reminds me that the pure love of Christ can surpass all barriers. We, like Aaron, can create bridges with those around us and lift them to higher ground where they can experience the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Inspired by Alma 22.

Christ Comes

"Christ Comes" depicts the moment when Jesus Christ appeared to the people of the Americas in the Book of Mormon. It always made me happy to visualize His arrival as a colorful burst of light in a dense shadowy sky. Christ came at the darkest moment, as described in 3 Nephi, and I wanted to depict that scene in a unique and joyful way.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 11.

Sariah and her Daughters

In this artwork, I sought to explore a quiet moment that Sariah might have shared with her daughters. We only know of Nephi’s sisters from one verse in 2nd Nephi, and we know almost nothing about them. I took the liberty of exploring what they might have looked like and how a moment between all of them and their mother might have appeared. I imagined this scene to be a rare moment of rest for these young women and their mother. Everyday life in the wilderness would have been challenging in every way: physically, emotionally, mentally, not to mention the trials brought by the complex family dynamics that Lehi’s family experienced. I imagine Sariah would have been a very important figure to her daughters and daughters in law, being a source of structure and wisdom, not only during trials but also in navigating everyday life as woman, wife, and mother. I also imagine she would have been a great source of spiritual wisdom, and would have shared this with her daughters. This scene could be one such moment. I used a combination of traditional and digital media to create this image. I created the base image with oil paint on gesso board, then used digital methods to make adjustments and to collage texture into the piece. The textures I used are handmade with a variety of traditional media. I hope that this piece gives the reader a glimpse of some of the more unknown figures of the Book of Mormon and gives us a chance to reflect on what their experiences might have been like.

Inspired by 1 Nephi 16.

The Descent of Kishkumen

Acrylic on plywood. This painting is designed as a warning. A warning about the emotional consequences of sin. The point of the Book of Mormon is to educate us in our day and prepare ourselves for the second coming. Aspirational figures and moments of miracles in our holy scripture adorn our church visual library, inspiring us to move forward and do good. Yet in other faiths and denominations, paintings and murals are designed to warn us. The downfall of the Nephites is well depicted within LDS artwork and this piece is designed to aid in that. This painting is designed as a warning. Kishkumen is an integral character within the Book of Mormon, the catalyst for the rise of the Gadianton Robbers and the eventual barbarism the Nephites would adopt, yet so little is spoken about him. I designed this Kishkumen to be an everyone and anyone. The act of killing Pahoran is not shown but implied by its consequences on the entire painting and foundation of the building. You are stuck within this horror. Everyone has felt this horror, despite not committing such a sin. This painting is designed as a warning. Inspiration for this piece: - "Las Meninas", Diego Velázquez 1656 - "The Seven Works of Mercy", Caravaggio 1607 - "Ultimate Price", Karl Kopinski 2012 - "All-Star Superman", Frank Quietly 2005-2008

Inspired by Helaman 1.

Mother Knew

Created using Midjourney, iterating with the following prompt: "Happy native american woman in a white robe, walks with a young boy while teaching him, symbolic watercolor back view. Luminous human spirit walks with them." My parents are divorced, and my heart goes out to the stripling warriors; I spent a lot of formative spiritual time with my mother. I wanted to create an image that captured the love, the simplicity, the beauty, the individuality, and just the pure motherhood of those women. As an aside, I realize that using AI for making art is controversial. I don't intend to sow discord. Judge this however you feel is best.


Inspired by Alma 56.

Young Abish

One of my close friends has struggled with the roles of men and women in the church. She has found inspiration on her mission in the story of Abish, which inspired me to make Abish the subject of my painting. As I've studied Abish, I have found strength in the part of her story before her experience with the queen. We don't get many details about it, but we know that she was converted to Christianity at a young age through a vision that her father had, and that she stayed faithful for many years amid a culture that was hostile towards her religion. Many times we need to have faith like Abish to continue to build our spiritual foundations in an increasingly chaotic world, and expect miracles in our future. I also love that she sets an example of the power that a spiritually string woman can have. I wanted to depict a young Abish praying in secret in the woods, and represent that she was protected throughout her life by the Lord by adding the angel holding the sword. I used acrylic paints and a board that I found.

Inspired by Alma 19.

Nephi's Family Flees Into the Wilderness

In this painting, you will see a scene depicting Nephi's family fleeing into the wilderness to escape Nephi's vengeful brothers. After their father Lehi passed away, Laman and Lemuel became angry with Nephi and sought to take away his life. The Lord warned Nephi of his brother's plan and told him to take his family and flee into the wilderness to escape. In my opinion, some of the most underrepresented figures in the Book of Mormon are in Nephi’s own family. His wife, sisters, and possible daughters are hardly mentioned, and we never learn their names. It’s important to me that even though we don’t know their names, we still should remember how they sacrificed so much, and had such incredible faith to once again travel into the wilderness to obey God’s commandments. Because of this, I chose to showcase these members of Nephi’s family in my painting. In this scene, you’ll see Nephi’s wife lead her children alongside Nephi’s sisters and their children. Because most of them are never mentioned in the Book of Mormon, I had to take artistic liberty to include all of these faithful children of God. My favorite detail I added to this piece was the white lamb walking alongside them. This represents Jesus Christ, and how he remained by their side as they faithfully fled into the wilderness. I added it to remind us that when we follow Him, He will always stand and walk beside us. This piece is 12 x 16” and was created with acrylic paints.

Inspired by 2 Nephi 5:1-9.

And They Were Strong

This is a charcoal drawing of the imagined portrait of one of the women in Lehi's family. 1 Nephi 17: 2-3 reads, in part, "So great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings. And thus we see that . . . if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God He doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them." This is the scripture that inspired my drawing. I wanted to capture the facial expression of a woman being strengthened and nourished by the Lord--a woman who is strong, faithful, and long-suffering. With the simplicity of charcoal, I wanted to depict the hope in her eyes, the fortitude in her face, and the trust of her sleeping infant. Women are not often represented in Book of Mormon art, especially those who go unnamed, but I felt it important to give this mother a face. She is an inspiration to me. Each woman faces different challenges to caring for children in faith. It is important to remember that God will help us. As many other women in the scriptures have learned, nothing is impossible to God. When we keep His commandments, He will help us. Our children are not just ours; they are His, too.

Inspired by 1 Nephi 17.

