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"The Tree of Life"

The fruit of the tree of life is the love of God which binds together in a great circle the hearts of His children who gather under its branches

This painting, the winner of the Church Museum art contest in 1987, depicts “the numberless concourses of people” who were pressing forward “to obtain the path” concluding at the Tree of Life. The message of the Book of Mormon applies to the “multitudes of the earth” partaking of the fruit of the Tree of Life, or accepting the messages of the gospel. Notice the glorious Tree, representing the condescension of God of Jesus Christ and its fruit, which is the love of God. I fashioned the tree after a hand—the hand of God extending to offer its fruit to mankind. Notice in the center of the picture, the celestial valley where the multitudes of the earth must pass to choose whether to go the broad and winding path to the great and spacious building or to the iron rod which terminates at the Tree. The great and spacious building, occupied by the generations of the world mocking the humble followers of God, has no foundation and will surely fall.

1 Nephi Chapters 8-13, The Book of Mormon

 

"Escape!"

Born of self-determination, our forebears have many times fled the comfort and security of their homes to escape spiritual bondage and oppression in search of a better life. With no more perhaps than the promise shining in the stars and pale moon, we must keep the same legacy of determination.

Here, Ammon the head of the search party from Zarahemla, is seen in jaguar skins, ready for trouble from the Lamanite sentries seen in the background right in a drunken sleep. Gideon, whose idea it was to escape at night, is pushing the main bulk of the gate. Everyone, including King Limhi, is demanding silence as the large door is being opened to the secret back pass-through in which to escape. This painting depicts one of the major themes of the Book of Mormon: the righteous must sometimes leave all behind and flee from wickedness. I have hidden in this painting a second totally separate future migration. Can you find it?

Mosiah Chapter 22, The Book of Mormon

 

"A Farewell to Arms"

Like an eagle heavenward, an oath of peace. Turning their backs on the Generals and Demons of war, they bury their weapons deep in the earth. Peace on earth, good will toward men.

This painting has numerous hidden images: the generals Genghis Kahn, Hitler, Alexander the Great, who are being banished; Satan, the fiend of the pit, is thwarted as he turns away with a snarl; the profile of an eagle in the center of the picture is a symbol of Anti Nephi-Lehi’s oath ascending to heaven; and the Lord himself, the center of Light, is smiling down on their efforts. The center of the picture’s meaning, however, is seen in the girl’s hands at the far right of the picture: the scriptures. So powerfully does the Spirit move us that at times we are transported through time and space to actually participate in the scriptures. She is witnessing this Scriptural event through reading the scriptures, the Spirit giving her eyes and ears.

Alma Chapter 24, The Book of Mormon

 

"The First Supper"

Men and women of all ages, races and places are invited to the Lord’s Supper.

Inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper”, “The First Supper” is meant to be an all-inclusive invitation to partake of the Lord’s Supper.  Beginning at the left, the table represents a timeline where ancient believers are partaking of the sacrament.  The next threesome represents the rest of the Western Hemisphere, including the Native American and Polynesian peoples.  Just to the right of Christ sits three men representing Africa, India, and Asia. The last threesome on the far right represents the future and the Second Coming of Christ.  Rich and Poor are represented here as none but the proud are refused a place at the table of Christ.   On the wall in the background are found representations of high priests, pharaohs, kings and emperors of mankind, crumbling away; the only things that remain are our covenants with Christ.  A place is set for the viewer to sit down at the Lord’s Supper.

 

"The Ancient Mariner"

Like an ancient mariner, each of us sails through the unchartered waters of life by faith, perseverance, and light from the Heavens.

This view of Hagoth is towards the end of his life as he looks across the sea from whence they came. It was from such people as this ancient mariner that the Book of Mormon peoples spread to the Pacific Islands. As the sun sets, Hagoth reflects on his life’s work. Notice the reed boat at the water’s edge resembling Thor Heyerdahl’s Ra2. The reed boats were found anciently in Egypt and are still in use on Lake Titicaca in Peru, suggesting an Old World connection. It was modern Incan descendents who wove the boat for Dr. Heyerdahl’s Atlantic crossing.

Alma Chapter 63, The Book of Mormon

 

"My Soul Hungered"

Within the wilderness of our own soul lies self-defining struggles of shadows and light; the obvious and obscure; the divine and profane. The painting of contrasts symbolically portrays our individual quest to discover our true self-identity or irrelevance.

To punctuate the struggle of Enos’ soul of seeking forgiveness for sin (good vs. evil), this painting is filled with contrasts: the light vs. dark; fair weather and storm clouds; the straight and gnarled trees—both living and dead; the sharp detail of the foreground and fog obscuring the background; as well as sharp contrasts of opposites orange against blue. Enos is totally ignoring the stag in the background, laying aside his bow and arrows with his water gourd and cloak, because he really is not interested in hunting at all but rather seeking after the Lord.

Enos Chapter 1, The Book of Mormon

 

"Refuge"

At times bloody and battered by the crowd, all of us seek refuge - for healing - with our families, and friends, and God through his servants.

It says in 3 Nephi 7, that the unrepentant apostates were angry with Nephi because he “had greater power than they.” They can be seen in the background of the painting, watching as Nephi is commanding his martyred brother back to life. The two are surrounded by humble believers who have borne his body hence, away from the harsh scenes of the city seen in the distant background. Muted tones of blue and green and lush scenery contrast God’s love and life restored, to the violence of the city mob and life destroyed.

3 Nephi Chapter 7, The Book of Mormon

 

"The Pillar of Fire"

The pillar of fire from Heaven judges the penitent and the proud. Swirling in the fire are images of the thermonuclear yet pending.

Probably the greatest missionaries in the Book of Mormon are seen here, bound in ropes and surrounded by fire in prison. The scene depicted is precisely when power was given to Aminadab to behold the faces of Nephi and Lehi in the attitude of talking to the angels of God. Aminadab then remembers what he was taught as one-time believer of Christ and told the cowering would be assassins to cry to the Lord to be delivered from the pillar of fire. Immediately following their pleas, the fire surrounded the Lamanites as well and angels came down and ministered unto them, converting all present unto the Lord. Nephi and Lehi together with their 300 converts in prison, fortified a nucleus of missionaries which converted the entire Lamanite nation and returned the captured land of Zarahemla back to the Nephites without even one battle of casualty.

 

"The Littlest Angel"

(She forgot to take her wings.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Copyright notice: The paintings featured here are under copyright to Pendleton Prints. It is illegal to reproduce or redistribute these for any purpose without written consent. If desired, prints may be purchased, simply email sneal@oregontrail.net.