An Artistic Tour of 2 Nephi 4

2 Nephi 4

BOOK OF MORMON ART

Mazmuur Naafi: The Arabic Psalm of Nephi

Ahmed Jamal Qureshi

The gospel finds beautiful expressions in every culture. Pioneers of the past brought with them the arts and architecture of Europe, while today's pioneers have an array of new cultural riches that broaden our appreciation of the restored gospel. In the Arab world, imagery in art is often eschewed in favor of sacred text shaped into flowing designs. Here, the artist has adapted a mosque dome form to display the circuitous text in a stately Thuluth font of Nephi's cry of trust in the Lord (2 Nephi 4:16–35). The text concludes in the center where the word "God" is written in a flowing Diwani font. In the four smaller circles in the corners are names of four individuals who brought the book of Nephi to us: Nephi, Lehi, Moroni, and Joseph Smith.

2 Nephi 4:4

BOOK OF MORMON ART

Lehi Exhorts His Posterity to Righteousness

Philip Leaning

Oil on canvas, 1999

2 Nephi 4:11

BOOK OF MORMON ART

Lehi Blessing His Posterity/Family

C.C.A. Christensen

Shortly before his death, Lehi called his posterity together and gave them final exhortations and blessings.

The contrast between this painting and the subsequent lithograph helps make clear some of Christensen's style in painting people. The lithograph, which is a redrawing of Christensen's original, shows greater drawing skill. But it also shows the weakness of the academic tradition in depicting life. Contrast the three small children closest to Lehi in the lower right. The little girl is Christensen's painting is burying her face in her grandfather's lap. In the lithograph she is primly standing in a graceful pose. The chubby little boy in the blue skirt standing flat-footed is slimmed down in the lithograph and placed in a graceful, dance-like pose. To the left of the woman in white, Christensen shows a small child bowing his neck and back as he strains to escape from his mother. In the lithograph the child has been changed into a graceful little cherub, much less childlike. What Christensen lacked in drawing skill, he more than made up in keen observation and real humility. His people are not just collections of academic types learned in art school.

2 Nephi 4:15

BOOK OF MORMON QUILT

My Soul Delighteth in the Scriptures

Patricia Welch

fabric crazy quilt

Selected patches in this quilt represent scriptures that teach gospel principles that are meaningful to me. The quilt was inspired by the testimony and example of Nephi, who made such great efforts to ensure that his people would have a record of the word of God and know His works. Nephi’s love of the scriptures and powerful testimony touch the hearts of many and inspire us to read and study the scriptures and apply God’s plan to our lives. “For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children” (2 Nephi 4:15).

2 Nephi 4:15

BOOK OF MORMON ART

My Soul Delighteth in the Scriptures

Carl Updike

oil on canvas, 2008

2 Nephi 4:15

BOOK OF MORMON MUSIC

“The Books in the Book of Mormon” – Children’s Songbook, 119

Three different prophets named Nephi have resulted in four books in the Book of Mormon with this name.

Family Gal presents a fun, hand-clapping game with this song, set to the tune of “Ten Little Indians.”

2 Nephi 4:16-35

BOOK OF MORMON MUSIC

“Nephi’s Psalm” - Marilyn Arnold & Maurine Ozment

Sacred Hymns of the Book of Mormon, 5

The section of the Book of Mormon referred to as “Nephi’s Psalm” is a heartfelt expression of prayer, dense with life lessons and yearning.

2 Nephi 5 2 Nephi 1-3