Anti-Nephi-Lehi Mother and her Stripling Warrior

". . . They had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it." -Alma 56:47-48 These women have been examples of courage to me. I can imagine recent converts who had left their homes to live in the country of their former enemies, and I wonder if I have that kind of faith. I would have felt inadequate teaching my children the gospel. But they shared their simple testimonies of Jesus Christ with their little children, and because of that, the Nephite nation was saved from complete destruction. Perhaps these mothers weren't on the battle fields, but their words and testimonies were. I did this painting on my mission as a Mother's Day gift for my mom. She is powerful, and made sure to teach her children what she knew about God and His plan for us. Even so, there have been many times when she felt her efforts as a mother were failing and fruitless. I painted this in part to help remind her that every effort she gave (and still gives), towards me and my sisters, is worthwhile. I'd like to remember that as a mother.

Inspired by Alma 56.

Fuente de Aguas Vivas

This is part of a collection named, No Me Olvides (Forget Me Not in Spanish) inspired from the passage in 1 Nephi 21:14-15, “For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.” In it is represented how the Lord is anxiously reminding us he does not forget us and is pleading us not to forget Him. With this instruction, the No Me Olvides series are born. Each piece comes from a specific verse in the Book of Mormon that highlights what we mustn’t forget about Him. This one comes from the underrated Living Waters spoken of in Lehi’s Dream. While the Tree is highly depicted, the Waters are not. Mirroring the Forget Me Not flower’s plea and the Lord’s highest expression of love asking us to remember, Aguas Vivas speaks the same prayer, “Forget Me Not, for you will find life and love in the fountain of Living Waters.” Medium: colored pencils on paper.

Inspired by 1 Nephi 11:25.

Lamoni's Desperation

My painting displays King Lamoni’s desperation. He is pleading with the Lord for forgiveness and is willing to give up anything for it. I painted him using acrylic and wanted to paint him without any ornaments or special clothing to represent his raw emotion and him stripping himself of his pride. I wanted to represent him in the most accurate way so I painted him with a darker complexion and more realistic characteristics. I chose not to input as much detail in certain areas, such as the hands, because the messiness of the painting shows his conflict and emotion.

Inspired by Alma 22.

Daughters' Faith
This piece represents an intimate moment as one of the daughters of Ishmael holds and studies the sacred Liahona. The lord used the faith of these women to help guide Nephi's group towards the promised land as they acted righteously.

Inspired by 1 Nephi 16.

Opposition

This ceramic installation features contrast and opposition through form, color, and texture. Its formalistic presentation conveys an opposing effect that reflects Lehi's words surrounding the Fall. The shadows of the hollow structure become natural opposing shades of darkness against its white glaze, while the dark geometric shapes on either side loom closely. As Lehi says, righteousness can only be brought pass if there is opposition in all things.

Inspired by 2 Nephi 2:11.

Phantasmagoria

This piece is a self-portrait done with acrylic paint on canvas. The shifting colors that make up the face represent how each person is constantly changing both in and out, hence the name "phantasmagoria" which defines the experience of changing images as in a dream. These changes can make us feel as though we are not presenting ourselves in the right way at the right time, creating distance between us and our peers. Learning about Christ and how he understands us fully no matter what.

Inspired by 1 Nephi 8.

As a Little Child

When Christ visited the Americas, he revealed that if we are to be saved, we must become as little children (3 Nephi 11:17). In 3 Nephi 17, Christ invites all the little children to come unto Him so he could bless and pray for them, all being ministered to by the angles of heaven. This scene has always been a personal favorite as it shows exactly what becoming "a little child" can bring to my life. "As a Little Child" is a carved ceramic sculpture, glazed white, with added plant details.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 11, 3 Nephi 17.

The Law and the Light

Using this unique medium of leather, I was able to capture the Savior's hope, His faith and His infinite love for us. This piece was created using self taught leather tooling techniques that I acquired studying western "cowboy style" leather decorative art, as well as Celtic techniques for storytelling carvings. With the detailed texture and warmth of the leather. there is palpable closeness that is unlike any other medium. This piece was inspired by Dan Wilson's painting - Look To God And Live.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 15:9.

First Feeling

The idea of a young boy who doesn’t even know who he is or his place in the world yet being trusted with such an important task has always made this so incredible to me. This 14 year old putting his whole faith and being into serving and spreading the word and the feelings that our church brings, makes my generations mission of gathering Zion that much more special. This fingerprinting I made one Sunday afternoon, was made as a representation of my need to spread the word and to be a mouthpiece.

Inspired by 3rd Nephi 11.

Redeemer

Inspired by Alt dates back over three thousand years. This seal depicts a traditional seal script, common in the Zhou and Qin dynasties, read from top to bottom and left to right. The characters display “Shijie de Jiushuzhu” which translated means “Redeemer of the World”. The stamped relief, when pressed with crimson ink, represents the price Christ paid for our redemption.

Inspired by Alma 5:21.

Bountiful Temple

I created this art piece via AI, specifically DALLE-2. With AI art only recently becoming accessible to the public, I hope this piece exemplifies a new and technologically-advanced medium.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 11:1.

Shine Forth in Darkness

For this painting I used watercolors and a flat shape-based style to give it a storybook feel. I wanted to emphasize the contrast between the cold, dark, stormy sea outside and the warm, safe, light inside the vessels. Though the journey was long and fierce, the Jaredite families had "light continually" because they "did not cease to praise the Lord." The Lord doesn't want us to "cross the great waters" in darkness, but sometimes He will ask us "what will ye that I should do that ye may have light?"

Inspired by Ether 6.

Because of Him

Mosiah 14:3-5, "3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." I have always loved these three verses as I feel they capture the Atonement which our Savior performed so perfectly. To represent these verses, I blacksmithed and welded a crown of thorns and leaves out of metal rod with roses made out of 20 gauge sheet metal. Half of the crown is rusty (done through a chemical process) and thorny, while the other half is polished with leaves and flowers. The idea behind it was that half of the crown would represent Christs Atonement, and the other half would represent each of our potential if we are willing to use His Atonement to repent and draw closer to Him. The opportunity to create this piece presented itself at a very difficult time in my life. My parents are going through a very rough divorce which has had many negative effects on my own mental health and testimony. This project helped remind me that no matter what we go through, no matter the pain or doubt, our Savior knows us perfectly. As we will use His Atonement in our lives, we will one day have the chance to become perfect. Because of Him, we will be healed. Because of Him, we will overcome sin. Because of Him, even a crown of thorns will bloom again.

Inspired by Mosiah 14:3-5.

Reaching for Heaven

Alma's plea to be an angel to proclaim the Gospel of Christ is a sentiment that every disciple of Christ has felt. Sometimes it feels as though we never measure up, but as we consistently reach towards heaven, even when the world feels as dark as the day of an eclipse, we shall always be able to partake in God's divine power, and reach our own divine potential.

Inspired by Alma 29.

