Ardis Parshall has graciously provided this scan of an image, the possibility of which was discussed in my post of a few days ago.
This seems to be a unique, or at least rather rare, decpiction in Mormon visual culture. I don’t recall seeing any other illustrations out there like it–though that of course doesn’t mean there aren’t any (as Ardis has already demonstrated). Anybody know of any others? I recall seeing an exhibit in the Museum of Church History and Art a few years ago, with artwork and folk art by Church members from around the world. Seems like some of them were published in the Ensign awhile back, but I don’t recall if any depicted anything like the building of the New Jerusalem…. (or 3 Ne 20:16, for that matter)
Are they building church headquarters, or is that it in the background?
Comment by TT — September 23, 2011 @ 9:48 am
I’m guessing that the laborer in the foreground with his back to us is about 10 seconds away from dropping the gear in his right hand and dislodging that wedgie.
Comment by oudenos — September 23, 2011 @ 10:11 am
TT, I was about to say the same thing!
Comment by Clark — September 23, 2011 @ 11:43 am
That makes three of us who had the same thought … that or the World Trade Center.
The following page with the image of new Jerusalem was filled with this kind of building — some had flat tops, some domes, some pointy tops, and of various heights, but nearly all the buildings in that city scene had this same kind of general skyscraper architecture with a facade of alternating pillar and window, or whatever it’s supposed to be. Either the artist thought the Church Office Building was the first building of that city, or else it was his simplistic idea of city architecture.
Comment by Ardis E. Parshall — September 23, 2011 @ 11:57 am