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The Book of Mormon – The Central Missionary Tool for Latter-Day Saints
The Book of Mormon serves as a key missionary tool for Latter-day Saints, providing another witness of Christ and containing numerous gospel principles. Moroni encourages readers to ponder his teachings despite its sometimes obscure language, with his final statement on its title page asking us all to “remember that any faults in man are the faults of humanity. It is important that this fact remain constant.” Origins The Book of Mormon tells the tale of an Israelite group which immigrated to North America around 600 B.C. under Lehi, followed by their hardships and blessings before splitting into two major races: Lamanites who ultimately became Native American ancestors, and Nephites who…
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Mormon Musicians Making Their Mark in the Music Industry
Mormon musicians are making waves this year, from Neon Trees’ quirky pop-rock band to SHeDAISY’s captivating female group SHeDAISY; inspiring people worldwide. Composers like Leroy Robertson, Crawford Gates and Merrill Bradshaw use music to express Mormon identity through its neoromantic tonality. Meanwhile other artists such as Low seem unfettered by any Catholic music legacy. Brandon Flowers Brandon Flowers, best known for fronting The Killers from Utah, is an acclaimed performer with a powerful voice. His songs explore themes of love, loss and personal growth which strike a chord with fans on an emotional level. Brandon is passionate about maintaining rock music’s legacy from its classic era as his main source…
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Mormon Artists
Mormon artists come from diverse backgrounds and use a wide range of media to craft works that convey the story of the Church. Painting, sculpture and architecture all play important roles. Kwani Povi Winder of Santa Clara Pueblo Indian culture depicted Heavenly Mother with symbols from her native culture incorporated. This could be seen as an instance of Mormonism’s emphasis on continuity and synthesis. Carl Christensen A. Christensen Carl Christensen was an exceptional educator. His every action were consistent with Philippians 1:6, as he demonstrated true Christian virtue. Carl’s family loved and appreciated his dedication as husband, father, and grandfather – they will all miss him deeply. Christensen was born…
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Five Euro American Artists
Artwork has the power to communicate directly with its audience, and original and free of European style influences will convey more effectively the information intended by artists. Durand and others’ works promote an idealized American landscape while at the same time reflecting a colonial perspective of nature, both celebratory and exploitative. Modern Indigenous artists such as Dyani White Hawk and Jaune Quick-to-See Smith contest these problematic painted narratives. Beauford Delaney At a time when black artists were underappreciated, Beauford Delaney rose above his peers and became an influential figure. Utilizing flat spaces with thick applications of paint, his lyrical painting style echoes jazz music’s improvisational nature. After moving to Boston…
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Mormon Artists Enhance Cultural Richness and Foster a Deeper Understanding of Scripture
Mormon artists are professional sculptors, painters and other artistic practitioners who practice their faith while creating pieces of artwork that enrich cultural diversity and foster deeper knowledge of scripture. Artists are increasingly depicting Heavenly Mother through non-representational art using shapes and symbols to explore her spiritual presence, breaking from tradition by going beyond depicting her as human figure and challenging racial and gender stereotypes. Symbolism Early on in its existence, Christianity was very wary about art depicting deity. Church members for nearly 100 years chastised any attempts at depicting God or Jesus artistically; any that did appear tended towards portrayals that depicted generic European male figures with an illustrative style.…
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European Impressionists and American Artists
Mary Cassatt established close ties to European Impressionist artists like Degas. Mary’s pastel “Simone in a Plumed Hat” recalls Degas’ 1894 seated dancer painting seen above. European nations administer public arts funding on a local basis, similar to what the National Endowment for the Arts does here in America. Such cultural institutions educate their communities while serving as an antidote for mainstream music. Cultural Bias Cultural bias occurs when individuals from different cultures interpret words and actions differently. It can lead to miscommunications and misrepresentations – for instance when European artists depict Native American life in their paintings – as well as discrimination or prejudice. Some forms of cultural bias…
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Travel and Study Abroad Were Crucial to Euro American Artists
Travel and study abroad were integral elements of American artists in the 19th century. Robert Walter Weir and his two sons integrated European experiences into their works created back home. European artists frequently painted natural landscapes, coastal profiles and ethnographic depictions of native peoples living in their overseas colonies – images which could also convey various political messages. Reimagining Canonical Works Canonical works are defined as those that are considered essential. This group includes books and pieces of art which serve as benchmarks against which other works are measured; therefore most secondary school and postsecondary curricula contain only selected texts as canons. In the 2010s, academics examined how and why…
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The Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon recounts Lehi and his family, who immigrated from Jerusalem to America about 600 bce and eventually split into two groups – Nephites remained loyal to God while Lamanites deviated and became heathen. The Book of Mormon asserts that peace, prosperity, and abundance can only come to families, nations, and the entire globe through Jesus Christ – who also provides salvation universally. It is a work of literature The Book of Mormon is an exceptional work of literature that boasts a diversity of themes and literary devices, featuring intricate narratives, poetic forms, rhetorical patterns, Mesoamerican symbols and traditions as well as its authors being heavily influenced by…
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Mormon Artists
Mormon artists create works that shed light on differing understandings of their faith. While traditional Mormon art emphasizes realistic illustrations, some artists have taken to using symbols as an expressive medium in depicting divine concepts that transcend social constraints. Mormons seem to be shifting towards an expansive image of Heavenly Mother that allows for various interpretations without making claims for completeness or supremacy. This new vision may signal that Mormons are beginning to dismantle their taboo surrounding feminine deities such as Heavenly Mother. Christensen Mormon art encompasses any visual work which depicts the principles and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, such as paintings, sculptures,…
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European American Musics
American musical styles and genres draw heavily from European cultural heritage. A typical music store will carry recordings covering European classical music as well as world and jazz styles. Even within this apparent diversity, American orchestras, opera companies, and contemporary-music festivals retain distinct cultural identities. Classical Conservatory education has long relied upon European musical expertise as a cornerstone, yet there remains an enormous chasm between American and European perceptions and habits for both artists and audiences. Even as orchestras no longer act as arbiters of taste and students from diverse backgrounds enroll into conservatories, there remains the perception that American instructors may be too permissive or “soft” when training than…