My Experince at the MOA Types and Shadows Exhibition

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit the BYU Museum of Arts and walk through the “Types and Shadows” exhibition. This experience has been by far the most memorable and influential of all other art shows I have experienced. The scripture in Moses 6:63 states clearly that “all things have their likeliness, and all things are created,” which does in fact bear record of God. This scripture was in fact the opening of the exhibition. I have been taught an important lesson – “Learning to read religious symbols is an essential part of becoming a spiritually mature person.” In one of the paintings, “Christ the Shepherd,” I felt a deep connection with the Savior and his role in my life. I pictured the lamb he is holding to be me; this made me think of the love, mercy, and his capability to care for each one of us. I also put into perspective the role I would play if I was the sheep that surrounded him. I too play an important part in not only following the Savior, along with the other sheep, but as well caring for the “one” in his arms. Another painting called “The Rod and the Veil,” made me take into deeper perspective my life. Holding on to the Iron Rod requires us to first reach out and grab hold it. Because of the temptations, trials, and tribulations we face while here on earth, it is a hard to grab hold of the Iron Rod. But all it takes is for us to reach out and the Savior will provide the aid we need to grasp a hold of it. Becoming more spiritually mature requires “Seeing Beyond” the picture, as “ And then I looked” painting suggests. The jagged tock for me represents the trials in my life, which can be a challenged to climb all the way to the top to reach Heaven. But we are provided with light, the Savior’s light, so that we can see where we are stepping and not tumble down the rocks. I liked the symbolism found in the painting of “The Prodigal Son.” The blue cloth suspended in three differ areas of the painting symbolizes God’s constant watch care. It also symbolizes the atonement, which means to “cover. ” The painting titled “Man of Sorrows” had by far the biggest impact in me. Its image was so realistic, almost as if I was seeing Christ in person. He is bearing the cross his shoulder and looking down. After observing the painting for a while, it then occurred to me that I too was included in the picture. The cross was me, who Christ was holding and bearing. I then meditated deeper and realized that my suffering and pain, plus those of all humanity, was all on the shoulders of Christ. We never will have to walk alone or bear our sorrows with no aid. If we hold onto to what Christ has taught and strive to live as his example, then we can overcome anything that comes before us. The Savior, on the other hand did bear the pain and suffering of all alone, a man who was free from sin and had done no evil. If one loves the Savior, then we show that through action and by giving our hearts to him.