Our Book of Mormon Stories

This piece highlights some of my favorite Book of Mormon stories. It is a compilation of Frame by Frame animations. Each of the 300+ frames were hand drawn to create images that depicted important pieces of each story.

Inspired by 1 Nephi 4:14, Helaman 16:2, Alma 57:27, 3 Nephi 11:14, 1 Nephi 11:22.

A Cartoon Retelling of the Book of Mormon

I made this art for my Book of Mormon class, highlighting concepts and stories detailed in the first 30-ish chapters of scripture. I drew this on my iPad and drew inspiration from several other cartoonists whose work I admire. My greatest hope in doing this project was that it could make the often esoteric text of the Book of Mormon more accessible to a general audience, particularly children. Inspired by

1st Nephi and part of 2nd Nephi.

Salt of the Earth

The command to be, “The Salt of the Earth” is given by Jesus Christ, prompting us to be clean and stand out in this generation. I depicted Del Parson’s classic painting of Christ in salt in honor of our great exemplar.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 12.

Light of the Book of Mormon

People are attracted to the light of Jesus Christ and His restored gospel because it offers hope, peace, and joy. The gospel teaches us about God's love for us and His plan for our salvation. It also gives us guidance on how to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God. As people learn more about the gospel, they are drawn to its beauty and truth. The medium is oil painting. This is an AI generated image.

Inspired by 3 Nephi.

I Know That He Loveth His Children

This is an embroidery of the Tree of Life, as described in Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s vision. It’s hard to capture in a photo, but the white thread for the fruit is actually a metallic white thread, shimmering and sparkling in the light. I picture the tree as overflowing with fruit, because the love of God is abundant and it extends to all of His children.

Inspired by 1 Nephi 8, 11.

Back to the Wilderness

My artwork depicts the story of Nephi when he accidentally breaks his hunting bow, turns to the Lord in prayer, and then makes a new bow to continue hunting food for his family in the wilderness. I love this story because often times I have felt like Nephi in this situation. I, and I’m sure many others have felt broken or stuck, not knowing what to do. Originally I was going to depict Nephi and his broken bow, but I felt inspired by what he did after feeling stuck and conflicted. He turned to faith by praying and acting upon answers. Despite the trials, he went back into the wilderness and trusted in the Lord. Instead of depicting the affliction, I wanted to depict the hope that he attained after his affliction. I wanted to depict the fact that the Lord will always provide for us to accomplish what he has commanded us to do. This piece was made in watercolor and ink pen on watercolor paper.

Inspired by 1 Nephi 16.

3D Printed Stripling Warriors

This 3D Printed Scene depicts the story of Helaman and the stripling warriors. This project combined my interest in Technology with a worthwhile piece from the Book of Mormon. The project involved a lengthy process: modeling the scene using Computer Software (Blender), printing it using my 3D Printer (Ender 3), and then iterating as some designs failed to print, and the model had to be re-worked. This meant I had a lot of time to think about and reflect on the scene that I was working on. It helped me deepen my faith in Jesus Christ by allowing me to visualize and reflect on key teachings and events in the scriptures. It was truly an amazing event to reflect on these brave young men and their conviction to fight for the Lord and their families. It made me think about my own life, and how I can show a similar outlook in my own life. I probably won’t have to fight a war for my country, family or God, but I can still show similar faith in my day-to-day life. Overall, this art project enhanced my knowledge and appreciation of the Book of Mormon, allowing me to develop a stronger connection to its teachings and apply them in meaningful ways.

Inspired by Alma 53, 56-58.

Title of Liberty

"Title of Liberty" is a photographic representation of the standard and banner created by Captain Moroni when defending the people of Nephi from Amalickiah and his army. The words which Moroni wrote inspired power and faith in his people, and continue to give hope to Latter-day Saints today. I wanted to depict these words, and the title itself, in the most accurate recreation possible, to pay homage to the language and culture of the Nephites. The characters seen are from the Paleo-Hebrew script, also known as Old Hebrew. Thanks to historians and religious scholars, and references in the Book of Mormon itself, I imagined a similar writing system might have been used by Book of Mormon peoples at this time. (The translation of the Title of Liberty into Old Hebrew was provided by Donald W. Parry, Professor of Hebrew Bible and Dead Sea Scrolls at Brigham Young University.)''

Inspired by Alma 46:12.

In Christ We Are Made Alive

"And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?" In these two verses, the Book of Mormon powerfully teaches and testifies of some important truths bout the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how Christ offers us new life through it in different ways: The first is that Christ offers everyone the universal gift of life after death. We can all be resurrected and have a perfected physical body and thus be able to have a fulness of joy. Christ also offers us the gift of being spiritually made alive through the beautiful process of repentance and striving to engage in covenantal living. Moreover, in many ways that are unique to each individual, Christ can cause the aspects of our lives that feel dead, broken, or damaged to be made alive, mended, and wholly restored. This message is conveyed in the way the two figures are oriented towards each other. The figure that represents Christ is the one standing upright, while the figure that appears to be lying partially below a surface represents all of us. The position of the partially submerged figure calls to mind the reality that all of us are faced with the inevitable future of mortality, and that all of us in some way or another, are dying, breaking, and falling apart. But at the same time, like the figure in this piece, we are still linked to Christ and He is always close to us, and able to lift us above the surface of human suffering and despair. The color red in the piece has a very significant meaning in the narrative of this piece as well. Red symbolizes blood, which in turn represents life, sustaining force, and suffering. The great unfathomable price of Christ's Atonement for every individual that is a member of the human family was His blood, and His suffering for every human being has existed, is existing, and will come to exist. From the fall of Adam, to our modern times. It is by His blood that He spilt for us that we are able to be made alive in every sense. This means of being made alive is largely due to His suffering for us which makes Him able to understand each of us perfectly in our various complex circumstances and to fashion a vision of hope from them. His blood and suffering is a demonstration of His love for us, and it is a core element of what firmly anneals His relationship with us. Human experience is also largely characterized by much suffering, but it's value in helping us to feel love and appreciation for the Savior and what He did for us far outweighs the inconveniences and difficulties they so often seem to beset us with. At least in my personal experience, it is the most important way by which I have come to love and appreciate my Savior in the ways that are most meaningful and powerful to me. The continuous flow of red between Christ and the figure representing us ultimately proclaims the message that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is about man being brought close to the Savior, and that all mankind can have hope for life (or a better life) through seeking a true relationship with Christ. It is His blood, sacrifice, and suffering that breathes life into our lives. By His stripes we are healed, and truly our destinies are inseparable from His. These are some of the greatest fruits of blessing that come from Christ, who is characterized as the Tree of Life in the Book of Mormon. See if you can find the different details that make reference to this symbolism of Christ! Medium: Digital Canvas

Inspired by Alma 5:14-15.

