In Remembrance of Him
As we celebrate Holy Week, the resonant words of this joyful hymn come to mind: “He lives! All glory to his name! He lives, my Savior, still the same. Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!” [1] This beautiful assurance provides us with a spirit of peace and gratitude as we prepare to celebrate Easter, an opportunity to reflect on the matchless gift given to us by our Savior.
In John 15:13 we read: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” [2] In the greatest act of love ever known, Jesus Christ took upon Himself our sins, voluntarily gave up His life, and was resurrected so we could live again. While that gift can never be fully repaid, this sacred season presents us with the chance to consider ways that we, too, can exhibit greater love. One example of this principle comes from artist Brian Call, who expressed his greater love through a special commission.
Greater Love Through Art
Brian Call studied art at Ricks College under the mentorship of Leon Parson and later at BYU under the mentorship of Ralph Barksdale. Inspired by the love and guidance he received from these two teachers, Brian expressed a strong desire to give back to his own students. “I'm trying to be that guy for my students now as I teach as an adjunct faculty member in the [BYU-Idaho] Art Department,” he said.
He has now taught at BYU-Idaho for more than 20 years, striving to pass on the love and encouragement that he once experienced.
Parson and Barksdale exemplified “greater love” as they helped Brian nurture his talent. Brian decided he wanted to extend that same influence not only in his teaching, but also through his artwork. So, when he received an unexpected commission from Church headquarters to create a Christ-centered art piece for their Easter campaign, he realized that this would be the perfect opportunity to put his discipleship into practice. Trusting that Heavenly Father would guide his work, Brian immediately began the process of bringing the painting to life.
The project was not an easy one. Brian worked hours every day for several months trying to perfect his art piece. He wrestled often with the challenge of trying to accurately capture the Savior’s likeness, which was the most integral element of the project. “I sat down to paint his face. I think I painted for a couple hours, and it was not looking good,” Brian reflected. “This is the most important part of the picture. I literally took my palette knife and just scraped it all off.”
There were several such moments of frustration but instead of giving up, Brian immediately turned to his Heavenly Father for help. “I … took a small break … said a prayer … then I sat and looked at it for about 10 minutes and thought it through in my head. [Then] I sat down and I painted for about three hours … Every stroke just kind of fell into place, and it just got better and better … I could feel Him helping me.”
This pattern of divine help and guidance continued throughout the entire process. “I've watched Heavenly Father's hand through this whole thing,” Brian said. “He was … willing to let me do it and make mistakes. And I made plenty of mistakes on it … [but] He was always there to help me fix them … Heavenly Father was paying attention. This was an important thing for Him, and I could see that all through it.”
Spirit Over Skill
Brian’s story stands as a powerful example of how each of us can remember and serve our Savior this Easter season. After years of education and a freelance career in illustration, Brian gained valuable skills in his field. However, what made his work truly impactful was the state of his heart. His desire was to create something that, when viewed, would turn others to Christ and help them to feel of His love. Brian’s hard work and willingness to be led by God is what gave power and majesty to the painting.
“I've really been asking for opportunities in my prayers to help connect people with the Savior,” Brian reflected. “I guess Heavenly Father takes you up on it if you're going to offer your services, and in this case, that certainly was true … To be able to share this and to [know] that it's going to be published and a lot of people will see it; I hope it helps them connect to the Savior and feel something really good about Him.”
Heavenly Father will always aid us in our righteous desires, but it is our responsibility to make certain that our desires and will are aligned with His. When we do that, God’s hand becomes much more visible, and our capacity to be a force for good is increased. We have natural talents and gifts which can be enhanced beyond imagination when we set aside our own plans and embrace God’s plan wholeheartedly.
When we allow God to prevail in our hearts, we will have a natural desire to turn outward. The more we feel His love, the more we desire to share it. This is a pattern that was taught by Christ throughout His ministry, and it continues to define true discipleship today.
By This Shall All Men Know
What a blessing it is to know that someone loved us enough to take upon Himself our sins, sorrows, and pains and ultimately to give up His life. Our Savior did this willingly, knowing that we couldn’t do it on our own. In return, He only asked for one thing, which is stated in John 13:34–35: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” [3]
The message of these two simple verses is clear. We become recognizable as disciples of Jesus Christ when we cultivate and express sincere love for those around us. While we can never truly repay our Savior for the matchless gift He gave us, we can show respect and gratitude for His sacrifice by emulating Him: loving as He would love, serving as He would serve, and doing as He would do. When we strive to be like Him, our capacity for greater love increases drastically.
Here at BYU-Idaho, we have a unique opportunity to do all these things and more. Elder David A. Bednar said, “Let me suggest that in Rexburg, Idaho, we are in the process of creating … a Disciple Preparation Center—a DPC. In this special and sacred and set apart place, you and I have access to unparalleled spiritual resources that can assist us in developing and deepening our devotion as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the primary and most important reason for the existence of Brigham Young University-Idaho.” [4]
On this special campus, we are invited not only to study and participate, but to become something more than we currently are. BYU-Idaho's structure is designed to help shape followers of God who learn with the spirit, act in faith, and are willing to face challenges with trust in their Savior. As we take advantage of the resources and experiences available to us here, we can grow not only in knowledge but also in discipleship. Developing love for our Savior will increase our love for those around us, marking us as true followers of Jesus Christ.
This Easter season, as we commemorate the miraculous life of our Redeemer, we are reminded of the essential role Christlike love plays in true discipleship. When we use our God‑given gifts to lift and bless those around us, like Brian did with his painting, we begin to reflect Jesus Christ in our countenances. Our individual offerings, small and simple as they may be, have the power to become expressions of greater love when we place them in His hands.
To get Brian’s full story, listen to his podcast episode.