Cover image: “Worth of a Soul” by Liz Lemon Swindle.
The following is excerpted from the Church Newsroom. To read the full report, CLICK HERE.
When leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lift the temporary suspension of weekly worship services, Church members around the world will again enjoy the centrality of the meetinghouse to their Sabbath experience.
In a letter today, the First Presidency is asking local leaders to ensure that the aesthetic feel in the foyers and entryways to the faith’s weekly worship spaces reflects an even deeper reverence for the Lord Jesus Christ. This effort supports President Russell M. Nelson’s call over the past 18 months to emphasize that “Jesus Christ is at the center of His Church” (First Presidency letter, March 5, 2019).
Today’s letter says local leaders and facilities managers should work together to assess the placement and unobstructed display of Christ-focused art in the foyers and main entries of each of the faith’s meetinghouses around the world. Leaders can continue to choose from a selection of art that features the Savior of the world. Most of these paintings can be downloaded in the photo carousel below.
A document accompanying the letter includes the following five guidelines for a better Savior-focused experience for those entering a meetinghouse.
- Place existing artwork that depicts the Savior Himself or the Savior ministering to others in meetinghouse entries and foyers. Examine existing artwork to ensure that it is appropriately framed, displayed and in good condition.
- Move other artwork to another location within the facility or remove it altogether.
To read the full report, CLICK HERE.
BobMay 13, 2020
I have very mixed feelings about the "approved" paintings. We've seen them for years, in our meetinghouses and temple visitor's centers. My gripe is that the majority of them are not art at all, but merely illustrations. Look at the Harry Anderson paintings; there's nothing artistic about them. They don't demand a thing from the viewer. Static and evoking no depth of emotion, provoking no questions, providing no challenge. Contrast them with the Heinrich Hoffman painting "Christ and the Rich Young Man'", on the approved list. It's everything the Anderson paintings are not. Or anything from Carl Bloch. I might use an Anderson painting to illustrate a scripture story, but I'll take Hoffman, Bloch, or hundred others if I want to contemplate who the Savior is, what he did, and what it means.
JoanMay 12, 2020
It will be wonderful to have these paintings displayed to remind us of our Savior and the reason we come to worship, and to increase our reverence. The place where no paintings are displayed, is in our chapels. I am told that the reason for this is that nothing is to upstage the Sacrament Table. Partaking of the Sacrament each week is our sacred privilege so that we can renew our covenant of taking upon us His name, and recommitting ourselves to keeping His commandments.