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Reflections of Heavenly Mother - See Her image in you.
Reflections of Heavenly Mother
This is how I see Heavenly Mother.
She is giving. She is receiving.
There is a constant flow between us.
Women are made in Her image, patterned after Her;
like a continuum, with the ultimate goal to become one,
as she is one with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ her son.
Her cycle is in me and every woman I know and see.
A heavenly cyclical pattern, a divine design;
creating life everywhere she/we go.
Her arm is extended,
always here; near.
Giving.
Not a baby at first, but a house.
She is giving Her home.
One filled with people to bless and build, multiply and unify.
I had this overwhelming feeling that we are born mothers; given a home to grow in.
We learn to make a house a home, filling our inner vessel with people and community,
not just babies.
We are born mothers whether or not we give birth,
to think otherwise limits the glorious spiritual gifts of Mother;
of Motherhood.
⠀⠀
Motherhood is about preparing and creating room for more;
inside our walls, in and out our door.
It is expansive.
Receiving.
Motherhood is gathering past, present, future, loving, healing, longing.
It’s generations and generational healing; tethered, weathered, unwinding, and binding.
When we recognize Her gifts in us,
she receives our joy;
Her reflection is complete.
⠀
Look into Her eyes.
Feel a glorious trust; a heavenly thrust, through a veil;
find Her reflection, ready to receive, and you will see your home.
Michelle Gessell
Reflections of Heavenly Mother
Original 16x16 Watercolor and ink 20x20 framed $900.00
Prints available in two sizes 8x8 and 12x12
This is how I see Heavenly Mother.
She is giving. She is receiving.
There is a constant flow between us.
Women are made in Her image, patterned after Her;
like a continuum, with the ultimate goal to become one,
as she is one with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ her son.
Her cycle is in me and every woman I know and see.
A heavenly cyclical pattern, a divine design;
creating life everywhere she/we go.
Her arm is extended,
always here; near.
Giving.
Not a baby at first, but a house.
She is giving Her home.
One filled with people to bless and build, multiply and unify.
I had this overwhelming feeling that we are born mothers; given a home to grow in.
We learn to make a house a home, filling our inner vessel with people and community,
not just babies.
We are born mothers whether or not we give birth,
to think otherwise limits the glorious spiritual gifts of Mother;
of Motherhood.
⠀⠀
Motherhood is about preparing and creating room for more;
inside our walls, in and out our door.
It is expansive.
Receiving.
Motherhood is gathering past, present, future, loving, healing, longing.
It’s generations and generational healing; tethered, weathered, unwinding, and binding.
When we recognize Her gifts in us,
she receives our joy;
Her reflection is complete.
⠀
Look into Her eyes.
Feel a glorious trust; a heavenly thrust, through a veil;
find Her reflection, ready to receive, and you will see your home.
Michelle Gessell
Reflections of Heavenly Mother
Original 16x16 Watercolor and ink 20x20 framed $900.00
Prints available in two sizes 8x8 and 12x12
Heavenly Mother's Spiritual Gift Giving - Recognize the Gifts Heavenly Mother has given you.
Heavenly Mother’s Spiritual Gift Giving
I’ve been working on this piece in physical form since July, but I’ve been pondering & preparing for a few years.
I’ve shared before how I feel we are BORN mothers, not mothers when we give birth.
Looking at patterns I see here; the women in my life & the women in the past, including the women in the scriptures, I see the pattern of Her divinity.
I have a daughter that was born w/congenital heart defects, other complications arose with this. When she was about 2 weeks old, she had a body scan which shared that she had ovarian cysts. I thought how can this be as a baby?
I had painful ovarian cysts, even having one the size of a grapefruit removed before this daughter was conceived.
It never occurred to me that women before birth had eggs forming within, as a matter of fact all the eggs a women will have been present when she is born.
This thought has never left me.
I see this as a glorious pattern of Mother, mothering, and motherhood.
Women are given gifts, spiritual gifts, to nurture, to build, to bring, to bond, and to bless community AND the family they create.
