Painting the Word

By LaRene Gaunt

Assistant Editor

Book of Mormon themes from the Church Museum’s Second International Art Competition

Prophets throughout the history of the Church have encouraged members to use their talents for gospel purposes.

In 1857 President John Taylor said, “God expects Zion to become the praise and glory of the whole earth, so that kings hearing of her fame will come and gaze upon her glory.” (Sermon, 20 Sept. 1857; see Ensign, July 1977, p. 3.)

In 1977 President Spencer W. Kimball called for members “to do justice in recording in song and story and painting and sculpture the story of the Restoration.” (Ensign, July 1977, p. 5.)

President Ezra Taft Benson has encouraged members to specifically use their talents to flood the earth with the Book of Mormon. “I have a vision of artists putting into film, drama, literature, music, and paintings great themes and great characters from the Book of Mormon,” he said. (Ensign, Nov. 1988, p. 6.)

Two international art competitions have been sponsored by the Museum of Church History and Art in order to encourage Latter-day Saint artists to create art based on the gospel. The result has been a glorious cache of original artwork for the Church. Following is a small selection from the Second International Art Competition of paintings with Book of Mormon themes.