Reimagining Lehi's Dream by dbwalton
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Description
Reimagining Lehi's Dream
T. J. Uriona wrote a paper that was published in BYU Studies (link here: https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/rethinking-the-rod-of-iron/) Being extremely familiar with the account given by Lehi and Nephi about Lehi's dream, the paper inspired me to take the concepts Uriona presents in this academic paper and put it to art.
This digital painting incorporates elements from Uriona's paper as well as Lehi's Dream.
In Lehi's dream, he sees a path leading to a tree with fruit whiter than he could imagine. Along the path was an iron rod. People would grab the iron rod, and press forward and partake of the fruit. A mist of darkness arises, and people let go of the rod and loose their way towards the tree. He also see a large building reaching up into the air filled with people pointing the finger and mocking those who partook of this fruit. Lehi calls the taste of the fruit "most desirable".
In other artists' rendition of Lehi's Dream, they often show the rod of iron as a handrail. Uriona suggest, based on translation of Hebrew words, that it wasn't necessarily a handrail, but a staff, or shepherd's crook.
So, I took Uriona's suggestion and created this.
Lehi stands holding the fruit out to one of his descendants hoping he will partake. The man, representing the descendants of Lehi, has struggled on his journey to reach the tree, but has held to this iron rod - a shepherd's crook - being extended to him by Jesus Christ. Lehi's son, Nephi, interprets his father's dream and tells us that the iron rod is symbolic of the Word of God. The fruit, most desirable above all other, is the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice he made to wash away our sins. The large building and people pointing and mocking represents the things and philosophies of the world.
Creating this interpretation through art has been quite fulfilling.
db walton
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