A TRUE CHRISTMAS STORY

This year I decided to give a picture by Arnold Freeburg, "Peace Be Still," a picture of Christ calming the raging sea, to my six children. The following is a true Christmas story of why this picture means so much to me:

A True Charistmas Story

I would like to tell you why this Painting (Peace Be Still by Arnold Freeburg) is an inspiration to me and my family. When I was a young boy of 16 in 1955 I meet Arnold Freeburg's daughter at a dance studio that I was attending. I was attracted to her and wanted to date her but she was only 14. One day we decided to meet at the bottom of her lane and go for a car ride with my buddy, Kent Parkin. Her Father would not allow her to see boys at 14, so she snuck out without permission. We rode around for several hours, and then returned her home at the bottom of her lane. As I kissed her good bye, her father yanked the door of the car opened and pulled me by the scuff of the neck and his daugher by her hair and dragged us up the lane to his house! He put Kent and me in his studio and told us to stay put, until he took care of his daughter, then he would return and take care of us! We could see in our minds that he was spanking her good, and the same thing would happen to us when he returned.

After we recovered from our ordeal, we looked around and beheld the most beautiful sight of our lives. Scattered around the sutdio was some of the most exquisite and spiritual paintings I had ever seen. They were signed by Arnold Freeburg. He returned in about 30 minutes, to us it seemed like 2 hours. Instead of being mean, he was humble and kind. He asked us if we would like to know more about his paintings and sarted showing us around his studio. he had been commissioned by Cecil B. De Mill to design the costumes and the scene layouts for the film, the Ten Commandments. He showed us the original costumes and the set paintings. One of the paintings was of Moses giving Aaron the Priesthood by the laying on hands. He explained that many of the painting layouts were inspired by Prophet David O. McKay his good friend. He then showed us his paintings of Jesus Christ. At this point he became very humble. He said he pryaed for many months for inspiration so he could capture the true essence of Jesus Christ. He said he did recieve inspiration and know this is the way Jesus Christ looked. The picture that most impressed me was Peace Be Still. Tears came to my eyes and my testimony of Jesus Christ was strengthened! He said this is why he painted, Peace Be Still, to bring people a little closer to Christ. He said he would never sell his paintings and to this day they are still with his family. The paintings are for public view at the new Conference Center in Salt Lake City.

Karen and I hope this painting will give you and your family for generations to come the same spiritual testimony of Jesus Christ.

Love Richard and Karen Adams