“That Which Is of God Is Light”

Sabrina Squires (American, born 1981)
War in Heaven (2012)
Acrylic on collaged National Geographic pages, 60 x 46 inches
Collection of the artist
Artist’s website
Used with permission of the artist

Section 50 of Doctrine and Covenants describes false spirits on the earth, which try to deceive us. What are these spirits? In the war in heaven, Satan and his spirit followers were cast out. The events of the war in heaven can be found in Isaiah 14, Moses 4, and in the Book of Revelations. In the latter, we read: “Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent the Devil, and Satan, which decieveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelations 12:7-9).

In creating her image, War in Heaven, artist Sabrina Squires writes, “This painting was inspired by the Book of Revelations. Satan and his followers are represented by the seven-headed dragon, while the powers of God are represented by Michael (on his white steed) and the hosts of heaven. The woman in the right-hand corner represents the gospel being carried away to safety during the Apostasy. The painting represents the war between good and evil that began before the world and continues until the Savior says it is finished.”

Gospel Questions

The message that we are commanded to share with others is simply Jesus (D&C 49:11-13). What piece of this message gives you hope and is easiest for you to share?
How does the Lord's teaching method ("I, the Lord, [will] reason with you that you may understand," D&C 50:10-12) help guide your approach in your stewardship as a teacher (in your family, your calling, or other responsibilities)?
Jesus explains to us our relationship and importance to Him: "Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me; and none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost" (D&C 50:41-42, emphasis added). How does your relationship with Jesus bolster your hope and confidence?

For Children

Hi. When you look at a picture that’s packed with images, where do you look first? Let your eye be your guide. A good artist will know how to lead your eye where it needs to go. In a picture as full as War in Heaven, take an inventory: what’s in it? Do you see angels, dragons, the planet earth? What else can you find? Once you have a list going, ask yourself what these pieces add up to mean. If you want to get good at reading pictures, do it often and have fun. Additional suggestions on interpreting art can be found in “How to Talk Back to Art” as part of Art at Home.

Discussion Questions

"Marriage is ordained of God" (D&C 49:14). What have you seen in marriages in your family, in marriages of other members in your ward, in marriages in your community, that you hope to incorporate into your marriage someday? What can you do now - even if marriage is a distance away in time - to prepare yourself to have the kind of marriage you hope for?
Jesus says that He will be "before you" and behind you ("your rearward") and "in your midst" (D&C 49:27). How have you felt His presence leading you, nudging you, or just being with you?
Jesus tells us that as we do things of God, we gather more and more light and that light can chase away darkness (D&C 50:23-25). What specific things can you do (what you read, what thoughts you think, how you spend your time, what you listen to, what you say to others, how you look at others) to gather more and more light (goodness) and push away the darkness (evil)?