tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426723056163837913.post4998142978881388969..comments2023-08-27T02:56:53.756-06:00Comments on Frost Cave: The Face of ChristChris Heimerdingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000418124642779132noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426723056163837913.post-89587669561697268252009-11-29T19:54:54.774-07:002009-11-29T19:54:54.774-07:00Isaiah's description has always made me wonder...Isaiah's description has always made me wonder about the possibility of the Savior's face/appearance being rather mundane, even homely by worldly standards. I don't know if that's what he meant (heaven knows Isaiah frequently spoke figuratively), but asking the question forced me to examine myself---to see if it would bother me, and if so, why. Why should I be less inclined to listen to an important message just because the messenger has an underwhelming appearance? It was good to examine my motives and to try and purify them.<br /><br />That said, if a man's mother is "most beautiful and fair above all other virgins" and his Father is a divine being, it's not a stretch to suppose he was probably a beautiful person.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14498290529550647229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426723056163837913.post-88287381174854569702009-09-08T11:30:25.778-06:002009-09-08T11:30:25.778-06:00Nothing significant to add here. Except one though...Nothing significant to add here. Except one thought. I don't remember which of your books in the Tennis Shoes Series you mentioned this, but Melody said something about collecting pictures of the Savior, and when she finally was able to gaze upon him, He looked nothing like she thought he would. <br /><br />That makes me think about what I will think when I finally am able to see Him. What will He look like? And then it all goes away as I realize that it doesn't matter what he looks like, as long as I am one of the priviliged to be able to see him. <br /><br />Thanks for this post, it was really a thought provoking one!Craft-a-Boohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04274495416591059515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426723056163837913.post-75840929500647646012009-09-06T18:05:28.113-06:002009-09-06T18:05:28.113-06:00I know of no portait that is considered "offi...I know of no portait that is considered "official" as representing the Savior's appearance. The Church has shown a preference for certain images, like the Christ statue in the Visitor's Center on Temple Square. But even with these, no particular image has earned the stamp of being an accurate representation of facial features. They are used as symbols of worship. This is very important to understand. A symbol is a powerful thing. But the benefits we gain from them need not represent physical "accuracy."<br /><br />Camillie you presented another comment for posting that I want to hold off posting until you can find the actual reference from Brigham Young that you cited. I'm not sure such a quote exists, and if it doesn't exist, your post may be misleading to those who read it. You have great thoughts, but I just need a reference for that quote. Thanks.Chris Heimerdingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02000418124642779132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426723056163837913.post-29045036428913488032009-09-05T22:36:04.431-06:002009-09-05T22:36:04.431-06:00Do you know who the First Presidency choose the pr...Do you know who the First Presidency choose the protrait of Christ in robes of red that is now universally accepted throught the church as the offical protrait? I really don't know and I wonder if they choose it to represnt Him literally or if it is a representation of Him as a glorified being or another artwork that is appreciated just as most artwork based on the Lord is appreciated?<br />Also I think it is great that the Lord wasn't "perfect" looking while here on Earth. It really would drive home that being perfect or becoming perfect is not a physical process as the world would have us believe.<br />Thanks for the blog, your hard work, and the time you take to do all this. I have read all the tennis shoe books, Eddie and Passage. It is wonderful to see your growth as a writer and your dedication on bringing us along with you. Thanks again and hope the diet is going well. 1 Chronicles 28:10Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06108784637646726759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426723056163837913.post-76265649621442474372009-09-01T14:33:42.976-06:002009-09-01T14:33:42.976-06:00I have spoken with several artists on this subject...I have spoken with several artists on this subject, but not Greg. However, his contemporaries have written much, including James Christensen. His article in the BYU Today from about ten years ago is very telling. He discusses a similar encounter that he had with Spencer W. Kimball. And one thing he notes is that we need to very careful about apocryphal stories, such as the one, say, about a little girls whose parents died, and upon seeing a picture of the Savior she says, "That's who sat with me until I was rescued." There is no reason to doubt the basic tenets of such a story, especially if the portrait being viewed is of a beautiful man dressed in white. But this may not mean that the