How Scripture Speaks to Us at Different Times
Have you noticed that scriptures seem to shift in meaning depending on what’s going on in your life? That’s part of their magic—why terms like “living waters” and “living words” describe the gospel of Jesus Christ so well. They’re not just stories from long ago—they’re active, like the Liahona, guiding us through the turns and wilderness of our own journeys.
To show what I mean, I want to share two paintings I created based on Lehi’s vision from 1 Nephi. They were painted at very different points in my life, and without even trying, they ended up reflecting not just the scripture—but my experience with it in those seasons. They became mirrors for my inner world.
The First Painting: Vibrant, Hopeful, and Focused on Relationships
My first painting of Lehi’s vision came during a time of light and connection. I was surrounded by people I loved and felt spiritually grounded. The colors I used—bright yellows, greens, blues—conveyed that peace and joy.
In this version, the tree of life is strong and central, glowing with light. The focus isn’t only on the tree—it’s on the people moving toward it. There’s unity, hand-in-hand movement toward Christ. The great and spacious building exists, but it’s distant. It didn’t feel threatening. At the time, I felt like most people in my world were moving toward the tree with me.
This was a season of relationships, community, and spiritual resonance.
The Second Painting: A Shift Toward Loss and Reflection
The second painting is very different. The great and spacious building now dominates about 65% of the canvas. The terrain around it feels desolate and dark—almost like Mordor. The tree is still there, but smaller, more off to the side. Only a few people are filing toward it.
Looking back, I realize I was processing grief and change. I had started to lose relationships that once felt sure. People I loved seemed pulled away by distractions or different values. I felt more alone in my spiritual walk, and that sense of loss made its way into the art.
This painting doesn’t just depict Lehi’s dream—it shows how my dream had changed. The same scripture, seen through a more complicated lens.
Likening the Scriptures to Our Own Lives
What’s powerful to me is that it’s the same vision in both paintings. But the lesson I saw in it changed, because I had changed. When life was vibrant, I saw community and joy. When things felt fractured, I saw the wilderness, the wandering, the distractions.
That’s what it means to “liken the scriptures” to ourselves. The scriptures are constant, but we’re not. We grow, we stumble, we lose, we rebuild. And through it all, Christ’s love—the light of the tree—is still present, even if it feels far away sometimes.
A Spiritual Practice for You
I invite you to try a small but powerful reflection. I learned this at a BTS training for art teachers recently.
Try the “I used to think… Now I think…” reflection with a scripture that has been meaningful to you. Maybe it’s one you memorized as a child, or one that keeps showing up. See what shifts when you pair it with what you’re living right now.
