Creativity can encourage us to seek out beautiful inspiration around us, helping us grow closer to our Heavenly Father.
As a stubborn oldest sister, I was a pretty difficult kid. When my mom got fed up with me, she would hand me a paintbrush and a bucket of water and tell me to go outside and paint the sidewalk. This activity would keep me entertained for hours because the water always dried up so fast that I would have to constantly repaint whatever picture I was trying to create. Being creative taught me about the Christlike virtue of patience from a very young age.
Although this example may sound silly, Elder Gerrit W. Gong teaches that creativity can serve as a powerful tool in our journey to increase our faith and become more like Christ. In his talk, “Our Campfire of Faith,” Elder Gong shares an experience he had with Elder Richard G. Scott, who taught Elder Gong how to paint with watercolor. He explains that he was a bit apprehensive about painting because he had never done it before, but Elder Scott was very encouraging. Elder Gong recalls how Elder Scott told him, “Even with one lesson you will paint something you will want to keep and remember.” Elder Gong found this to be true, and his experience painting with Elder Scott is something he will always hold close to his heart. He goes on to say that from this experience he learned that, “There is joy in imagining, learning, doing worthwhile new things. This is especially true as we deepen faith and trust in Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.”
PHOTO BY STEVE JOHNSON
If we make a conscious effort to surround ourselves with activities that bring us joy and help us feel the Spirit, we will feel more fulfilled and want to inspire that feeling in others. Elder Gong explained, “When righteous patterns and spiritual yearnings join, time and eternity come together.” Finding inspiration through art is one way to help us achieve this goal of coming closer to God and Christ.
As it is written in the thirteenth article of faith, “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” In doing this, we can grow our talents and cultivate our own creativity, but more importantly, we become closer to our Heavenly Father and have more faith-building experiences.
Read or watch Elder Gong’s talk, “Our Campfire of Faith,” to learn more about how we can increase our faith.
Source: General Conference
—Payton Pingree, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY TETIANA SHYSHKINA
Find more insights
Read “Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust” by Lauren Buchanan to learn more about faith, patience, and trust.
Listen to or read to the BYU Devotional “The Transformative Power of Faith and Art” by Janalee Emer to learn more about how faith and art interact.