Carl Bloch exhibit

Last week Dave and I went to Carl Bloch exhibit at the BYU Museum of Art.  When we arrived I rented an iPad which was loaded with a program that gave commentary on the paintings on display and others in the collection. I saw things in the paintings I might have missed without the comments and observations offered.  Since we went on Monday afternoon, I suppose it was a family night activity for many, there were lots of families there with their small children. But there was a reverent feeling in the gallery,  people moved about quietly. There was plenty of room to sit in front of each painting, and many were there reflecting on the beauty of the art and on the majesty of the Son of God.

This was the first painting we saw, it is a beautiful rendition of Thomas and the resurrected Lord.

It depicts the moment Thomas, having doubted that Christ had been resurrected, believed. I think I understand his feelings as he realized that all Jesus had foretold about himself was true; maybe he had one of those precious experiences where he had a mighty change of heart and became even more converted, changed by the ministry and love of Jesus.

Another painting that was on display.  The Savior's love for children is evident in his face, perhaps we are all included in his protective embrace as this child is. How careful and tender we should be with each other, always reflecting the love Jesus has for all of us.

 This painting was not included in the exhibit, but it is one of my favorites. It hangs in the Provo temple where I see it often. It reminds me of the love the Savior has for women, how much he wants to teach us. His invitation is constant to all of us, to come unto Him and he will reveal himself to us, as he did to this Samaritan woman to whom he testified that he is the Son of God.

I love this painting. It depicts the humanity of our Savior, reminding me that his suffering for our pains, sicknesses and sins was given at great cost to himself.

The healing power of Jesus is beautifully shown here. Just as he caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, and the lepers to be cleansed,  he can heal our sorrow, our discouragement, our loneliness, grief,  sinfulness, and pain of any kind. He is the Healer, the Bread of Life, the Living Water.

This painting was new to me, I don't remember seeing it before. The look on the mother's face is heartbreaking, her grief and despair are evident. The heavy burden of the death of her child weighs heavily upon her, even as the Savior, he who will raise the dead, comes through her door.

I had an experience with the scriptures recently about the healing power of our Savior.
I was reading 3 Nephi 17: 7-10

Have ye any that are ^asick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or ^bleprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will ^cheal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.

 For I perceive that ye desire that I should show unto you what I have done unto your brethren at Jerusalem, for I see that your ^afaith is ^bsufficient that I should heal you.

 And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their ^ablind, and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him.

 And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did ^akiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears.

As I read this passage I wished I had been there, to have taken someone I love, or even to have presented myself, to be healed, to have felt his love and power as he ministered to his people.  But I have been healed by him, I have felt his love and power and compassion.  Someday I will see him again, and will reverently bow before him and bathe his feet with tears of gratitude and love for his mercy, goodness, patience, and willingness to forgive one so undeserving as I.