The Sydney Australia Temple is one of a series of detailed pencil drawings and paintings created by the 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.
President Howard W. Hunter has counseled us, saying, “Let us truly be a temple-attending and temple-loving people. We should hasten to the temple as frequently, yet prudently, as our personal circumstances allow. . . . 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” (Ensign, February 1995, p. 5). In the temple, members are taught more about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the purpose of life. To remind one of the importance of Christ’s atonement in temple work, Chad has rendered the Savior’s image within this drawing. Additionally, the familiar shape of Australia is found among the foreground shadows.”