Mesa Temple Visitors’ Center hosts “Christ In My Life” art exhibition April 9-20
This article was contributed by a local member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The views expressed may not represent the views and positions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For the Church's official site, visit churchofjesuschrist.org.
Local artists’ depictions of the Savior, His teachings and how His love is manifest in their lives will be on display at the Mesa Temple Visitors’ Center, 455 E. Main St. in April 9-20.
Susan Fuller, who organized the Visitors’ Center Nativity Display for more than 22 years, is gathering the artwork to enhance the community’s Easter celebration.
“I asked for pictures of the life of Christ or Christ in our life,” Susan said. “Each one has a story. These are our testimonies, not just pieces of art. They are not for sale. They are in our homes and we painted them for a reason.”
She said her own piece of the Savior’s hand with His wounds came out of her need to deal with a family member who was struggling. “It’s a reminder of the sacrifice Christ made for all of us,” she said.
Other local artists whose work will be on display include Gini Heywood, Susan Fuller, Karen Schmeiser, Allen Garnes, Burdell Jarvis, Rebecca Tibbetts, Bret Church, Ron Hendrickson, Rusty Bowers, Rebekah Goldthwaite, Elizabeth Fast, Roxanne Gillespie, Rick Crandall, Shantal Jones, and Brent Pullin.
The nearly 30 pieces of artwork will be in the multipurpose room, which is open during the same time the Visitors’ Center is open, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. This exhibit runs through the time of the Mesa Easter Pageant “Jesus the Christ” April 9-12, 15-19. The pageant is presented each evening at 8 p.m. so attendees can come early and view the artwork.
The North American Southwest Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is focusing on the Christmas to Easter “Remember Him” initiative and kicked off the initiative with a broadcast in January. Area leaders are following President Russell M. Nelson’s charge to elevate Easter in our homes, families and communities.
Elder Stevenson, in April 2023 General Conference, asked this question: “How do we model the teaching and celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Easter story, with the same balance, fulness, and rich religious tradition of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Christmas story?”
Visitors’ Center Director Elder Royce Bybee said the purpose and vision of these Easter events is bringing people to Christ and the pageant and art exhibit falls in line with the idea to “Remember Him” by elevating our celebration of Easter and helping to make it a more Christ-centered holiday than Christmas has become.
For more information on the Visitors’ Center or the Mesa Easter Pageant, “Jesus the Christ,” please visit MesaTemple.org.
