Our "Come, Follow Me" companion continues in 2025!
We are delighted to announce that our Come, Follow Me series will continue in 2025, this time with artworks to accompany readings for the Doctrine and Covenants! Each month on our website, you can find artworks from our permanent collection or visiting exhibitions for each of the coming month's Come, Follow Me readings. You can also subscribe to get email reminders when new artworks are ready or follow along weekly on Instagram or Facebook. We hope that art-lovers everywhere will be inspired by these artworks as they complement their gospel study, family discussions, and church classes with fine art from around the world. Here are our first selected artworks for the year!
December 30 - January 5
We are delighted to again share weekly artworks following along with Come, Follow Me. We’re thrilled to dive into the Doctrine & Covenants with you through a wide variety of artistic styles and eras. We hope these artworks will be a blessing to you in your personal, family, and community scripture study.
Combined with scripture study, artworks like this Ecce Homo portrait of Christ can foster deeper appreciation for the Savior’s earthly experiences, atoning sacrifice, infinite triumph, and continued loving guidance. Here, the words uttered by Pilate when presenting Christ to the condemnatory crowd—Ecce Homo or “Behold the Man”— become a somber invitation to reflect on the profound sufferings and love of the Lamb of God.
This poignant painting reminds us of the Savior’s central role—both in our Church and in our lives: “This Church is anchored in the perfect life of its chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ, and in His infinite Atonement and literal Resurrection” (see The Joseph Smith Papers, History, 1838-1856, volume E-1).
January 6-12
Mahonri M. Young’s plaster statue consists of two main elements: the Prophet Joseph Smith and the book of scripture he holds. While Joseph’s stance and expression are calmly determined, his careful grip communicates the book’s precious contents as he gently offers it to the viewer. This monument recalls a verse in the Lord’s preface to the Doctrine & Covenants: “...My word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same (D&C 1:38).”
Joseph’s life, work, and martyrdom testify of his sincere desire to know God: “When we understand the character of God, and know how to come to Him,” he said, “he begins to unfold the heavens to us, and to tell us all about it. When we are ready to come to him, he is ready to come to us.”
January 13-19
After fervently searching the scriptures for an answer, Joseph Smith was impressed to ask his question to God directly. His answer came in the form of a miraculous vision, depicted here by Minerva Teichert. Knocked backwards in staggering astonishment, the young boy is overcome by the glory of heavenly beings. Their radiant glow consumes their surroundings and brings a brilliant aura to the canvas. Teichert’s use of light reminds us not only of the eternal nature and glory of God the Father and Jesus Christ, but also of the truth they delivered when they answered Joseph’s question. This encounter marked a key moment in the Restoration in which knowledge and doctrine that had been lost was brought back to the earth.
When have you received an answer to a question through prayer?
January 20-26
The Lord’s promise in Malachi is repeated in D&C 2. Now directed to Joseph Smith, Moroni prophesies that the “hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers” (D&C 2:2). For Valerie Atkisson, her artmaking is a way of doing this: “…the heart of my work is the global family and the value of each life. . . family history work has been the metaphor [through] which I communicate that.”
Atkisson's Hanging Family History (Patriarchally Oriented) was created using triangular pieces of rice paper and copper wire. This suspended sculpture records her own family history, beginning with her name at the top and stretching several generations all the way back to Claudius, King of the Franks, 9 AD!
What have you learned by reflecting on the lives of those who came before you?