Woman are given the gift to support life within & without their bodies.
Women have been given the gift to bless & protect their eggs, which begins at birth, long before they give birth themselves, and especially if they don’t.
I love finding patterns that make myself & all women a reflection of She.
This is just one pattern shared here, what other patterns do you see?
Michelle Gessell
Heavenly Mother’s Spiritual Gift Giving
Watercolor & ink
Original 12x18
Prints made 8 x 10
I’ve been working on this piece in physical form since July, but I’ve been pondering & preparing for a few years.
I’ve shared before how I feel we are BORN mothers, not mothers when we give birth.
Looking at patterns I see here; the women in my life & the women in the past, including the women in the scriptures, I see the pattern of Her divinity.
I have a daughter that was born w/congenital heart defects, other complications arose with this. When she was about 2 weeks old, she had a body scan which shared that she had ovarian cysts. I thought how can this be as a baby?
I had painful ovarian cysts, even having one the size of a grapefruit removed before this daughter was conceived.
It never occurred to me that women before birth had eggs forming within, as a matter of fact all the eggs a women will have been present when she is born.
This thought has never left me.
I see this as a glorious pattern of Mother, mothering, and motherhood.
Women are given gifts, spiritual gifts, to nurture, to build, to bring, to bond, and to bless community AND the family they create.
Woman are given the gift to support life within & without their bodies.
Women have been given the gift to bless & protect their eggs, which begins at birth, long before they give birth themselves, and especially if they don’t.
I love finding patterns that make myself & all women a reflection of She.
This is just one pattern shared here, what other patterns do you see?
Michelle Gessell
Heavenly Mother’s Spiritual Gift Giving
Watercolor & ink
Original 12x18
Prints made 8 x 10
Unifying Mother- Heavenly Mother unifies us.
“Unifying Mother”
We are ALL sons & daughters of Heavenly Parents.
I created this as study piece, along with others pieces, pondering Heavenly Mother again & again.
Background: I was not searching for Her specifically, when I first realized She was there. She came to me.
I was reading & studying the scriptures, and the Plan of Salvation, which I drew out over the course of a year or so, in 2017. I felt Her pattern became clearer to me. I realized she is in me & every woman here.
In July of 2019, I drew Her out for the first time on paper. A few weeks later that first painting was requested to be in a book; A Girl’s Guide to Heavenly Mother by MacArthur Krishna and Bethany Brady Spalding.
In October 2019, the new Young Women theme was introduced and I knew, I was a witness of this divinity.
In October 2019, Pres. Nelson encouraged the women to see their spiritual treasures and the power of the priesthood they possess.
I could see Her Spiritual gifts as I pondered my own.
It was, it is, beautiful to see Her reflection not just hear, “you are a daughter of God.”
This also enlightened me to see Her pattern in the women in scriptures, and other women in my life.
I feel more connected in the universe, not just my tiny corner of the world.
Do you see Heavenly Mother’s spiritual gifts & patterns in you? …
What about in the women around you? in the scriptures? in Eve, in Mary, in the women by Jesus side? what about in the temple?
In this painting and all the others of Her, I’m trying to share SOME of Her spiritual gifts & the patterns I see.
I’ll be making prints of this and a few other Heavenly Mother art pieces soon.
Included in each print will be the patterns I see and the symbolism I try to reflect in my drawings.
We will each have our own “coming to know Her” journey.
I hope my art will help you feel the unifying love of your Mother in Heaven too.
Michelle Gessell
Unifying Mother
Original 12 x 18 Watercolor and ink
Prints made 8 x 10
We are ALL sons & daughters of Heavenly Parents.
I created this as study piece, along with others pieces, pondering Heavenly Mother again & again.
Background: I was not searching for Her specifically, when I first realized She was there. She came to me.
I was reading & studying the scriptures, and the Plan of Salvation, which I drew out over the course of a year or so, in 2017. I felt Her pattern became clearer to me. I realized she is in me & every woman here.
In July of 2019, I drew Her out for the first time on paper. A few weeks later that first painting was requested to be in a book; A Girl’s Guide to Heavenly Mother by MacArthur Krishna and Bethany Brady Spalding.
