| Priesthood Restoration | |
|---|---|
| John the Baptist, Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood: John the Baptist | |
| Artist | Avard Fairbanks |
| Year | 1957 |
| Medium | Bronze sculpture |
| Subject | |
| Dimensions | 3.0 m × 2.4 m × 1.2 m (10 ft × 8 ft × 4 ft) |
| Location | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
Priesthood Restoration (also known as Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood: John the Baptist, or simply John the Baptist) is a 1957 bronze sculpture by Avard Fairbanks, installed in Salt Lake City’s Temple Square, in the U.S. state of Utah.
Description
The statue measures approximately 10 x 8 x 4 feet and rests on a stone base which measures approximately 7 x 10 x 6 feet. It depicts John the Baptist wearing robes, with Oliver Cowdery and Joseph Smith kneeling at his side. A nearby plaque reads:
Restoration of the / Aaronic Priesthood / John the Baptist, the biblical prophet who / baptized Jesus Christ, conferred the Priest / hood of Aaron upon Joseph Smith (left) and Oliver Cowdery (right) on May 15, 1829, on the bank of the Susquahanna River in / Pennsylvania. The priesthood, which holds / the authority to baptize for remission of / sins and entrance into the kingdom of God / had been absent from the earth for centu / ries. The latter-day restoration by John / the Baptist made the blessings of baptism again / available to all mankind.[1]
History
The artwork is administered by the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints’ Museum of Church History and Art. It was surveyed by the Smithsonian Institution’s “Save Outdoor Sculpture” program in 1993.[1]
References
- 1 2 "Priesthood Restoration, (sculpture)". Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.