Guardian of the Flock

Ammon, the Diligent Shepherd, unsheathes his sword to protect the flock of sheep. This poignant image draws inspiration from space-filling curves, symbolizing how God's boundless power permeates those earnestly seeking to fulfill His divine will. Just as these abstract curves traverse every point within a given area, Ammon's unwavering devotion fills him with infinite strength and courage. His sword becomes both a physical defense and a representation of the spiritual shield he wields, guiding and guarding the sheep on their earthly journey. This visual narrative illustrates the profound harmony between mortal effort and heavenly aid, revealing how God's omnipotence fortifies those who earnestly follow His path.

Inspired by Alma 17.

Nephi in Prayer

I was always able to see this story in my mind's eye. The setting of the tower and the garden always struck me as beautiful but filled with so much drama. So that's how I tried to depict it. I left Nephi bare to illustrate his humility, whereas the onlookers are all in cloaks hinting at their pride and the later condemnation of Seantum by his cloak. The garden is bright and full of life as a symbol of the promise God has given us that as we are righteous we shall prosper in the land. The importance of prayer is also highly emphasized within the piece as the whole exchange revolves around the figure on the tower, and his physical height within the piece represents his closeness to God. This piece was created using, yarn, leather, glass beads, metal scales, chainmail, embroidery floss, wool, and cloth.

Inspired by Helaman 7.

Teancum Kills the King

In this image Teancum is represented by the blue and black figure. He stands prominently in the middle, showing his decision to take the life of the king to preserve all the people in the lower half of the image. The King is represented by purple and black, the black symbolizes the evils of war and death and the purple represents his kingship. Sticking out of the King is Teancum’s javelin. The lower half of the work is awash in black because the war would have dragged on killing many of the children of Lehi. This is mixed media, using both soft pastels and pencil. The soft pastels comprise most of the picture and מוות which means death in hebrew is written. I picked this medium because it blends easily, which is reflective of the effects war would have on generations to come. Additionally, pencil is used to write english words, because pencil doesn't smudge as easily and represents the record the ancient Nephites record left for us. Through these records we have the information to make decisions like Teancum that will affect our progeny.

He Hath Preserved Me Upon the Waters of the Great Deep

2 Nephi 4 has long been my favorite scripture, a mooring point for my faith when everything else is uncertain. Like Nephi, I often feel completely encompassed by depression, loneliness, and my own sins. And yet, like Nephi, I can look back on my past experiences and see that God has preserved me every time. No matter how close I’ve felt to giving up in the past, I’m still here. Though God doesn’t always take my trials away, he provides tender mercies, times for me to catch my breath, calm patches of water in the storm. I know in whom I have trusted— and in whom I can continue to trust. Even when the hands of God seem invisible and the waves are high, I can look back on my past experiences and remember that He is protecting me, keeping me from drowning, and gently guiding me to land.

Inspired by 2 Nephi 4.

Tight Like Unto a Dish

As a primary child, I loved the story of the Jaredites’ journey to the promised land. One phrase that always stuck out to me for its ambiguity and almost playfulness was “tight like unto a dish.” So I decided for this rendition of a Jaredite barge, what better way to represent the barge than to make it with a literal dish? This piece was made by making a ceramic jar using a raku firing technique with newspaper and woodchips. I used a cone 4 glaze. I then took a photo of the jar and manipulated the photo to add patterning reminiscent of pueblo pottery that was popular in ancient American civilizations.

Inspired by Ether 2:7.

Enos Finds Rest

Recently as I was getting ready for bed, a thought came to mind. “Open your scriptures.” I was right next to my phone so I opened the Gospel Library app and Enos 1 happened to be the last chapter pulled up on my phone. I decided to listen to it because I wasn’t comprehensive enough to sit down and read it. The calming narrator’s voice in my ear soothed my mind during the chapter until the end. It stated, “And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest.” (verse 27) I got chills all over my body as I heard the exact words I needed at that moment. I often lean on this scripture in difficult times as a sort of refuge. Upon rereading and analyzing the text, Enos did not intend for rest to be understood in the way I did. At least not entirely. It is at the end of his life and he has decided to record one chapter to update the state of the world right before he passes away. He talks of his relentless prayer for repentance, his desire to convert his fellow men, and visions of destruction. Despite him not being able to convert all those he hoped to before his demise, his “soul did rest” (verse 17) because of the great efforts he had made. This painting shows Enos as he goes to “the places of [his] rest.“ Enos’s cool-toned face express the impression the words have on me. The red background drastically contrasts the calm with chaos, representing the contentions of Enos’s time and our own. The gold lining provides a protective barrier for Enos and the calamities around him, shining brightly and representing our redeemer. The flakes throughout speak to the people who have yet to accept Christ and his comfort, but still have “a place prepared for [them] in the mansions of [our] father.“

Inspired by Enos 1:27.

The Tree of Life

There are several places in the scriptures where the Lord expresses that He will stretch forth His hands to us, and I’ve always liked to relate that image to the Tree of Life. In my artistic rendition, the Tree of Life stretches forth its branches to everyone. The face at the center is representative of God, and the branches go out in every direction, representing His willingness to reach out to all of His children no matter where they are. Some branches have fruit for those ready to receive the blessings of the Gospel. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone and there is no one who is out of God’s reach. He is always looking for opportunities to touch our lives with His blessings.

Inspired by 1 Nephi 11.

His Light

My picture is a metaphor for how God’s light can protect us from Satan’s influence. The imagery I used helps illustrate this. The imagery was inspired by both Giddinahi’s letter to Lachoneus in 3 Nephi 3:10-12 and how Lehi and Nephi were protected by God’s fire in Helaman 5:23. The imagery I used is shown with the fire in the girl’s hands, which symbolizes God’s power. The glow surrounding her shows how God’s light will keep evil at bay. The broken chains at the Girl’s feet represent how Satan’s influence has lost its grasp on her. The mouth symbolizes Satan’s use of false flattery, and finally, the hands and eyes show how Satan is always watching for a chance to ensnare people into temptation. When creating this picture, I used the app Procreate. I wanted the overall feeling of the picture to create a sense of both God’s safety and Satan’s horror. I used a glitch effect on the eyes to create an unnatural look and I paid close attention to where the light drew the viewer’s eyes. This picture is meaningful to me because it helps remind me even a small bit of God’s light can keep us safe from Satan’s darkness, and if we are diligent in our efforts to stay connected to God, he will keep us safe.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 3:10-12 and Helaman 5.