In October 2019, the new Young Women theme was introduced and I knew, I was a witness of this divinity.
In October 2019, Pres. Nelson encouraged the women to see their spiritual treasures and the power of the priesthood they possess.
I could see Her Spiritual gifts as I pondered my own.
It was, it is, beautiful to see Her reflection not just hear, “you are a daughter of God.”
This also enlightened me to see Her pattern in the women in scriptures, and other women in my life.
I feel more connected in the universe, not just my tiny corner of the world.
Do you see Heavenly Mother’s spiritual gifts & patterns in you? …
What about in the women around you? in the scriptures? in Eve, in Mary, in the women by Jesus side? what about in the temple?
In this painting and all the others of Her, I’m trying to share SOME of Her spiritual gifts & the patterns I see.
I’ll be making prints of this and a few other Heavenly Mother art pieces soon.
Included in each print will be the patterns I see and the symbolism I try to reflect in my drawings.
We will each have our own “coming to know Her” journey.
I hope my art will help you feel the unifying love of your Mother in Heaven too.
Michelle Gessell
Unifying Mother
Original 12 x 18 Watercolor and ink
Prints made 8 x 10
Welcome Home - Heavenly Mother welcomes us home.
Welcome Home
Pondering Heavenly Mother, made me think about my/your/our homecoming.
I can wait, but I also can’t wait to return to my Heavenly Home.
I have thought how wonderful would it be to hear the words, “Well done my good & faithful servant” coming from my Heavenly Father.
And then I thought what would I like to hear from my Heavenly Mother.
The first thing that came to my mind was “Welcome Home, baby girl” the same greeting I give to my daughters.
A welcome that would flood in a bunch of pre-mortal memories.
Both of these welcoming statements brought tears to my eyes.
I also thought about how She is here, every time a baby is born. She is helping to usher them in,
welcoming them to a new home here on earth before returning back to our heavenly home.
I tried to share the patterns & promises here, many that have come to pass, and many to come.
A cycle, a pattern, a leap, traveling, tears, tiers, an earthly & heavenly home, our houses, the Lord’s house, unity, love, light.
Michelle Gessell
Watercolor
Original for sale 8 x10
Prints will be available soon
9/3/2021
Pondering Heavenly Mother, made me think about my/your/our homecoming.
I can wait, but I also can’t wait to return to my Heavenly Home.
I have thought how wonderful would it be to hear the words, “Well done my good & faithful servant” coming from my Heavenly Father.
And then I thought what would I like to hear from my Heavenly Mother.
The first thing that came to my mind was “Welcome Home, baby girl” the same greeting I give to my daughters.
A welcome that would flood in a bunch of pre-mortal memories.
Both of these welcoming statements brought tears to my eyes.
I also thought about how She is here, every time a baby is born. She is helping to usher them in,
welcoming them to a new home here on earth before returning back to our heavenly home.
I tried to share the patterns & promises here, many that have come to pass, and many to come.
A cycle, a pattern, a leap, traveling, tears, tiers, an earthly & heavenly home, our houses, the Lord’s house, unity, love, light.
Michelle Gessell
Watercolor
Original for sale 8 x10
Prints will be available soon
9/3/2021
Nativity Seen
Another Look at the Nativity
With every birth
I feel the veil between
Heaven and Earth is thin.
The cry of a new born is both
a celebration of new life
and
a solemn celebration of letting go
of a time known before.
I remember holding my babies
close, comforting them,
bringing them to my skin.
I wished they could tell me
what they knew,
what they left behind;
how we were, and are, connected.
Were we the best of friends?
Did we know each other well?
I feel every child is ushered in by
Heavenly Parents
with great anticipation
knowing each was sent for a purpose
and a special mission.
I imagined the scene of Christ's birth
Our Heavenly Parents
THERE
with great awareness,
knowing what He, Jesus, would bring.
He, the new born King!
And with, and through Him,
sacrifice, eternal life, salvation & redemption.
