A More Excellent Hope

One summer evening we went to the Los Angeles Temple to get references with which Kendall painted this painting. This temple is on a hill with a large front lawn. It is located near some busy streets with many commercial businesses. There was a great contrast of quiet stillness as we entered the temple grounds. We walked up near the front of the temple. It was a surprise to see the large rectangular pool with flowers all around it. When the lights came on, illuminating the temple, tall palm trees, and pool, it gave the feelings of importance, harmony, and peace. It was amazing to see how beautiful it was.

It is very difficult to get a good view of this side of the temple. Kendall spent a long time getting references up close and memorizing the feelings there. As Kendall painted this painting he worked to get the whole view of it as if you were walking close to the pool. In order to capture each part of it he painted everywhere he was looking.

The contrast of the world and the Lord's Kingdom here on earth helps us know there is "A More Excellent Hope", Kendall's name for this painting. Can you feel like you are there walking around the pool and feeling the spirit that is there? Yolanda

New Brochure of Kendall’s Temple Paintings

This brochure can give you a greater insight to Kendall’s paintings and help you have the spirit of Eternal Life in your life.

New Brochure for Kendall’s Temple Paintings page 2

These paintings are about the Spirit of Eternal Life

First Temple Painting

After painting nine landscape paintings he had a desire to paint the temple. He decided to paint the Idaho Falls temple. This painting would be especially for the Lord.  As he painted, he had in his mind and heart to paint the feeling of the Savior inviting you into the temple, with the words, “Come unto me and I will give you rest”.  Kendall said, “I want it to feel like you are going up the steps to enter the temple and you feel the Savior’s loving invitation. You can see the words on the temple which envelopes you with reverence and the holiness of the Lord as you enter His house.”

Gold Sunset: Kendall had some special “references” images of a gold sunset he had taken when he was east of Jackson one evening. He had saved them with the thought, “Someday I will put this sunset in a powerful painting.”  When he was painting the Idaho Falls temple, he knew this was the painting for that sunset.

In this painting the sunset makes the powerful statement of second coming, faith, and glory!

Pros for the temple painting: Kendall wanted some words to go with this painting that expressed his feelings and the feelings of the temple that are eternal.  He asked his daughter to help write the pros that he could put with this temple painting.  She spent hours of research and prayer to write these pros and Kendall helped refine those words.

These are the original pros:

As you ascend these sacred steps and enter this place of holiness,

cast aside your earthly cares and lay your worrisome burdens at His feet.

Here in His house, you will find refuge from the tormenting winds of temptation

and the withering heat of worldly pressures. As you immerse your soul in His

peace, He will wipe away the tears of despair from your eyes. Your heart

will be filled from living fountains of pure waters, and as mortality gently

fades, you will, for a moment, embrace the riches of eternity.

These words are included with many of Kendall’s temple paintings with selected versions. This painting is now in many homes including the Pocatello mission home, where it draws people to the temple and the Lord’s sacred purposes within. 

Your Feelings about the Temple