Columbia River Washington Temple Drawing

The Columbia River Washington 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.

In this temple drawing, Chad has sketched Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, cradling one of his sheep in the stone tiles of the temple, with his flock of sheep in the clouds and among the beautifully landscaped temple grounds.

“As depicted in this drawing,” comments the artist, “the Shepherd’s fold recognize their master and faithfully follow him to the temple. Christ is the Shepherd; his sheepfold is the Church of Jesus Christ (see John 10). Members of his fold should hear and recognize their masters voice and diligently seek him in his house as often as occasion permits. As we attend the temple, we learn more richly and deeply the purpose of life and the significance of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.”