I also imagined the scene of each of our births;
family and friends;
Them knowing our/your great worth.
I hope that you may see yourself in the setting of
A nativity, earthly parents & Heavenly Parents there
now and then, inseparably connected, always.
From me to you with love this Christmas season,
Michelle Gessell. (2021)
With every birth
I feel the veil between
Heaven and Earth is thin.
The cry of a new born is both
a celebration of new life
and
a solemn celebration of letting go
of a time known before.
I remember holding my babies
close, comforting them,
bringing them to my skin.
I wished they could tell me
what they knew,
what they left behind;
how we were, and are, connected.
Were we the best of friends?
Did we know each other well?
I feel every child is ushered in by
Heavenly Parents
with great anticipation
knowing each was sent for a purpose
and a special mission.
I imagined the scene of Christ's birth
Our Heavenly Parents
THERE
with great awareness,
knowing what He, Jesus, would bring.
He, the new born King!
And with, and through Him,
sacrifice, eternal life, salvation & redemption.
I also imagined the scene of each of our births;
family and friends;
Them knowing our/your great worth.
I hope that you may see yourself in the setting of
A nativity, earthly parents & Heavenly Parents there
now and then, inseparably connected, always.
From me to you with love this Christmas season,
Michelle Gessell. (2021)
Heavenly Mother is Here- The mountains are Her skirt.
Heavenly Mother Mountain
My Heavenly Mother is a Mountain which moves with me.
The patchwork of her skirt embraces me.
She is the rooftop to my house.
She is not missing.
She is in all the details.
These mountains represent different terrains/experiences.
⠀
The houses represent variety, vulnerability, and vitality.
Everyone here is different, no two people or families are alike. We are uniquely made on purpose.
Differences teach us how to love. The harder/stronger WE love, the closer to Thee WE come.
When I drew this picture, I thought of Heavenly Mother resting her head on mine, on yours.
The moment I began to paint the skin, I took a deep breathe, because I see me, I see YOU, I see everyone, and couldn’t paint without including all; all the colors, all the ethnicities, all the cultures, all the mixed families, blended families, my family, Her family; Their family.
“Let every [wo]man esteem [her] brother/sister as herself and practice virtue and holiness before me.“
D & C 38:24-25
I shed tears and add that to my water.
Oneness, unity; a prayerful plea. I see a beautiful pattern & patchwork in YOU and me.
Having the faith of a mustard seed WE can move mountains, share love, and build unity.
I hope this painting helps YOU ponder the framework... of God,
of Heavenly Parents, of global family; a heavenly heritage.
Michelle Gessell
12x18 watercolor & ink
Original sold
Prints not available
My Heavenly Mother is a Mountain which moves with me.
The patchwork of her skirt embraces me.
She is the rooftop to my house.
She is not missing.
She is in all the details.
These mountains represent different terrains/experiences.
⠀
The houses represent variety, vulnerability, and vitality.
Everyone here is different, no two people or families are alike. We are uniquely made on purpose.
Differences teach us how to love. The harder/stronger WE love, the closer to Thee WE come.
When I drew this picture, I thought of Heavenly Mother resting her head on mine, on yours.
The moment I began to paint the skin, I took a deep breathe, because I see me, I see YOU, I see everyone, and couldn’t paint without including all; all the colors, all the ethnicities, all the cultures, all the mixed families, blended families, my family, Her family; Their family.
“Let every [wo]man esteem [her] brother/sister as herself and practice virtue and holiness before me.“
D & C 38:24-25
I shed tears and add that to my water.
Oneness, unity; a prayerful plea. I see a beautiful pattern & patchwork in YOU and me.
Having the faith of a mustard seed WE can move mountains, share love, and build unity.
I hope this painting helps YOU ponder the framework... of God,
of Heavenly Parents, of global family; a heavenly heritage.
Michelle Gessell
12x18 watercolor & ink
Original sold
Prints not available
Young Women Theme -
We are daughters of Heavenly Parents.
The Young Women Theme
I drew Mother, Father, and Child together as one unit, representative of an eternal family pattern.
