Hollywood knows artist Arnold Friberg for his work in The Ten Commandments. Canadians know him for the 300 or so paintings he created featuring their beloved Mounties.
Still others know him for his depictions of America, from George Washington kneeling in the snow of Valley Forge to the grandeur of the Wild West.
Generations of Latter-day Saints, though, know Arnold Friberg as the man responsible for their visualization of the Book of Mormon: Lehi examining the Liahona, Abinadi in chains before King Noah and Samuel the Lamanite standing firm against a barrage of arrows.
It was for all these reasons that the artist was remembered at his funeral, held July 10 in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square. He passed away July 1 in Salt Lake City following complications from hip surgery. A viewing was held July 9 in the Friberg Gallery, located in the Conference Center.
Representatives from nearly every group associated with Brother Friberg's works were in attendance. Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve, a longtime friend, represented the Church.
"For me, Arnold was a seer in the purest sense of the word, with the ability to look into the past and observe spiritual experiences," Elder Hales said. "Arnold knew how to reach the soul. It was a gift given to him by God."