Mormon Leaving the Nephite Army

Mormon was the leader of the Nephite army at the end of the Book of Mormon. However, they were so wicked and hard of heart that Mormon for a time left them to their own devices--unwilling to lead such a people. This print has a lot of black. Whenever I read these chapters, I get the feeling of a doomed apocalyptic world. Hence, the landscape (and the wicked people) reflect the dark, doomed state of the New World. Mormon, illuminated with holy light, has little faith in their future.

Inspired by Mormon 3.

Fountain of Righteousness

I was inspired to paint this fountain after reading the 8th chapter of Ether. It talks about the overthrow of freedom and the wickedness that comes from greed and selfishness. Our world is continually becoming full of greed and selfish acts are common. The line between good and evil has become quite blurred. If only the decisions we make in life could be a simple yes or no, righteous or not righteous. Perhaps if we could see the fountain that Moroni wished all would come unto, it would be more possible to be, “persuaded to do good continually.” I wanted to paint this fountain as a visual aid and reminder to all those that see it, to seek after righteousness, to find a real or figurative fountain in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is, and can be, that fountain. “…that they may… be saved.” (Ether 8:26) This piece is done on a 48x30 inch canvas. I used multiple layers of acrylic paint to represent the complexities of life and also used joint compound for more texture and depth. The shine/metallic colors pull the viewer in by depicting the light and holiness that we can follow/become by seeking a righteous life. I used bright blue for the water as to make it refreshing and inviting, just as a righteous life can be refreshing and inviting in our dark world. The simplicity in only painting the fountain as the represented object, gives the viewer room to interpret that, if one truly seeks after righteousness, it can be plain and obvious to them. The darkness around the fountain provides contrast between the “world” behind it, making it easier for the viewer to see the significance of a “righteous fountain.” It also shows viewers that there is another choice in life and that it is close and always present.

Inspired by Ether 8:26.

Her Title of Liberty

This piece is a ceramic sculpture representing a woman holding the Title of Liberty. In the Book of Mormon, the Title of Liberty is a physical representation of what Moroni and his 2,000 stripling warriors are fighting for. I wrote my own Title of Liberty for this piece, representing what I fight for: "In memory of my God, my sisters, my freedom, my education, and my creativity." Though a bit different from Moroni's solemn oath of protection, my Title of Liberty is just as personal, and just as powerful. The piece represents finding that fight and literally making it a part of you, which is seen in how the arm of the statue is the pole for the flag. The statue is so entwined with what she's fighting for that she becomes it, just as we should be. The statue is made of a white clay, hand sculpted (in my tiny dorm room) over the course of a few weeks. This piece is extremely personal to me. I see myself in that girl, partly because I used pictures of myself posing for reference, but also because I identify with her passion; from her defiant chin lifted in the air to the feminine strength in her pose. She represents my strength, my love, and my devotion to my God.

Inspired by Alma 46, Moroni's Title of Liberty.

I Have Seen My Redeemer

King Lamoni goes through one of the greatest transformations in all of scripture. This artwork, done in silver and black scratchboard, represents the moment when the "veil of unbelief was cast away from his mind". I love this medium because the contrast between dark and light is so stark and irresistible to the eye. Similarly there is a great contrast between good and evil. Sin is so dark and terrible as to make one feel that they can never escape. However the radiant light of the complete forgiveness that Christ offers can fill a person with life and happiness. Indeed in King Lamoni's case it infused his soul with such joy that he proclaimed that he had seen the very Son of God.

Inspired by Alma 19.

Hunter of the East

My painting is inspired by 1 Nephi: 21, a chapter that I have always held close to my heart as I have grown up. I remember the first time I read this chapter. I was just getting used to reading the scriptures again, and verse 13 struck a chord in my heart that I will always remember. Nonetheless, the entire chapter did resonate with my painting, "Hunter of the East." In this painting, I depict a journey, and although I was heavily inspired by the Book of Mormon, I found that while creating the painting, I was also impressed with the spirit of the importance of family history. That is why I depicted a woman as well; I wanted her to symbolize my ancestors as a whole. On her chest, I embroidered an eye pendant I painted; this is to symbolize the watchful eye of the Lord and our ancestors. Throughout the entirety of first Nephi, there are beautiful verses where the text is describing a journey, for example, "Go forth; to them that sit in darkness: Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places,""And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted,""O house of Israel. Listen, O isles, unto me, and hearken ye people from afar." Therefore, I wanted to depict that same journey through the movement of her dress and the unveiling of the curtains. Behind the curtains, there is a path that leads to the tree of life at the very top of the painting. The path is supposed to look treacherous, but it is also marked with beautiful flowers. This is to represent the journey of mortality. Like a scripture in 1 Nephi 21: 13, "Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; for the feet of those who are in the east shall be established; and break forth into singing, O mountains; for they shall be smitten no more; for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted." As verse thirteen says, "the feet of those in the east shall be established." I included a quote from a book that has been in my genealogy and family stories for generations, and that is the quote from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam on the banner. This quote is powerful because it tells the story of the sun traveling from east to west across the sky, which reminds me of the light of the knowledge of Christ moving across the earth. This is important to me because it's the most important thing that has ever been important! Christ is the only direction we need to follow, hence why my painting has only one path to go. The Lord shall be my strength, through genealogy and reading the scriptures as I pass mountains, highways, and the roughest seas. I am including this in "Book of Mormon art that demonstrates unique stylistic and technical approaches" because I wanted to display the message of 1 Nephi: 21 in a unique way. I wanted to display it through symbolism because sometimes we have to truly decipher and study the words of the scriptures to understand how to follow Christ, but once we do understand through the spirit, the message is there and the path is clear.

Inspired by 1 Nephi 21.

Christ's visit to America

In this scene, Christ appears to the people in the Americas and shows them the marks on his hands and sides. This is what I wanted to paint because I served my mission in Argentina and 3 Nephi 11 reminds me that God loves all his children and that’s why Christ visited them. I used acrylic paint to depict the scene is an abstract style.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 11.

Our Mothers Knew It

This piece is a non-traditional representation of one of the mothers and sisters of a Stripling Warrior, sending him off to battle, trusting that the Lord will bring him home. I've always been inspired by the mothers of the Striplings Warriors and their undoubting trust in the Lord and His promises. Even when we can't see the possibility of promised blessings coming to pass, we can rest assured that He is mindful of our fears, our anxieties, our worries, and every step to make those blessings a reality for us. Digital art, August 2023, made for 11"x17" prints.

Inspired by Alma 56:47-48.

