ICONOGRAPHY

I am always struck when I enter an LDS chapel at how plain they are.  Beautiful, but plain.  There are no icons or idols, no pictures or artists’ renditions of what they think God looks like.  There are pictures of the Savior in the halls of the church to remind us that it is His house, but not in the chapel, in the place we worship. 

It is the same in the Temple.  There is hardly a place you can stand in the temple where you can’t see a picture of the Savior, except in the rooms where sacred ordinances are performed.

 I appreciate this, that when we come to worship and make sacred covenants, there are no distractions.  Our worship then becomes very personal, internal, as we ponder in our hearts and minds that true and living God that we know.  Unencumbered by history or tradition or art, we ponder that which the Holy Spirit has taught us of eternal truths, of our relationship to and covenants with the true and living God.

Having said that, I also appreciate that we do have art and pictures in the church, for what they teach me.  My favorite might be the picture of Christ Knocking at the Door, as it reflects my experience with Him.  Christ knocks on our door in many ways, each and every day if we listen.  The door knob is on our side, and it is for us to open the door.  It is my experience that every time I open that door He is just right there, always catching me by surprise that He is so near.  I love knowing that He is always knocking on my door, hoping I will answer, and that He will be there when I do.

I also love the picture of Christ as The Good Shepherd carrying the lamb on his shoulders.  It is a very sweet picture.  But when we think of the reality of it, lambs can be heavy, they can be dirty and smelly, and they can be wiggly and try to get away.  I’m grateful that even though I may be unclean, or my burden heavy, or I try to run away, the Good Shepherd will find me and will carry me on his shoulders. 

There is a picture called Christ’s Ascension into Heaven.  It doesn’t show Christ himself, but two angels, made bright by His glory, pointing to heaven where Christ has ascended to His Father in Heaven.  It thrills me to see this picture, to know that Christ yet lives.  I’m grateful that He withheld His glory to come to earth, to show us how to live, to accomplish the great Atonement, and then returned in a fullness of glory to His Father and ours.  His work is not yet done; He continues to labor in our behalf and will until it is finished.  Everything we hope for, the Heaven we dream of, is made possible because of Him. 

The piece of art I have hanging in my home is Christ Overlooking Jerusalem, depicting the scripture that says, “How oft would I have gathered you, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not.”  Prone to wander, how oft would He have gathered me in His arms, and I would not?  It reminds me of His infinite and inclusive love for all people, and His invitation extended to all, to “Come unto me, and I will give you rest”. 

Over my fireplace hangs a picture of an empty tomb.  He is Risen.  Christ the Lord is risen!  --the proof that He was who He said He was, the Promised Messiah, the Savior and Redeemer of the world, with power over death and sin.

This is the Savior that I know, the living, breathing glorified Son of the Father, who came with healing in His wings and power to save, who is ever near and loves with a love that has no end.

That is the picture I have in my mind of Him.