The Birmingham Alabama Temple is one of a series of detailed pencil drawings and paintings created by the artist Chad S. Hawkins. In 1989, at the age of seventeen, Chad started this unique temple series, becoming the original LDS artist to involve hidden spiritual images in his artwork. Before drawing each temple, Chad researches its history, construction, and beautiful surroundings. He then returns to his studio to draw the temple by referring to his notes, sketches, and photographs.

The temple is the first in Alabama and is in located near the state's largest city. It is located in the Birmingham suburb of Gardendale, adjacent to the Gardendale Branch meetinghouse. The temple rests on a 5.7-acre heavily wooded hill at an elevation of 658 feet above sea level. It was designed to be situated squarely in all directions with the entrance facing east. The terraced landscape features crape myrtle, shrubbery, seasonal flower, pine trees and dogwood trees. Members in the area feel it appropriate that the temple is located on Mount Olive Boulevard. As with all of my temple works of art, comments the artist, I include in addition to the temple, appropriate hidden spiritual images within each drawing. With the Birmingham Alabama Temple, my goal was to include an image that would encourage members to have a current temple recommend and to visit the temple as often as occasion permits. Among the trees and foliage, I rendered a full-length image of the Savior in the motion of inviting us to receive the blessings found in temple service. He is positioned overlooking the temple's celestial room.