Our Deliverance in Him

My piece depicts the first part of Alma 58, an important chapter to me while on my mission. I was studying the war chapters and felt an answer to my prayer regarding this story. A small band of Nephites does all they can to maintain the cities they have recaptured from the Lamanites without receiving any provisions (even though they have been petitioning for them). Suffering from starvation, they pray to God for help. God gives them hope and comfort as they wait for better things to come. Inspired by the 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry, I thought it would be interesting and revealing to create a work that uses similar methods to retell a piece of history, objectively and spiritually. The piece is felted using needles and wool.

Inspired by Alma 58.

The time is at hand

Created using Midjourney using the following prompt: "Native american man praying for a vulnerable group of people, award winning photo" I have felt the despair of wondering if it has been too long for the promises I've held on to. I wanted to use AI to make an image of Nephi praying for the faithful. These people believed and sought comfort, and God showed His tender mercy. I like this image because of the humility, solidarity, and illumination from above. The fire they huddle around has died, and sometimes everything we have to give likewise fades away. When all I have of myself is gone, I still find light from God. I still remember Him, and I know what I know. As an aside, I realize that using AI for making art is controversial. I don't intend to sow discord. Judge this however you feel is best.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 1.

My Beloved Son

I am still developing my voice as an artist, but nature and Gods creations are my greatest inspiration. I love the mountains as a symbol of my journey in faith and find them frequently abstracted in my work. I always see paintings of Christ, but I find I cannot begin to paint God when I cannot see Him with my natural eyes. I want Gods presence in my work though, so the light of Christ also represents Gods glory shining through Him not just from Him. I love standing in front of this painting myself and pondering what it would be like when He came, when He comes, but also how I am striving to come unto Christ now.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 11.

God be with you till we meet Again

This is a stone craving, a reminder that the resurrection wasn’t just for Christ to experience but eventually all of us. Inspired by his visitations not only to the Jews in the New Testament but also his visit to the Americas. I liked that Stone Tombs can appear scary but our faith affirms that they’re a symbol of Christ‘s resurrection. This piece is an expression of the joy I feel when I reflect on Christ resurrection and try to imagine how glorious it will be when we’re all resurrected. Reunited as one family under God.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 11.

Consider the Lilies

The Savior taught to consider the lilies of the field how they grow, they toil not. The Nephites, like us, tended to toil and spin a lot. They had to learn time and time again that peace is only found in Jesus Christ. In the war, if you look closely you can see it happening more than once, another war is faded in the background. My wife Maia inspired me to cut up pieces of colored cardboard and glue it on as an added texture and personality to the piece.

Inspired by Alma 46:12, and 3 Nephi 13:28.

He Loves the Mongolian Children

While serving my mission in Mongolia, I noticed an absence of art depicting Jesus Christ with Mongolian children. Each day I bore testimony of the love that Christ has for them, so I took it upon myself to display that. In this piece, Christ walks hand in hand with a Mongolian child wearing his countries traditional clothes. The majority of Mongolians do not know Christ. But I have never been more certain that Christ knows them. Loves them. Cries with them. Walks hand in hand with them. Always.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 22:13.

Eve Eating Fruit

I used traditional LDS prints overlaid with magazine clippings to show a different representation of Eve than is usually portrayed. In the background, the outline of Eve and Adam is shown from a painting by Lowell Bruce Bennett in the Primary manual. On top of that is a clipping of a woman nursing her child. Eve's role in the Garden of Eden and afterwards is often minimized or misunderstood. I wanted to show her as a powerful partner, mother, and decision maker.

Inspired by 2 Nephi 2.

Tree of Life Icon

This piece was inspired by the long tradition of Marian representations, particularly those of Byzantine iconic art, as well as imagery of the cross as a Tree of Life as found in the apse mosaic from the Basilica of San Clemente, Rome. Regarding the Book of Mormon, I pulled imagery from Nephi’s vision of the condescension of God and the Tree of Life, including the sweet fruit described by his father Lehi and the Virgin “bearing a child in her arms” (1 Nephi 11:20). The nature of icons as windows into another world also fits with the theme of vision in this piece. Though the symbol of the cross is commonly associated with the death of Christ, I find significant meaning in considering the life that comes through the cross, represented by the living vines growing out of it. I think that LDS art culture has much to learn from the global artistic dialog, both ancient and modern, and this painting intends to familiarize Latter-day Saints with the symbols and style of another group of believers.

Inspired by 1 Nephi 11.

Message for All

One aspect of the Book of Mormon that has always had great personal meaning to me is how it firmly emphasizes that the gospel, joy, and salvation of Jesus Christ is offered to all people. In 2 Nephi 26:33 it says: "For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile." God and Jesus Christ are both not respecters of persons in the sense that they do not exclude anyone from their love and blessings: All who faithfully desire those things can and will be able to obtain those things through the grace and Atonement of Jesus Christ. In this piece, I wanted to use a simple yet unique way to represent the idea that the Book of Mormon is for all people: regardless of their skin color, differences that may come as the result of unique cultural backgrounds and other traits that are the natural consequence of the immense diversity of human experiences, and that the message of salvation and joy is there for not only the living, but also for those who have passed on before us. The right most figure is represents Christ: He wears a robe and red and gold and is reaching out to figures that can represent both people from the Book of Mormon and us. The two figures that receive Christ are both of different color, but both are wearing robes whose colors match those of the Savior. This represents the idea that every individual is unique and will have their own differences that sets them apart from everyone else. However, when we all come unto Christ, we all take upon ourselves His example and His life, and we all commit ourselves to the same covenants and goal to obtain eternal life. However, our individual processes of developing in and progressing in the gospel will be different from that of others, and is something that should be respected and celebrated. This is represented by the different patterns found on the robes of the blue and green figure. Finally, the white figure flying above in the night sky represents the spirits of our ancestors who have passed before us. All of us owe a great deal of the blessings that we enjoy now to people or someone who came before us. Many of these good people never had the chance to receive the message of Jesus Christ in their lifetimes. However, the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that it heralded brings the wonderful message that the dead are not forgotten by God and Jesus Christ, and that the gospel includes means by which they can come to receive salvation and eternal life as well. I want to proclaim with my art the resounding truth that the Book of Mormon witnesses that God loves and wants to help all people to come back to Him. Alive, dead, regardless of differences in culture, ethnicity, and any other distinguishing attribute. He wants each and all of us. And thus in the same spirit, we as saints and children of God, all ought to strive to learn to love all people and desire the hopeful vision that all people can come together to form a joyful society with God: One of true peace, acceptance, love, and opportunity for all to feel able to progress and grow towards greater divinity as one unified body. I think this is partly what God means when He talks of having His saints establish Zion both on earth, and eventually in heaven.

Inspired by 2 Nephi 26.

