Are you curious about Book of Mormon–centered art? Look no further—this catalog contains art from the Book of Mormon in a variety of styles.
Scripture study is essential for our spiritual growth, but reading words on a page can become repetitive. Incorporating practices like praying, pondering, writing down impressions, listening to music, and appreciating art in our study can have a profound effect on our learning. Specifically, scripture-centered art can inspire us and help us imagine the reality of scripture stories.
In 2022, BYU’s Laura F. Willes Center for Book of Mormon Stories and Neal A. Maxwell Institute joined together to create an excellent resource for scripture-inspired art: The Book of Mormon Art Catalog. It contains works from artists all over the world in a range of styles, like paintings, ceramics, textiles, photos, and more. In her 2024 article “Creating the Book of Mormon Art Catalog: Why Religious Art Matters,” Sister Jennifer Champoux talks about the value of using Book of Mormon–inspired art to study, explaining that “a greater volume and variety of visual art opens space for new interpretations and insights .… Art encourages us to question our assumptions and to consider the choices made by artists, rather than taking images at face value.”
There are many benefits to using art as a study tool. Insights gained through a visual medium can completely change our perspective on the scriptures. As we study art and consider the artist’s choices, we can be inspired by a new line of thinking and witness how words on a page can come alive. Art can also make us feel something about the subject matter; because we know that God often speaks to us through our feelings (see 1 Nephi 17:45), art is one way for our Heavenly Father to communicate with us.
When we use art as a meaningful way to study the Book of Mormon, we can open our hearts and minds to be inspired by the Spirit. This method requires effort and thought, but if we put in the work, we can reap the rewards of new inspiration.
Learn more about how artwork can enrich your scripture study in Jennifer Champoux’s Religious Educator article, “Creating the Book of Mormon Art Catalog: Why Religious Art Matters.”
Source: Religious Studies Center
—Hadley Parker, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY RHONDAK NATIVE FLORIDA FOLK ARTIST
Find more insights
Learn about how a painting of Jesus inspired Sister Kristin M. Yee in her general conference talk “The Joy of Our Redemption.”
Read more about how art can be spiritual in Professor David M. Randall’s BYU devotional, “Watching It Rain.”