Artworks for Doctrine & Covenants 18-28
Our artistic exploration of the Doctrine & Covenants continues! Each month, we'll share artworks from our permanent collection or visiting exhibitions that accompany 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.
February 24 - March 2
Here is a woman whose life and works have earned her a halo: a symbol reserved for divinity, canonized saints, and the like. And yet, the fixture is in repair. The cause of deterioration or imbalance is unknown, but instead of removing the woman’s halo, the heavenly figure simply restores it. Discouraged by our mortal imperfections and inadequacies, we might mistakenly believe that our divine worth is less, that we could never qualify for a halo of our own. But to the Lord, who loves us wholly and perfectly, “the worth of souls is great.”
March 3-9
This print comes from the Dutch Baroque age—a period marked by an increasingly wealthy middle class, but also a time when Protestant artworks warned against the vain things of the world (Proverbs 28:19). Viewers of this print were reminded that wealth does not remain with us after we die. Similarly, the Lord warned Martin Harris in D&C 19, “I command thee that thou shalt not covet thine own property, but impart it freely to the printing of the Book of Mormon” (v. 26). The Lord asked Martin Harris to give up the treasures of the earth for His purposes, but also promised blessings greater than the treasures of earth in return (v. 38).
How has the Lord blessed you for sacrifices you have made?
March 10-16
The Lord favors order and organization; it is no surprise, then, that He also encourages chronicling important events and teachings. On several occasions recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants, He instructs that “there shall be a record kept among you” (21:1). Heaven, too, keeps a record, as illustrated in The Recording Angel above. Some people keep a record by journaling, others with photos, and some with audio. Regardless of your preferred method, what can you learn from the Lord’s approach to record keeping?
What can you learn from the Lord’s approach to record keeping?
March 17-23
After calling Emma an “elect lady,” the Lord extends a calling to her: comfort and consol Joseph Smith “in the Spirit of meekness.” As Elder Bednar describes this Christlike attribute, he says, “Meekness is strong, not weak; active, not passive; courageous, not timid; restrained, not excessive; modest, not self-aggrandizing; and gracious, not brash.” Ruth is another example of courageous meekness in the scriptures as she gave up the familiar to care for Naomi.
Who are other examples of meekness in the scriptures?
March 24-30
The Adversary has always sought to tempt God’s children, even the Savior. Thus, the goal is not that Satan will stop throwing his fiery darts (though that would be nice), but that we will be armed, protected, and prepared for when he does attack. D&C 27 instructs us that this means taking up on us God’s WHOLE armor, from our head to our toes. Armor might seem cumbersome—it’s heavy and hard to move quickly in—but it cannot adequately protect the wearer unless they have put on the full set. Furthermore, one cannot wait until danger appears to don the various pieces—they must already be ready. We too cannot expect spiritual protection until we have gone through the work to be prepared. What other metaphors can you find in D&C 27 about putting on the armor of God?
What do you learn about the armor of God from D&C 27?
