The Church History Museum in Salt Lake City has opened a 150-piece art exhibition as part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 13th International Art Competition. The competition received submissions from 584 artists across 26 countries, with works selected by five regionally diverse jurors based on thematic resonance, innovation, and technical merit. The exhibition's theme, 'Lift Up the Hands Which Hang Down,' is drawn from the Church's scripture, Doctrine and Covenants 81:5, and features works inspired by scripture and personal stories of service and faith. Notable pieces include Linda Vance Etherington's painting 'How Many Loaves Have Ye? Bring Them Hither to Me' and Silvana Alvarez Rhodes's oil painting 'Fishers of Men.'
This exhibition matters because it represents a significant intersection of faith and contemporary visual art, showcasing how religious institutions use art to engage global communities and explore spiritual themes. By drawing artists from diverse cultural backgrounds across multiple continents, the competition highlights the universal appeal of art as a medium for expressing shared human experiences of hope, service, and resilience. The exhibition also underscores the Church History Museum's role in preserving and presenting Latter-day Saint cultural heritage through contemporary artistic expression.