This beautiful painting was commissioned by the Church to be painted for the Winter Quarters Temple. It is beautifully displayed in a waiting area in the temple and a replica hangs in the Mormon Trail Center Visitors Center.
The painting provides for me a feeling a love for the saints that sacrificed so much so that each of us could have the freedom to worship and to enjoy the blessings of the gospel. It was in this location where many church members settled after they were driven out of Nauvoo, Illinois. It was also where many Latter-day Saints, including many who came from Europe, camped before crossing the plains to the Salt Lake Valley. More than 2,000 church members died at Winter Quarters because of heavy storms, scurvy, malaria and inadequate food and shelter.
In the 136th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, Brigham Young received a revelation at Winter Quarters. In verse 6 we read, "And this shall be our covenant-- that we will walk in the Ordinances of the Lord."
Each week we see many individuals that are converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ, already have a great love for and desire to enter the temple. Within a few weeks at most, these faithful converts are entering the temple to do baptisms for the dead for their own family members. We have seen baptisms for spouses, brothers, sisters, grandparents and great grandparents. The hearts of the fathers that gave their lives in this sacred place have turned to the children of our day and the children's hearts have turned to their fathers. They are walking in the ordinances of the Lord and we are witnesses of the fulfillment of this prophesy.
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