The Payson Utah Temple is one of a series of detailed pencil drawings and paintings
created by artist Chad S. Hawkins. In 1989, at the age of seventeen, Chad started this
unique temple series, becoming the original LDS artist to involve hidden spiritual
images in his artwork. Before drawing each temple, Chad researches its history,
construction, and beautiful surroundings. He then returns to his studio to draw the
temple by referring to his notes, sketches, and photographs.
President Gordon B. Hinckley counseled, ??f we are a temple-going people, we will
be a better people, we will be better fathers and husbands, we will be better wives and
mothers. I know your lives are busy. I know that you have much to do. But I promise
that if you will go the House of the Lord, you will be blessed, life will be better for you.
Now please, please, my beloved brethren and sisters, avail yourselves of the great
opportunity to go the Lord?? house and thereby partake of all the marvelous blessings
that are yours to be received there.??(Deseret News Church Almanac 1999??000, p. 479.)
To remind one of the importance of Christ?? atonement in temple work, Chad has
rendered the Savior?? image kneeling in prayer to the right of the temple. The Savior??
face, clasped hands, and upper body are a part the trees with His kneeling lower body
found in the foreground grass and landscaping.