The Bismarck North Dakota 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 visits the temple site to research its history, construction, and beautiful surroundings. He then returns to his studio to draw the temple by referring to his notes, sketches, and photographs.

President Hinckley has counseled, If we are a temple-going people, we will be a better people, we will be better fathers and husbands, we will be better wives and mothers. I know your lives are busy. I know that you have much to do. But I promise that if you will go the House of the Lord, you will be blessed, life will be better for you. Now please, please, my beloved brethren and sisters, avail yourselves of the great opportunity to go the the Lord's house and thereby partake of all the marvelous blessings that are yours to be received there. (Deseret News Church Almanac 1999:2000, p. 479.) In the temple, members are taught more about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the purpose of life. Christ is the Bread of Life.  Just as manna was showered down as bread from heaven to save ancient Israel from starvation and temporal death, so Christ came down from heaven to give living bread and living water to all men so that they might gain everlasting life. (John 4:10-38;6:30-65) Depicting the Bread of Life theme, Chad has rendered the Savior's image in the sky and across the surface of the temple. His arms are outstretched inviting us to attend the temple. Shafts of wheat are found among the shadows in the picture's foreground. Wheat was used in this rendering because of its spiritual significance and its importance as an agricultural crop to the state of North Dakota. In the United States, North Dakota ranks number one in the production of spring and durum wheat.