Portland Oregon Temple Sketch

The Portland Oregon Temple is one of a series of detailed pencil drawings and watercolor paintings created by the artist Chad S. Hawkins. When Chad visited the temple, he was not only impressed with its beauty but with the wooded surroundings as well. In this drawing of the temple, he wanted to emphasize its splendor among the beautiful forest setting.

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 picture, Chad has sketched a full-length image of the Savior, Jesus Christ, in the tall trees on the left. The purpose of the temple is to teach worthy members of the LDS Church about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the purpose of life:

Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. And now, behold, my beloved bretheren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen (2 Ne. 31:20-21).