7 Shocking Ways The Book Of Mormon Art Catalog Is Redefining LDS Visual Culture In 2025

The Book of Mormon Art Catalog has quietly become the single most important digital repository for Latter-day Saint (LDS) visual culture, and as of late 2024 and early 2025, it is undergoing a massive transformation. This open-access database is no longer just a collection of artwork inspired by the Book of Mormon; it has expanded its scope to include art related to the entire Restoration History, the Doctrine and Covenants, and other foundational scriptures. This expansion, combined with the energy from the annual Book of Mormon Art Contest, is inspiring a new generation of artists to move beyond the traditional, well-known pieces and explore the scriptures with unprecedented diversity and depth.

For scholars, artists, and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Catalog serves as a crucial resource, aiming not only to recover the full, complex history of this sacred art but also to actively inspire new and varied artistic interpretations. From the iconic paintings of Arnold Friberg to the fresh, contemporary submissions of the 2025 contest winners, the platform is a dynamic window into how faith is visualized today, offering a comprehensive look at how stories like Lehi’s Dream and Christ’s visit to ancient America have been portrayed across centuries and cultures.

The Digital Renaissance: What is the Book of Mormon Art Catalog?

The Book of Mormon Art Catalog (BOMAC) is an ambitious digital initiative spearheaded by the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University (BYU). Launched to address the lack of a central, comprehensive archive, it functions as an open-access digital database for visual artwork inspired by the Book of Mormon and related scriptures.

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The Critical Expansion: Restoration History and Beyond

One of the most significant recent updates came in November 2024, when the Catalog officially expanded its mission to include art inspired by the broader themes of Restoration History and the Doctrine and Covenants. This move dramatically increases the topical authority of the Catalog, transforming it from a scripture-specific archive into a central hub for all Latter-day Saint visual heritage. This expansion allows for the inclusion of thousands of pieces depicting events like the First Vision, the building of the Kirtland and Nauvoo temples, and the experiences of early Church leaders.

The Catalog’s functionality is designed for deep research, allowing users to search by several key parameters:

• Artists: Browse by name to see a full body of work.
• Dates: View a timeline of art by year, tracing historical trends.
• Scripture References: Find all depictions of a specific verse or chapter.
• Topics: Explore themes like *Lehi’s Dream*, *Captain Moroni*, or *Alma the Younger*.
• Styles & Techniques: Filter by medium, such as painting, sculpture, or digital art.

5 New Trends and the Most Depicted Scenes in Book of Mormon Art

The Catalog’s data reveals fascinating insights into which scriptural stories resonate most with artists and, conversely, which stories remain largely untouched. This dynamic is being challenged by new initiatives like the annual Book of Mormon Art Contest, which specifically encourages students to visualize underrepresented people and events.

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Trend 1: The Rise of Diverse Representation

For decades, the visual narrative of the Book of Mormon was dominated by a few well-known, often Eurocentric, depictions. The Catalog and the associated art contests are actively promoting a shift toward greater cultural and racial diversity in the portrayal of characters like Nephi, the Lamanites, and the Nephites. The 2025 contest, in particular, focused on strengthening testimonies through more inclusive and relatable imagery.

Trend 2: Focus on Underrepresented Women and Children

While traditional art often focuses on male prophets and warriors, a growing trend among contemporary artists is to depict the experiences of women and children. This shift includes visualizations of figures such as the Wives of the Stripling Warriors or the unnamed women present during Christ’s visit to the temple in Bountiful.

The Most Popular Topics (The Catalog's Top 3)

According to the Catalog’s data, a small number of events account for nearly half of all Book of Mormon art, demonstrating a clear focus on foundational, symbolic narratives:

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1. Lehi’s Dream (The Tree of Life): This is consistently the single most frequently portrayed event in the Book of Mormon. Its symbolic richness—the iron rod, the great and spacious building, the path to the Tree of Life—makes it a perennial favorite for artists across all mediums.
2. Christ’s Visit to Ancient America: The appearance of the resurrected Christ to the Nephites, as recorded in 3 Nephi, is another cornerstone of the Catalog. Artists often focus on the tender moments of healing and teaching, or the solemn moment of the multitude gathering.
3. Alma the Younger and the Angel: The dramatic conversion story of Alma the Younger, who was struck dumb by an angel, is highly popular due to its intense visual potential and powerful message of repentance and transformation.

From Friberg to Contemporary: The Essential Artists Shaping LDS Visual Culture

The Book of Mormon Art Catalog serves as a bridge, connecting the canonical works of the past with the vibrant, diverse creations of the present. By showcasing this entire continuum, it provides critical context for understanding the evolution of Latter-day Saint art.

The Pillars of Traditional Book of Mormon Art

The visual culture of the 20th century was largely defined by a few monumental figures whose work set the standard for generations:

• Arnold Friberg: His iconic, dramatic, and muscular depictions of scenes like Captain Moroni raising the Title of Liberty or the Stripling Warriors became the de facto visual representation of the Book of Mormon for millions [cite: 16 from step 1].
• Minerva Teichert: Known for her energetic, mural-like style, Teichert's paintings, such as her depictions of Nephi’s people constructing the temple, emphasize the industriousness and epic scale of the ancient narratives.
• C. C. A. Christensen: A pioneer of early LDS art, his work often documented the migration and early history of the Church, providing some of the earliest visual interpretations of the scriptures.

The New Wave: Contemporary Artists in the Catalog

The Catalog is now a vital platform for showcasing the new wave of artists who are challenging and expanding these traditional boundaries. These contemporary figures are exploring new styles, mediums, and perspectives, often moving away from literal realism toward more symbolic or abstract interpretations [cite: 15 from step 1].

• Rose Datoc Dall: Known for her masterful use of light and color to create deeply emotional and spiritual scenes.
• Caitlin Connolly: Her distinctive, stylized figures often explore themes of the divine feminine and personal spiritual experience.
• Esther Hi'ilani Candari: A contemporary artist whose work is featured in new resource books and who is known for her vibrant, multi-layered approach to scriptural narratives [cite: 19 from step 1].
• Jerry Thompson: An artist whose work, such as the depiction of Aaron reading to King Lamoni’s household, often appears in official Church resources, blending traditional and modern sensibilities.
• Yocum: An artist whose depiction of the prophet Moroni has been noted for its contemporary, relatable portrayal of a determined figure.

The inclusion of these diverse voices, styles, and interpretations is the Catalog's greatest strength. It ensures that the visual culture of the Book of Mormon remains a living, evolving testament, accessible to a global audience and relevant to the spiritual journeys of artists and believers everywhere. As the Catalog continues to grow and inspire new competitions, its role as the definitive authority on Latter-day Saint art will only solidify, promising a future where the visual narrative is as expansive and diverse as the faith itself.