Unity in Diversity: Embracing Global Cultures in the Book of Mormon and the Church

The image celebrates the rich tapestry of cultures represented in the Book of Mormon and the global community of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The iconic Salt Lake Temple stands majestically as a symbol of faith and unity, while a vibrant globe encircled by people from diverse backgrounds highlights the inclusivity and interconnectedness within the global Church. This artwork emphasizes the beauty of cultural diversity and the shared values that bind people together in their journey of spiritual growth and understanding.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 5.

They were all filled

In this depiction of Christ administering the sacrament to the ancient Americans, many different people with a variety of circumstances, trials, and unfulfilled hopes are gathered together under Christ. Each is hungering and famished for healing and blessings and each, in their individual and diverse needs finds solace in Him as He teaches them the covenantal ordinance of the sacrament. Each is filled by the Bread of Life, which is Christ, and become united under His covenantal love!

Inspired by 3 Nephi 18.

Mother of Humanity

For Eve, I was frustrated with the way she was shown to me growing up: as a blonde white woman. I decided to go back to the beginning, where the first humans came from: Africa. I wanted to portray her with a darker skin tone in hopes of going against the stigma that dark skin is inferior. I did this to highlight its less appreciated beauty and provide more representation in church artwork. I hope that darker skin tones can be celebrated more often to make everyone feel comfortable with themselves and their God-created bodies. I also incorporated texture on her skin that is inspired by African scarification practices that date back to 8000 B.C. to connect Eve with cultural elements from her area. Eve is the epitome of womanhood and femininity—the first woman. I also wanted to give Eve shorter hair in order to show that femininity does not depend on modern societal beauty standards. I also incorporated lots of yellow flowers and highlights to show how radiant and holy the woman is from whom we all descended. The flowers also echoed femininity and the Garden of Eden. I do not claim to know what Eve looks like or from exactly which culture she comes from. As I scoured the Book of Mormon studying her appearances, no concrete details were given. However, I think that my portrayal of her is more inclusive and based on more accurate historical information than the blonde portraits of the mother of humanity. As I delved into the scriptures in search of information about the Mother of All Living, I became more appreciative of her vital roles in the scriptures. Doing so helped me connect with my divine worth as a daughter of God. I grew my testimony on the value of individuals in Heavenly Father’s plan, which motivates me to not undermine my own contributions to the Gospel’s growth. I used this piece to escape my artistic comfort zone and learn digital art.

Inspired by 2 Nephi 2.

All ye, buried in water - arise reborn

My painting tells a story of rebirth. I began by choosing a story from the Book of Mormon that is very near to my heart; that of the convert baptisms that took place at the waters of Mormon. One thing I learned while serving my mission in Quito, Ecuador, is that baptism is the great unifier. The hope and promise inherent to the baptismal covenant is not exclusive to only one culture or people. Symbols of rebirth and renewal can be found patterned time and time again in the artwork of ancient civilizations. Even though Egyptian, Aztec, and Buddhist symbolism feature more prominently in my work, they are not by any means the only cultures to value such representations. The Bennu birds flanking both sides of baptismal font in my painting represent regeneration--specifically the regeneration of a new day, as they were believed to symbolize the soul of the sun god Ra. I love the idea that when we are baptized we end the nightmare of sin and enter into a clean, new day full of endless opportunity. The butterfly imagery descending from the top of the painting are ancient Aztec symbols of fire, as the Aztecs believed that the quivering of butterfly wings imitated the flickering of flames. In the painting they represent the gift of the holy ghost, as baptism by water is incomplete without baptism by fire. The baptismal font itself draws from both egyptian and buddhist influences. The pattern represented on the pillars of the font create a lotus-like flower. Both Egyptian and Buddhist cultures prized this flower as a symbol of rebirth because it closes up at night, sinks under the water, and then re-emerges with the coming of the sun. I chose to repeat this symbol twice, once patterned on the pillars of the font and once at the base of the waterfall, in an attempt to honor both the Egyptian and Buddhist cultures.

Inspired by Mosiah 18:14.

Behold

This piece represents 1 Nephi 12:1, where Nephi envisions his posterity. Although the following verses foretell hardship and conflict, as an isolated scripture this verse has brought me comfort as a reflection of the beauty of seeing “multitudes of people…as many as the sand of the sea.” This painting, mirroring Norman Rockwell’s Freedom from Want, is a study of glimpsing my family as a parallel for all families of the earth. My family is a family of pioneers, converts to the church, and nonmembers. My mother grew up LDS in the United States, with pioneer ancestors. My father converted to the church as a child. His family is from Nigeria, who then moved to England. After getting married to my mom, my dad immigrated to the United States. I am the oldest son and have two blood-related siblings. My youngest sister was adopted from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The other two brothers represented are not legally my siblings, but I consider them family because they have lived with us since 2014, because of their own difficult family circumstances. In a global church, most families look like mine with an intermingling of cultures, backgrounds, and stories within the walls of the same home. Within 1 Nephi 12:1 verse, a variant of “behold” is repeated three times. The dictionary suggest behold means to see or observe a thing of a person, especially a remarkable or impressive one. My family, like every other, is extraordinary, holding immeasurable value. And all it takes to notice that is to behold.

Inspired by 1 Nephi 12:1.

The Scalping of Zerahemnah

In this digital artwork I drew the scene in Alma 44 in which we see how Moroni was able to use strategy and preparation to completely surround a much stronger lamanite army led by Zerahemnah. We learn of the character of Moroni who chose not to kill them but to let them go if they make a promise to return home and not fight the Nephites again. Zerahemnah refused and in the ensuing skirmish ended up running away with less hair. The nephite who had won the fight put his scalp on the end of his sword and used a simile cure that if they refused to make that promise that they too would fall to the earth like Zerahemnah’s hair. After this the remainder of the lamanites chose to make this promise and returned home in peace. This is the first battle where we see Moroni in action. We learn of his prowess as a great military general who put God first, before the shedding of blood. He trusted God and led his armies to many victories in the following chapters. He is someone I look up to as an example of a christlike leader. In this artwork I was inspired by the fearlessness and preparations of Moroni. He planned ahead, giving his army sufficient armor and weapons. I was inspired by the weapons of the Aztec and Inca military culture. We have some records of what their armor was like and I tried my best to depict this armor in my art showing the varieties of cultures and people that show the diversity of the people in the Book of Mormon.

Inspired by Alma 44.

Behold the Son of God

My artwork, "Behold the Son of God" is inspired by the account of Christ visiting the Nephites in 3 Nephi 11. In verse 8 of chapter 11, Christ is described as descending in a white robe and the people are in awe as they see him. I hope that through this piece we can reflect on the emotions those faithful disciples felt as they saw their Savior, and reflect on thefeelings of love and joy we have for Him as well.

