This painting depicts the reported angel with a drawn sword who appeared to the prophet Joseph Smith commanding him to implement the practice of plural marriage. A Gospel Topics essay on the subject says, “Joseph told associates that an angel appeared to him three times between 1834 and 1842 and commanded him to proceed with plural marriage when he hesitated to move forward.” Joseph Smith polygamy historian, Brian Hales, has found 20 different accounts from nine witnesses who give statements and information about this angel who commanded that plural marriage be implemented.
 
I purposely chose to paint this image in an older, glazed, multi-layered, almost Baroque style of the 17th and 18th centuries. Baroque painting is partly known for depicting moments of high religious drama in detail, using chiaroscuro (high contrast of light and shadow) to produce dramatic effects.  In this scene the angel has just descended from on high, his cape fluttering in a sense of motion.  Although haloed in righteousness, his face is somber and serious, reflecting the seriousness of the message and consequences of its rejection.
 
The angel holds a scale in his right hand, over Joseph’s head, suggesting impending judgment. The various accounts about the angel use descriptives like “threatening him with destruction,” “threatening to slay him,”  “he would be slain,” “his priesthood should be taken from him,” “he should be destroyed,” or “I would lose my position and my life.”  I wanted to represent these ideas and using a symbol seemed most apt to do so.
 
In his left hand the angel holds a drawn sword just over Joseph’s head, his arm flexed and bare hearkening to scriptures that the Lord will “make bare his arm” of power to implement his divine will (see 1 Nephi 22:10-11; Isaiah 52:10; D&C 133:3). Below the sword, Joseph kneels in humble supplication, his submissive posture suggesting his resignation to the revelation.
At Joseph’s feet sits an open Bible, its pages resting open to Genesis 16, where Abraham marries Hagar as a plural wife.  It is likely that Joseph first inquired and learned about plural marriage while translating the Old Testament in 1831  (see section heading to D&C 132). In the scenery behind the angel sit four trees, representing the various plural women to whom Joseph would be married, creating a broad, dynastic family tree. Over the horizon, dark clouds gather, suggesting the impending storm that implementing plural marriage will bring.  There is, however, a peek of blue breaking through the clouds, suggesting optimistic deliverance for Joseph’s obedience to this difficult command (see D&C 132:46, 49).
 
 
Painting is 24x28, oil on board (2018)
Comes in a 2.5"  rustic brown wood frame (29x33 framed dimensions)
 
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