New Painting: Joseph Praying

This is my latest church painting, entitled “Joseph Praying.” I was amazed by the positive reaction I received from it and already sold the original! I’m now selling prints of it as well for a flat $50 fee on my website under LDS art here:

http://www.brookemalia.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

Now that I broadcasted myself sufficiently (sorry!), I have a story to tell.  It’s about courage and actively seeking for the things you desire. The story of Joseph Smith is one that always inspires me – not just because of what he did for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints collectively, but also because of what he did for himself individually. When he was only a young teenager, he had the spiritual maturity to think of things like his eternal salvation.  There were so many different churches in his area in upstate New York, that it left him confused and wondering why they all had to profess such different doctrine.  After reading James 1:5, he decided that the only way to know which church was true was to ask of God.  This example he set as a 14 year-old boy is one that we should all follow when seeking truth. In the spring of 1820, Joseph found a quiet place in the woods behind his house to pray out loud, alone. This is the moment I tried to capture. It was at this moment that the real strength of a young boy was shining through. He had such faith and courage to pray and expect an answer. I believe it was because of that that Heavenly Father and His son appeared before him and told him to join none of the churches – to wait and be patient because he would help restore the true church of Christ upon the earth.

Joseph Smith did not let the desires of his heart go unfulfilled. He acted. He had faith and relied on God. That’s what I want to do with all my goals. When we do this, we can bless not only our own lives, but the lives of so many others. Think of how many lives Joseph affected with this small act – millions. I’m so grateful for him.