I drew the shape of a key hole to represent many things:
The shape of the keyhole is slightly different on one side; one straighter, one curvier symbolizing many things. One thing is that our paths are all different, some straighter, others with more bends, and yet they can both be parallel. It also represents our different divine attributes, not one mold is the same, just as my house key does not fit your door.
There is one key however that fits one door, the door to eternal life. We have access to this skeleton key as we strip away the natural man or woman, partaking and participating in sacred ordinances in which we receive priesthood keys and/or access to priesthood power.
Whenever I paint Eve, I use red for her hair. This symbolizes sacrifice. As daughters of Eve, patterned after our Heavenly Mother, she stands tall, just as the Young Woman here, with Them.
The blue represents the heavens as well as water.
Both create a ripple effect.
Families continue.
The power of Christ’s atonement cleanses us and provides a way to live again, returning to our Heavenly Home. Christ’s touch is an echo of God’s love for us in the past, present, and future.
We also see this pattern in the sealing room: mirrors create reflection of a pattern, a ripple, a continuum of families forever.
Michelle Gessell
Water color and ink
Original not for sale
Prints available 8x10
10/2020
I drew Mother, Father, and Child together as one unit, representative of an eternal family pattern.
I drew the shape of a key hole to represent many things:
The shape of the keyhole is slightly different on one side; one straighter, one curvier symbolizing many things. One thing is that our paths are all different, some straighter, others with more bends, and yet they can both be parallel. It also represents our different divine attributes, not one mold is the same, just as my house key does not fit your door.
There is one key however that fits one door, the door to eternal life. We have access to this skeleton key as we strip away the natural man or woman, partaking and participating in sacred ordinances in which we receive priesthood keys and/or access to priesthood power.
Whenever I paint Eve, I use red for her hair. This symbolizes sacrifice. As daughters of Eve, patterned after our Heavenly Mother, she stands tall, just as the Young Woman here, with Them.
The blue represents the heavens as well as water.
Both create a ripple effect.
Families continue.
The power of Christ’s atonement cleanses us and provides a way to live again, returning to our Heavenly Home. Christ’s touch is an echo of God’s love for us in the past, present, and future.
We also see this pattern in the sealing room: mirrors create reflection of a pattern, a ripple, a continuum of families forever.
Michelle Gessell
Water color and ink
Original not for sale
Prints available 8x10
10/2020
Heavenly Mother - Like a Hen gathers her chicks .
Heavenly Mother – Like a hen that gathers her chicks
Our Heavenly Mother is present in our lives.
As I read Revelation chapter 12, time & time again, I felt the woman travailing with child, given wings and
sent to the Earth was She, our Heavenly Mother. I’m my mind’s eye I saw this woman as our Heavenly Mother carrying Their “seeds,” like a hen that gathers her chicks.
Our Father and Our Mother created ALL of US, before, we came to Earth.
They would do all they could to protect us, guide us, and send another to walk beside us.
A pattern here on Earth.
It is spoken that the Earth is a Celestial creation, in a telestial state, far from its potential.
The scriptures share the Earth swallowed up the flood to protect Her; I see this as OUR Mother.
I felt our Mother is here. She is very much part of the Earth; swallowing up the flood for you and me.
I felt that Heavenly Mother and Heavenly Father were/are guardians of the two trees spoken
of in the Garden of Eden, given before the fruit would fall.
I felt she was to watch over US here;
guardian of The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil preparing the way for us to leave.
I felt They made a plan, where a Mother would stay w/Her children.
She would remain a guardian over our mortal lives, giving knowledge and birth.
Father would stay, guard the way & give us the keys we need;
guardian of The Tree of Life preparing a way for us to return.
We pray to Our Father in heaven, guardian of immortal life, to guide us to our Heavenly home.
WE are Their posterity:
YOU/Me/We; Theirs, Heirs.
This is our noble birthright.
We are part of Them.
Michelle Gessell
Watercolor
Original not for sale
Prints are available 8x8 and 12x12
Our Heavenly Mother is present in our lives.