little girl is relating to facial features. Perhaps primarly she is relating to a "feeling" of peace in her heart. The point is that we need to be careful and prudent. And we should better trust the words of Joseph Smith and other prophets who report that the features of the resurrected Lord "defy all description." I think that's pretty direct. It means painting Him as He now is would be act of futility if one seeks to be accurate. But is accuracy really the point? I don't believe it is. It is to project an emotion, a feeling. And I believe that mission is often accomplished without necessarily being accurate.Chris Heimerdingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02000418124642779132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426723056163837913.post-33739062597025157462009-09-01T13:20:07.904-06:002009-09-01T13:20:07.904-06:00Chris, I suggest that you speak to Greg Olsen abou...Chris, I suggest that you speak to Greg Olsen about this, he tells the story of a general authority (don't remember who) who asked him why he didn't paint a full face of the Savior, He was given an interesting reply to his answer but if I tried to quote him I would probably get it wrong, ask him. As for his size, in a class taught by Wayne Brickey who is very scientific in his explanations of things he said the Savior was probably a rather tall and perhaps large, that is why two nails in the hand (wrist) that is what they did for large men when they crucified them, Jewish men of that time are considered short.dedeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02486028561385115457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426723056163837913.post-2854937411116224272009-08-31T13:01:44.538-06:002009-08-31T13:01:44.538-06:00Actually, portions of this post are IN the new Ten...Actually, portions of this post are IN the new Tennis Shoes book. This is actually an abridgement. :)Chris Heimerdingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02000418124642779132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426723056163837913.post-20503628639627766292009-08-31T08:42:41.651-06:002009-08-31T08:42:41.651-06:00I dreamed about Him once, and while I remember man...I dreamed about Him once, and while I remember many details of it (it has turned out to be very significant in my life as well as both of my brithers) very quickly I lost the face. No matter how hard I try it's always on the edge of my concious mind. Maybe we have no descriptions because they would distract us from what's really important, which is the Atonement and His teachings. I liked Aubrey's comment above and I love this post. It's food for thought and I love it that you always reference (I suppose you're used to that). I always love reading chapter notes, and this blog is like reading extended ones that are even more interesting and pensive.Mormon Mummyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12846357106559739742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426723056163837913.post-28032303350240648872009-08-31T07:12:43.848-06:002009-08-31T07:12:43.848-06:00I think the Savior probably looked very much like ...I think the Savior probably looked very much like any ordinary man in His lifetime. He didn't physically stand out enough in any way so that people could look at him and instantly know He was the Savior, or instantly decide that He wasn't the Savior. They had to rely on the Spirit to tell them the truth of the matter. I've always liked the parts in your Feathered Serpent books where Melody collects so many pictures of the Savior, because none is exactly right but they each have something about them that reminds her, in some small way, of what He actually looks like. I've also always liked this quote by President Benson, that I think goes along with what you were trying to say: "And nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar His face is to us. And then, as President Brigham Young said, we're going to wonder why we were so stupid in the flesh."Sarah Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09788155683857492789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426723056163837913.post-72469075582275528932009-08-30T21:58:26.368-06:002009-08-30T21:58:26.368-06:00This reminds me of that story of the two men who d...This reminds me of that story of the two men who die and are interviewed by someone about what they know of the Savior. One man spouts of his memorized dates and references to this interviewer and the other man falls to his knees in the presence of the interviewer, Christ. He "knows" Him because of his faith, trust, and love for the Savior. When visiting my sister who works at DB I pass through the gallery of pictures of the Savior. I love going through this area with people and seeing what some of their favorite pictures are. While I prefer one another person may not. And vice versa (sp?). I am grateful that there is no real description of Him, we can come to picture Him in our minds as we see fit. How we feel we know Him through our prays and devotion to Him. You put the words so eloquently when you said "when the veil is lifted and we finally see past and future as one, the images of all mortal artists will ultimately be replaced by a more perfect vision that will remain in our minds and hearts forever".aubreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07356042175836068734noreply@blogger.com