It is my hope that when one first sees this painting of the beautiful Idaho Falls Temple, they will sense and feel the overall spirit of the Temple, the House of the Lord. The serene and lovely surroundings have purposely been painted to enhance the beauty of the temple and to remind us to leave the busy world behind.
The brilliant, eastward morning light is full upon the face of the Temple, which radiates a glowing white, reflecting the inward light of Holiness to the Lord. (JS-M 1:26, Ezek.43:2) Moroni, in quiet dignity and golden splendor, stands as an ever-ready herald. (Rev.14:6)
After reflecting on the beauty of the temple and the reverent spirit that is felt, one will see that a portion of the light and billowing clouds behind the Temple has been darkened. This serves a two-fold purpose as, in art, the only way to make something appear light, is to place dark behind it. The dark area in the clouds is also used as a symbolic reminder of the tempests of the adversary in our lives and to remind us of the principle that the only way for us, as children of our Heavenly Father, to become pure and light is to put evil and darkness behind us. The Temples are given from the Lord to help us reach our goals of celestial and eternal sanctification.
As one studies the painting, they notice the two mature trumpeter swans and their “children” in the foreground. Using another artistic principle of repetition with variation, the “parents” are white like the temple and made noticeably light by being placed in front of a dark background. It is with purpose that this species of bird has been thus used, as in art, swans symbolize love between a man and a woman. Additionally, swans, different than most birds, mate for life. In this painting then, they symbolize eternal love, eternal marriage and eternal families.
Also, with the young swans, one can review the story of the “ugly duckling,” the little bird that grew from a homely, awkward cygnet into its true adult potential - a beautiful, graceful swan. The swans and their life cycle can represent each of us as we grow and mature through obedience to God’s laws and the ordinances of the priesthood. As a result of our obedience and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can evolve from the imperfect mortals that we now are to the perfect immortals that we have the potential to become.
The waterfalls offer a refreshing break in the flow of the river. They are also white and appear light by being surrounded with dark. Aside from the natural beauty of the falls, they are extremely symbolic in this painting. Water that is allowed to sit without movement, stagnates and becomes polluted. The opposite happens as it churns and turbulently crashes over rocks and falls, aerating it with life sustaining oxygen and purifying it with penetrating sunlight. (D&C 121:33)
Our mortal lives reflect this pattern of purification. Adam literally “fell that man might be.” (2 Nephi 2:25) There actually was a “fall” and we are here because of it. The temple clearly teaches this. We also must pass through, in this life, many forms of turbulent opposition in order to be purified. (2 Nephi 2:11) The brethren have taught us many times that “we are purified by opposition”. That is especially true as we choose to refrain from becoming bitter and allow the enticing’s of the Holy Spirit and the atonement of Jesus Christ to help us “put off the natural man,” be sanctified, and “becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon (us), even as a child doth submit to his father.” (Mosiah 3:19)
The left, lower corner of the painting with its stark, contrasting rocks against the lushness of green foliage, also has symbolic meaning - left and lower being opposite of up and right. (Ex 15:6) It can also be thought of as the “lone and dreary world.” The two plants in the rocks are not what they appear to be, although they look pleasant and appealing, they represent the snares of evil and are actually a deadly plant called night shade - as physically deadly as all of Satan’s temptations are spiritually deadly.
Lastly, perhaps the most subtle element in this painting, is the illusion of a storm having recently passed. A rainbow has been placed on the right side of the temple. The rainbow was first given to us from the Lord as an outward token of the Lords covenant with Noah. (Gen. 9:13) The Joseph Smith Translation enlarges the terms of the covenant to include not only that the earth will never again be covered with a flood of water, but also that the Zion of Enoch will return and the Lord will come again to dwell on the earth and as a visual reminder that God will keep all of His covenants. (Gen. 9:17-25) A rainbow is actually also white light from the sun being split, by the prismatic effect of each rain drop, into the full spectrum of dazzling colors.
The scriptures teach us that the light of the sun is actually the light of the Son - or the light of Christ. (D&C 88:7) Hence, the rainbow in this painting, is used to teach us that the blessings of the Lord are as numerous and beautiful as the colors of the rainbow and the Lord’s promise to keep His covenants is secure, particularly the promises and covenants entered into in the Temple, the House of the Lord.
It is my further hope that this painting will bring the peace of the Spirit of the Lord and His Holy Temples into your hearts and homes.
Reproduced from the artists original artwork of oil on canvas.
