Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, Part Three: Sir Joshua Reynolds and the Faith of a Child

 For Part One or Part Two, make your choice of the links provided.

We're back and once again in Trafalgar Square with Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, giving his talk "If Ye are Willing and Obedient" in the October 1971 General Conference.

This was totally my first trip to London, when I was 19 - first mugged by pigeons in Trafalgar Square, losing my sandwich. Then I went to the National Art Gallery afterwards. Apparently Elder Hinckley did the same, minus the pigeons - and we get our next reference: 

 

The Quote

"Facing Trafalgar Square in London is the National Art Gallery of Britain, 

in which hangs Sir Joshua Reynolds’ painting of the boy Samuel, 

who as a child heard a voice and replied, 

“Speak; for thy servant heareth.”"

 

A Moment of Faith

Sir Joshua Reynolds had a wonderful way of painting children. He was one of the greatest portrait artists of the Victorian period.

In this painting, he's portraying the story of Samuel from 1 Samuel 3, who has been offered as a servant to the prophet Eli by his mother. One night he hears his name being called. He assumes that Eli is calling him, but Eli was asleep.

It was, in fact, the Lord calling him, and when Eli tells him this, he answers the Lord when He calls again.

Samuel then grew to be a prophet during the time of King Saul and King David.

The painting portrays this childlike faith - how Samuel listened to the Lord without resistance, and did as He asked, even when what the Lord asked of him was hard.

It's a good example for all of us to take. Sometimes I've been asked to do very hard things. A lot of the time I botch it - but I always try. 

Painters, when they first start painting, have to go through a period where they paint badly.  Sometimes, when we try to do what the Lord asks of us, we do it badly. But we should never stop trying, or we'll never arrive at that point where our faith is as seamless and natural as the painting of a master painter.

It can happen. It takes time and effort, and a stubborn determination to keep going regardless of what may come. Great beauty can come of even small efforts, with the Lord's help.