The scene depicts a young LDS Elder giving a weary Jesus a blessing so that he may have the strength to carry his Cross to Golgotha. The movers and shakers of history are there to bear witness to the power and the majesty of the LDS Priesthood.
One way of understanding a culture is through its art. This painting will better assist people in understanding not only our Church, but our presidential candidate Mitt Romney as well. Show us your truth and we will show what blessings we can add.
Oh for shame, how the mortals put the blame on us gods, for they say evils come from us, but it is they, rather, who by their own recklessness win sorrow beyond what is given... Zeus (1178 BC)
The scene depicts a young LDS Elder giving a weary Jesus a blessing so that he may have the strength to carry his Cross to Golgotha. The movers and shakers of history are there to bear witness to the power and the majesty of the LDS Priesthood.
One way of understanding a culture is through its art. This painting will better assist people in understanding not only our Church, but our presidential candidate Mitt Romney as well. Show us your truth and we will show what blessings we can add.
The scene depicts a young LDS Elder giving a weary Jesus a blessing so that he may have the strength to carry his Cross to Golgotha. The movers and shakers of history are there to bear witness to the power and the majesty of the LDS Priesthood.
One way of understanding a culture is through its art. This painting will better assist people in understanding not only our Church, but our presidential candidate Mitt Romney as well. Show us your truth and we will show what blessings we can add.
A thought: if this Elder is really blessing Jesus with an LDS priesthood blessing, then I presume he will be following the church's instructions in such matters, which specify, amongst other things, that the blessing must be given 'in the name of Jesus Christ'.
So the Elder is blessing Jesus Christ in the name of Jesus Christ? Something seems a bit awry here ...
Zadok: I did not have a faith crisis. I discovered that the Church was having a truth crisis. Maksutov: That's the problem with this supernatural stuff, it doesn't really solve anything. It's a placeholder for ignorance.
Chap wrote:So the Elder is blessing Jesus Christ in the name of Jesus Christ? Something seems a bit awry here ...
Fortunately art has a pass on logical consistency. If does not matter if he finished the sentence, "... in your Name, Amen". The concept of the Priesthood and Elder holding the keys to administer that blessing are part of our collective LDS consciousness.
Chap wrote:So the Elder is blessing Jesus Christ in the name of Jesus Christ? Something seems a bit awry here ...
Fortunately art has a pass on logical consistency. If does not matter if he finished the sentence, "... in your Name, Amen". The concept of the Priesthood and Elder holding the keys to administer that blessing are part of our collective LDS consciousness.
Well, I wonder what Catholics would think of a picture showing a Catholic priest offering the dying Jesus communion in the form of his own body and blood? Somehow I don't think we shall ever see a Catholic painter taking artistic license that far.
Still, it's interesting to see where different groups of people place their boundaries, isn't it?
Zadok: I did not have a faith crisis. I discovered that the Church was having a truth crisis. Maksutov: That's the problem with this supernatural stuff, it doesn't really solve anything. It's a placeholder for ignorance.
Well, I wonder what Catholics would think of a picture showing a Catholic priest offering the dying Jesus communion in the form of his own body and blood? Somehow I don't think we shall ever see a Catholic painter taking artistic license that far.
I think that is the very reason that picture was so revolting to me.
Huckelberry said: I see the order and harmony to be the very image of God which smiles upon us each morning as we awake.
MCB wrote: I think that is the very reason that picture was so revolting to me.
I suspect you are seeing a bit of what I find shocking in the picture. Some part of me thinks, ok its nice this fellow wants to help Jesus a bit. But another part of me wonders if the artist is actually so naïve as to be unaware of any implications involved in his alteration of tradition. He has reversed the role of who blesses who. He has upstaged the Lord by makeing the modern elder the largest and most central figure. In fact Jesus is reduced to a bit player in the great drama of the Mormon priesthood authority around which all the world is gathered in respect.
Well maybe making comparison to tradional treatment is unfair to the paintings naïve entheuastic message. Or on the other hand perhaps the comparison reveals an underlying message actually there.
huckelberry wrote: Or on the other hand perhaps the comparison reveals an underlying message actually there.
A message that while the powerful and religious may be sad, they are but onlookers. It is the LDS Elder who steps forth to commune with Jehovah and to assist Jesus with a blessing.