As I read Revelation chapter 12, time & time again, I felt the woman travailing with child, given wings and
sent to the Earth was She, our Heavenly Mother. I’m my mind’s eye I saw this woman as our Heavenly Mother carrying Their “seeds,” like a hen that gathers her chicks.
Our Father and Our Mother created ALL of US, before, we came to Earth.
They would do all they could to protect us, guide us, and send another to walk beside us.
A pattern here on Earth.
It is spoken that the Earth is a Celestial creation, in a telestial state, far from its potential.
The scriptures share the Earth swallowed up the flood to protect Her; I see this as OUR Mother.
I felt our Mother is here. She is very much part of the Earth; swallowing up the flood for you and me.
I felt that Heavenly Mother and Heavenly Father were/are guardians of the two trees spoken
of in the Garden of Eden, given before the fruit would fall.
I felt she was to watch over US here;
guardian of The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil preparing the way for us to leave.
I felt They made a plan, where a Mother would stay w/Her children.
She would remain a guardian over our mortal lives, giving knowledge and birth.
Father would stay, guard the way & give us the keys we need;
guardian of The Tree of Life preparing a way for us to return.
We pray to Our Father in heaven, guardian of immortal life, to guide us to our Heavenly home.
WE are Their posterity:
YOU/Me/We; Theirs, Heirs.
This is our noble birthright.
We are part of Them.
Michelle Gessell
Watercolor
Original not for sale
Prints are available 8x8 and 12x12
heavenly mother book cover
I highly recommend this book to start your discovery.
My artwork, "Like a Hen Gathers Her Chicks" is included in this book .
My artwork, "Like a Hen Gathers Her Chicks" is included in this book .
heavenly mother book layout with my art
Layout of my page in the book, a Girls Guide to Heavenly Mother
Heavenly Mother -
She is in the details.
Heavenly Mother - She is in the details
I thought how the act of creating something from nothing is such an amazing experience.
It made me think of the time & energy involved when our Heavenly Parents created and crafted each of US.
Each and every ONE of us is unique.
Each & every ONE of us has layers; experiences that could not and cannot be duplicated.
Our earthly parents, our siblings, and our friends add to our texture,
and to our experience, adding layer after layer.
But our first parents; Our Heavenly Parents gave us our first layers.
What a beautiful process we are.
It is an awesome feeling to know, we were created uniquely
and we aren’t supposed to stay the same.
We were meant to evolve, grow, and change.
Michelle Gessell
Acrylic on canvas 11 x 14
Original for sale
No Prints available
2/28/2020
contact:michellegessell@drawingnearertothee.com
I thought how the act of creating something from nothing is such an amazing experience.
It made me think of the time & energy involved when our Heavenly Parents created and crafted each of US.
Each and every ONE of us is unique.
Each & every ONE of us has layers; experiences that could not and cannot be duplicated.
Our earthly parents, our siblings, and our friends add to our texture,
and to our experience, adding layer after layer.
But our first parents; Our Heavenly Parents gave us our first layers.
What a beautiful process we are.
It is an awesome feeling to know, we were created uniquely
and we aren’t supposed to stay the same.
We were meant to evolve, grow, and change.
Michelle Gessell
Acrylic on canvas 11 x 14
Original for sale
No Prints available
2/28/2020
contact:michellegessell@drawingnearertothee.com
Heavenly Parents with Their Son, Jesus Christ - A Perfect Brightness of Hope - Conference Doodle
A Perfect Brightness of Hope
Conference Doodle created for the LDS General Conference talk, “A Perfect Brightness of Hope,”
given by Jeffrey R. Holland April 2020
⠀
Elder Holland shared:
We have every reason to hope for blessings even greater than those we have already received because this is the work of all mighty God!” - I added that exclamation point. ⠀
Over the past 200 years we have had many hopes filled.
⠀
We know we are beloved children of Heavenly Parents & WE are patterned after Their parental character.
⠀
We know a plan was created for US to return to Them & that FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER,
not just until death do we part.
