Oh God, Where Art Thou

For about 8-10 years, I have had this scene in my head of Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail. Finally, I can share it with the world!

In the midst of what could be called a personal “Gethsemane”, Joseph cried out “Oh God, where art thou?” As we see in the 121st section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord answered Joseph giving him a remarkable revelation. This place of suffering became a sacred place, a place of tutoring and learning. The Lord never left Joseph; Christ was always there with him.

I can testify that the Lord never leaves us. In what we may feel in the “Gethsemanes” of our own lives, we too may feel to cry out as Joseph did. It is in these moments where we can be taught many great and wonderful things. These moments can, as it was in Joseph’s case, be a hinge-point in our lives.

Perhaps these moments of deep suffering can, in a way, help us empathize with just an echo of Him who suffered the true Gethsemane; the difference being, though, is that, unlike as it was with Him, we do NOT suffer alone.

I testify that Jesus, even in our darkest hour, will ALWAYS be with us!

Reproduced from the artist's Digital Painting 16 x 20. Created 2024.

I’m an artist from Utah and a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I have fallen in love with art since the 4th grade, but have only started actively pursuing it professionally near the end of 2024. My name is Alan Deaton, however my artistic “pen name” is Paul Marli. This stems from a business name my wife and I created years ago which utilizes both of our middle names.  Although the name pays homage to us both, I am the artist of these pieces.

I’ve mostly worked digitally but strive to keep it close to working in a traditional way (avoiding digital effects and exclusively digital tools). I have plans to work on physical, traditional mediums as well.

I believe art has the capacity to motivate, uplift, and inspire. A piece may not change the world around us, but I believe it can change someone’s world; all it takes is the right piece! Rather than simply trying to manufacture a “pretty picture”, my aim is for my art to be instructive. It is my hope that someone who spends time with my pieces gains a deeper understanding about a characteristic or attribute of Jesus Christ; that they understand a little more about His true nature.

I have a testimony and sure knowledge of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. My art is one of my ways I hope to spread and share my testimony with others. I do my best to draw on my own personal experiences when composing a piece and creating the “right” title. Sometimes I’ll spend hours trying to get it just right, but I will not move forward until I feel it is right.

Each piece I make contains a part of my own testimony and experience with the Savior. It is my hope that my pieces can give you, at least a little, your own precious experiences with Him.

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