Temple Artwork Spotlight: Anchorage Alaska Temple

iboom — Fri, 01 May 2015 20:53:52 +0000

The Anchorage Alaska Temple is a part 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 include hidden spiritual images in his artwork.

Hidden Imagery

The Temple is located on stake center grounds close to the major Seward Highway, and is nestled in a grove of trees in a residential area of the city. The Chugach Mountain range is found on the east, and the Cook Inlet is southwest of this area. Ursa Major, or the Big Dipper, and the North Star mark the west side of the Temple as symbols used for the Last Frontier State. Chad subtly placed them among both the distant mountains and trees in this painting. Prominent in the northern sky, they serve as navigational aids, guiding many safely to their destinations. Hence, on the Temple these reflect the great guiding influence of Jesus Christ and His work for mankind.

Additional Imagery

Chad has also sketched an image of the Savior, Jesus Christ, kneeling in prayer in the tall trees and grass on the right of the temple. President Howard W. Hunter counseled, “Let us truly be a temple-attending and temple-loving people. We should hasten to the temple as frequently, yet prudently, as our personal circumstances allow…As we attend the temple, we learn more richly and deeply the purpose of life and the significance of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ensign, February 1995, p. 5).

The post Temple Artwork Spotlight: Anchorage Alaska Temple appeared first on Chad Hawkins Artist Blog.

Temple Artwork Spotlight: Albuquerque New Mexico Temple

iboom — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 22:13:55 +0000

The Albuquerque New Mexico 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.

Drawing Hidden Details

From the temple grounds, visitors are able to see a panoramic view of the Sandia Mountains. Within these mountains, Chad has sketched Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, in the mountain, with his flock of sheep in the clouds and among the mountain peaks. Christ is the Shepherd; his sheepfold is the Church of Jesus Christ (see John 10:14). As we attend the temple, we learn more richly and deeply the purpose of life and the significance of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord, Jesus Christ. “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom . . .” (Isaiah 40:11).

Temple History

In 1846, the Mormon Battalion crossed what is now New Mexico during its historic march to the Pacific Coast from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In September 1996, more than 700 Church members in New Mexico joined with government officials in rededicating a monument built to honor members of the Mormon Battalion, who blazed trails through the state 150 years earlier. The twenty foot native stone monument features a plaque with a wagon wheel adorning its top. The wagon wheel on top of the monument has been drawn subtly within this drawing in the lower right corner.

Stay tuned for spotlights of more temples! Get artwork of your favorite temple at https://www.chadhawkins.com/