Tom Lovell

Tom Lovell (born 1909- )

"Harry Anderson's friend Tom Lovell was another non-LDS illustrator engaged by the Church because of his skill and experience. Lovell studied at the College of Fine Arts at Syracuse University in the 1920's and afterward was a freelance magazine illustrator. Later he portrayed the history of the Southwest in a series of paintings that carefully re-created the past. He took that realistic approach in the few paintings he did for the Church." page 97

"Tom Lovell's narrative paintings are meticulously researched and sketched before being set to canvas. Lovell uses his realistic style to record historically accurate scenes." and 99, Images of Faith: Art of the Latter-day Saints, published by Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, UT, 1995.

If you would like to see some of Tom Lovell's other work, check out this site.

If you would like more information on Moroni, look for the article in the Ensign, January 1992 "Moroni: Joseph Smith's Tutor".

There are 3 prints in the Gospel Art Picture Kit.

Hymns are from the LDS hymnal and the Children's Songbook

#306 Mormon Abridging the Plates Words of Mormon 1

"-- therefore I write a small abridgment, daring not to give a full account of the things which I have seen, because of the commandment which I have received, and also that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of this people." Mormon 5:9

"Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God: Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll?" Mormon 5:23

Hymn #277 "As I Search the Holy Scriptures"

Hymn #271 "Oh , Holy Words of Truth and Love"

Hymn #134 "I Believe in Christ"

Hymn #98 "I Need Thee Every Hour"

Children's Songbook p.109 "Search, Ponder, and Pray"

Children's Songbook p. 119 "The Books in the Book of Mormon"

#320 Moroni Hides the Plates in the Hill Cumorah Mormon 6:6; 8:1, 3-4; Moroni 1:1; 10:2,4-5

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." Moroni 10:4-5

Hymn #13 "An Angel from on High"

Hymn #98 "I Need Thee Every Hour"

Children's Songbook p.86 "The Golden Plates"

#404 Moroni Appears to Joseph Smith in His Room Joseph Smith's History 1:27-47

"While I was thus in the act of calling upon God I discovered a light appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside, standing above me in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor." Joseph Smith's History 1:30

Hymn #13 "An Angel from on High"

Children's Songbook p.86 "An Angel Came to Joseph Smith"

Study Suggestions:

This is a short study, as there are only three pictures by Tom Lovell. They are, however, such classics in Mormon art that I felt they should be included. They were acquired by the Church in the 1970's and included in the widely circulated paperback edition of the Book of Mormon.

The other reason I included these works is because of a personal fascination with the subjects. When picture #306 "Mormon Abridging the Plates" first came out on the cover of an Ensign, I convinced my mother to let me have the cover. I removed the picture and mounted it in Mod-podge, 70's-style, on a piece of wood I had carefully prepared. I loved this picture. I propped it on my desk for years. His tunic was such a peacock blue, my favorite color at the time. His bookshelves were nifty. I was fascinated by his war helmet resting right next to the scriptures. The leopard skin was exotic, as from another world. His eyes addressed me from the picture in a very personal way. And when I read the Book of Mormon, I knew all the words had come through his effort. Mormon became such a hero to me that I tried to emulate him, even to the point of fantasy, at times.

I remember one late night while I sat at my desk, struggling to organize a research paper. There were papers everywhere in those pre-computer days, typed papers, handwritten drafts, note cards, and slips of reference material. In weeping and prayerful despair, I dropped my hands to my lap and looked up at this picture. The very picture I had looked at for years. The answer to my problem came to me through the picture. Mormon, the great compiler, whispered to my mind. "Your typed copy is the final copy, the one set in gold. Put it on the center of the desk. Put the rough draft to the right of the typewriter. In your lap put the other pages of the rough drafts that you need to blend in to the final copy. Put your footnotes and bibliography under your right foot, to keep track of them and remember to reference every quote." I was just desperate enough to try it. The paper went together like a dream. As I worked on through the night, I felt the comfort of the Holy Ghost. I felt that warm surge of love that I have come to associate with the Spirit. I knew that God cared and wanted to bless me. I used his methods all through junior and senior high, and on into college. And so, I have a tender place in my heart for this picture, for being the vehicle by which God answered my personal plea, for helping me though a hard time, for teaching me that God has all the answers, for assuring me that I am loved. And, no, I do not remember the subject of the term paper.

It might be interesting to learn if your children have a scripture hero, and to put a picture of that hero in their room. Let them choose their own. Let them tell how their hero might help them, or influence them in a positive way. What does he teach them? Do not get in between the child and the telling. These are their feelings. As such, they are valuable.