⠀
We know this because WE have another testament of Jesus Christ that “confirms the biblical witness that Jesus is the Christ, the literal Son of God, Alpha & Omega & the only Savior of the world” This testament enlarges & enhances our knowledge of the birth of Christ, his ministry, atoning sacrifice, RESURRECTION & eternal life.
⠀
We have received the RESTORATION of the gospel, which include priesthood keys to baptize, confirm the Holy Ghost, heal & seal.
⠀
We have holy temples like those of ancient times to bind families.
⠀
We have continual revelation.
⠀
So why not hope?!
⠀
“Why should we not hope that righteous desires & Christlike yearnings can still be marvelously answered by the God of all hope?”
⠀
Here are some of the desires he shares, are they not OUR DESIRES TOO?
⠀
May we HOPE TO BE EQUALLY COMMITTED
to freeing the world from the virus of hunger.
⠀
Freeing neighborhoods & nations from the virus of poverty.
⠀
May we hope for schools where students are taught, not [be] terrified they will be shot.
⠀
AND for the GIFT OF PERSONAL DIGNITY FOR EVERY CHILD OF GOD,
unmarred by any form of racial, ethnic, or religious prejudice.
⠀
Undergirding all of this is OUR relentless HOPE for greater devotion to the two greatest of all commandments:
to love God by keeping His counsel & to love our neighbors by showing kindness & compassion, patience & forgiveness. These two divine directives are still & forever will be the only real hope we have for giving our children a better world than the one they now know.
To listen to the entire talk, go to ChurchofJesusChrist.org
Search General Conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland April 2020 A Perfect Brightness of Hope
Michelle Gessell 6/15/2020
Watercolor
Original not for sale
Prints may be requested. Contact me at michellegessell@drawingnearertothee.com
⠀
Conference Doodle created for the LDS General Conference talk, “A Perfect Brightness of Hope,”
given by Jeffrey R. Holland April 2020
⠀
Elder Holland shared:
We have every reason to hope for blessings even greater than those we have already received because this is the work of all mighty God!” - I added that exclamation point. ⠀
Over the past 200 years we have had many hopes filled.
⠀
We know we are beloved children of Heavenly Parents & WE are patterned after Their parental character.
⠀
We know a plan was created for US to return to Them & that FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER,
not just until death do we part.
⠀
We know this because WE have another testament of Jesus Christ that “confirms the biblical witness that Jesus is the Christ, the literal Son of God, Alpha & Omega & the only Savior of the world” This testament enlarges & enhances our knowledge of the birth of Christ, his ministry, atoning sacrifice, RESURRECTION & eternal life.
⠀
We have received the RESTORATION of the gospel, which include priesthood keys to baptize, confirm the Holy Ghost, heal & seal.
⠀
We have holy temples like those of ancient times to bind families.
⠀
We have continual revelation.
⠀
So why not hope?!
⠀
“Why should we not hope that righteous desires & Christlike yearnings can still be marvelously answered by the God of all hope?”
⠀
Here are some of the desires he shares, are they not OUR DESIRES TOO?
⠀
May we HOPE TO BE EQUALLY COMMITTED
to freeing the world from the virus of hunger.
⠀
Freeing neighborhoods & nations from the virus of poverty.
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May we hope for schools where students are taught, not [be] terrified they will be shot.
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AND for the GIFT OF PERSONAL DIGNITY FOR EVERY CHILD OF GOD,
unmarred by any form of racial, ethnic, or religious prejudice.
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Undergirding all of this is OUR relentless HOPE for greater devotion to the two greatest of all commandments:
to love God by keeping His counsel & to love our neighbors by showing kindness & compassion, patience & forgiveness. These two divine directives are still & forever will be the only real hope we have for giving our children a better world than the one they now know.
To listen to the entire talk, go to ChurchofJesusChrist.org
Search General Conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland April 2020 A Perfect Brightness of Hope
Michelle Gessell 6/15/2020
Watercolor
Original not for sale
Prints may be requested. Contact me at michellegessell@drawingnearertothee.com
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