Inspired by 3 Nephi 11.

Mormon and his Plates

Mormon is inscribing his record into the plates. I thought that a linocut would be appropriate seeing that each character would have been carved into the plates. The first three lines contain the words "Jehovah" or "Yahweh" in differing versions of Hebrew and hieroglyph. The other characters are based on Egyptian hieroglyph and the Reformed Egyptian characters Joseph Smith recorded from the plates.

Inspired by Words of Mormon 1.

Teancum's Decision

“And thus they did encamp for the night. For behold, the Nephites and the Lamanites also were weary because of the greatness of the march; therefore they did not resolve upon any stratagem in the night-time, save it were Teancum; for he was exceedingly angry with Ammoron, insomuch that he considered that Ammoron, and Amalickiah his brother, had been the cause of this great and lasting war between them and the Lamanites, which had been the cause of so much war and bloodshed, yea, and so much famine.

And it came to pass that Teancum in his anger did go forth into the camp of the Lamanites, and did let himself down over the walls of the city. And he went forth with a cord, from place to place, insomuch that he did find the king; and he did cast a javelin at him, which did pierce him near the heart. But behold, the king did awaken his servants before he died, insomuch that they did pursue Teancum, and slew him.”

Alma 62:35-36

Of all of the lessons to be pulled from the story of Teancum, his example as a decisive and proactive leader is one of the most intriguing. Often, we hear about the example set by Captain Moroni in his defense of the Nephite people, but I feel that the example of Teancum in doing the same is also worth learning from. When faced with a threat to his people, their peace, and their religion, he did everything in his power to ensure that evil would not prevail, even at the cost of his own life.

In this piece, I hoped to be able to capture not only the fervor and the focus that Teancum exemplified, but also his mortal fragility. Origami is an artform that allows a surprising amount of expression to be translated through the simple medium of folded paper. This model was folded from a two foot square of paper, over the course of several days. Designing the model took the better part of a week.

Mosiah, seer

Created using Midjourney, with the following prompt: "Watercolor of a benevolent indigenous king seeking the will of God. Holding a glowing stone. Blurry crowd in the background. Muted colors. Side view." I wanted to visualize the humble power of a king under God. Knowing King Mosiah was an inhabitant of Ancient America, I wanted to see him as a Native American. It's mind-opening.

Inspired by Mosiah 8.

Journey of the Jaredites (as recorded in an ancient Sumerian style)

". . . They got aboard of their vessels or barges, and set forth into the sea, commending themselves unto the Lord their God." -Ether 6:4. I sketched the original version of this painting on the flight to my mission. As most new missionaries are, I felt an odd mixture of overwhelming excitement and extreme anxiety for the adventure ahead of me. I'd been reading the first chapters of Ether early that morning, so it was on my mind. Our flight was running late and we would miss our layover to Nashville, so I started praying that the wind would push our plane towards the East like how God had pushed the Jaredite's barges through the ocean. I started drawing something like this to remind me that everything would be okay. We made our layover on time with an extra 30 minutes to spare, and made it to Nashville safely. The original ink sketch changed meaning for me throughout my mission. Most of the time, I didn't know what I was doing. I felt like I was stuck in barges, being pushed around through deep waters, swimming past monsters of the sea. And yet I'd always end up on top of the waters. I felt often like those little Jaredites, praising God for His higher plans, even though I was often confused by them. This ink illustration is like a record of an ancient piece of Sumerian art. Obviously we don't have any of the art the Jaredites made, but the Jaredites came from Babylon, and I imagine they could have made art like this. I felt like an archeologist illustrator making this, taking note of something much older and ancient than the rest of the Book of Mormon. The text in the middle is a rough Sumerian translation Ether 6. I feel grateful that God trusts us with their story, and wants us to know who these people are. I'd like to see what kind of art they would make of themselves.

Inspired by Ether 6.

Expiación Infinita

This is part of a collection named, No Me Olvides (Forget Me Not in Spanish) inspired from the passage in 1 Nephi 21:14-15, “For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.” In it is represented how the Lord is anxiously reminding us he does not forget us and is pleading us not to forget Him. With this instruction, the No Me Olvides series are born. Each piece comes from a specific verse in the Book of Mormon that highlights what we mustn’t forget about Him. This one comes from the everlasting truth the Atonement of Jesus Christ is infinite. This means the Atonement of Jesus Christ is for everyone! In Expiación Infinita (Infinite Atonement), a variety of lines are depicted to represent how different all the people are for whom the Savior gave His life. Christ is represented with the Forget Me Not flower repeatedly throughout the diversity of lines to stress He doesn’t leave anyone behind. He’s everywhere for everyone! All of us are gray to highlight we’re all the same to Him. He pleads, “Forget Not, you are mine.” Medium: black pen and colored pencils on paper.

Inspired by 2 Nephi 9:7, 25:16.

My Divine Potential

This portrait of Mother in Heaven, titled "My Divine Potential", is influenced by my Hawaiian and Filipino ancestry and what I feel I can become when I achieve Eternal Life. The painting incorporates some of my own physical traits, as well as those from my own mother and Kūpuna Wāhine (female ancestors). While doing this, I felt a connection with Mother in Heaven as Her daughter. Through this experience, I feel like I have not only come to better understand myself and my relationship with Heavenly Mother but my own Kūpuna Wāhine and future descendants. We are all connected and we all have a common Mother–Heavenly Mother. I know that if we strive to do what is right on earth, we can reach our Divine Potential and become like our Mother and Father. This painting is an acrylic on canvas. Some of the things I incorporated are as follows: At the top of the head, She wears a lei of yellow and pinkish/red flowers. In Hawaiian culture, red and yellow are the colors of royalty. Her hair is black with grayish/white streaks, which can be seen as the natural variation in the hair, or as aging hair. Gray hair may represent wisdom and experience. The symbolism throughout Her dress is one of my favorite parts of this piece. I incorporate designs from Polynesian and Filipino tattoos. The design on Her neck represents protection and strength, as well as the bond of family (generations before and to come). This is kept close to Her chest, as it is central to Her relationship with us. We are Her children and She can help guide and protect us. The middle part of Her dress shows space and represents Her power and ability to create with the Father, as well as our potential as creators. I also incorporate red and yellow here to represent royalty. The bottom half of Her dress incorporates other specific designs, which represent Her being with us on our journey through life (the bird/turtle designs), Her power (spearheads and shark teeth), and the origin of man (or Kalo, which is also a reference to a Hawaiian legend on the origin of man).

Inspired by 2 Nephi 31:20.