Minerva Teichert: LOOK TO YOUR CHILDREN

THE STORY: The Book of Mormon records that Jesus visited the Americas after His crucifixion and resurrection, where He prayed and blessed the Nephites’ little children.  The scriptures say, “And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.  And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heaves open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.”¹  This painting records that scene.

ANALYSIS: The eye follows a bright, white swoop leading from the heavens in the upper left to the earth below in the lower right. In the upper right, the trees and fronds reflect color from the angelic white, reminding the viewer of fireworks--a man-made celebratory light in the night sky, that pales next to God's stars and heavens.

A Christ-like angel stands at the center of the scene, and female angels descend from heaven in an arc of light to join them.   “The angels appear similar to each other and to Christ, signifying their own unity of purpose and their loving devotion to Christ and all of humanity.”² 

Teichert's background as a mother of six and the mistress of a large ranch are reflected in the angels' ministry. These angels not only embrace and pray with the children; they also minister to their earthly needs.  Teichert wrote about these angels, “I have them giving a basket of fruit and a huge jar of water to drink, one washing the face of a little neglected child.”³  These gifts of food and drink also represent Christ’s statement that He is the bread of life, and that His followers may eat and never hunger or thirst.⁴

In the painting’s foreground, “Older children bring forth infants too young to come by themselves, and one child turns to help another.  Their acts remind us that these children represent three generations that will be unified in righteousness by their faith in Christ.”⁵

PERSONAL IMPACT: Minerva Teichert wrote about painting this mural in a letter to her daughter Laurie on October 28, 1956: "Isn't it funny I should be doing these when the church doesn't want my work. I was led to it so there must be a reason ahead."

This line has stuck with me since I read it years ago: I was led to it, so there must be a reason ahead. It's shocking to me that Teichert's Book of Mormon paintings weren't fully appreciated in her lifetime, but the faith she shows as a daughter of God, a Relief Society sister, and a mother in Zion inspires me. To look at the labor and time of painting 42 giant murals and to shrug and say with faith that the Holy Ghost led her to do it, so she would keep on working even though it seemed futile? That's what I think of whenever I see this painting--and it's a message I hope to internalize.

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1. 3 Nephi 17:23-14
2. John W. Welch and Doris R. Dant, The Book of Mormon Paintings of Minerva Teichert (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1997) 146
3. John W. Welch and Doris R. Dant, The Book of Mormon Paintings of Minerva Teichert (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1997) 166
4. John 6:35
5. John W. Welch and Doris R. Dant, The Book of Mormon Paintings of Minerva Teichert (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1997) 146