A journey in the making to complete the painting of, "Prince of Peace"

The painting, "Prince of Peace", has been a journey in the making for over five years.  It was painted during my most trying times and heartache.  So many lessons and experiences had to be learned to be able to capture the emotions of the Savior, who suffered and experienced all things through His atoning sacrifice for all mankind.  Because of His love for each of us, He knows our pain and suffering and will carry our burdens if we let Him.  He knows each of us personally.  He is our eldest Brother, the Son of God, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The painting, "Prince of Peace", did not start until fifteen years after my friend shared a sacred experience with me, where she had witnessed the Savior.  She challenged me to paint Him, but I was not ready at that time.  When the prompting came to start the painting, no model was used.  It had to come from inspiration with the help from the Lord as well as help from my friend.  She was also going through extreme trials as the painting progressed, and she documented everything that took place, including the five years it took to complete this project.

Before the painting was completed, there was a feeling of something missing.  I wondered why would the Lord have me do this painting when things were not right at home with my family.  It was after that, ending up in the hospital for an emergency operation, that I felt the split second of dying.  It was a wonderful and indescribable feeling of great relief from everything.  It was like a car being lifted off of me, with no worries and no looking back.  A few days after that experience, I felt the Lord's hands holding my face and looking into my eyes.  The strong feeling of love was all encompassing and tears of joy could not be held back.  I knew I was supposed to see the Savior, even though I could not remember what He looked like or what He said.  My only guess was that the Lord wanted me to return to my family in mortality to help them, and through faith and inspiration finish the painting.  The painting began to change from an earthly Christ to a more Celestial Christ.  His face became more perfected and the color scheme changed throughout the painting.

My greatest trials and lessons were about to begin after leaving the hospital.  My trials were very hard and went on for a long time, keeping me from being able to smile or laugh, or be myself because of the emotional pain and heartache that I felt.  It was in the Lord's time, my lessons were learned, including: patience, long suffering, perseverance, endurance, forgiveness, faith, unconditional love, overcoming fear, not judging others and trusting in the Savior by putting His will first.  I then became a new person, having greater strength to overcome adversity and knowing the Lord is always there.  I have a testimony of the power of prayer and that prayers are answered!

What I shared above is a very small part of the journey of this painting.  It is an inspirational story about this very special witness of Jesus Christ.  The mission of this painting is to heal and bring us back to the Lord and our Father in heaven and to prepare for the Savior's Second Coming.  Our goal is to take this image throughout the world, sharing it with all of God's children.  A book will be published on the mission of this painting, sharing all the miracles and trails that have happened and to this day continue to happen.

I testify of Christ, that He lives!  He is our Savoir and Redeemer.  I know I was commissioned by the Lord to do this painting with His help and the help of my friend.  I pray that it will bring comfort to all that see it, to help us in good times as well as in our darkest hours.

                                              Your Sister

                                                    Lynne Millman-Weidinger