Robert named this first Laie Temple picture after the cloudy sky backdrop. We love this image of the Laie Temple because the grey allows the green of the palm trees, bushes, and lawns to stand out. 

Directly in the center of the photo, we see a path of layered pools of water that reflect the layered clouds back up toward the sky. The sides of the pool along with the rows of palm trees, create a visual path directly toward the temple doors. 

The temple itself serves as the perfect focal point, tying all of these artistic choices together for a symmetrical and calming piece of LDS art.  

This next Laie Temple picture was taken by the same photographer at the same angle. However, there is one significant difference: the sky. In this photo, instead of different shades of white and grey, the clouds are more pastel. There’s a gentle mix of pinks, purples, and blues that give the photo an overall brighter feeling than the previous photo. 

Here, we again see the layered fountains characteristic of this LDS temple. They appear to flow directly from the temple entrance, symbolizing the living waters Christ spoke about in the New Testament when teaching the woman at the well:

“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” - John 4:10

Robert took a step back for this photo. This time we see the temple and fountains from further away surrounded by the lush green of the grounds. The reds, pinks, and yellows of the flower beds dot the scene and the deep oranges and purples of the sky rise above the green mountains in the distance. 

We love this third Laie Temple picture by Robert because it captures not only the temple itself, but also the tropical climate of the islands. You can almost feel the moisture in the air and smell the rich greenery by just gazing at it. It shows just how expansive the Laie Hawaii Temple grounds are. 

This next Laie Temple picture by Scott Jarive takes an entirely different approach. Rather than seeing the temple straight on, we see it and the stretch of green grounds at an angle. In line with Scott’s style of bright colors, the bottom of the photo is entirely filled with beautiful, deep-red leaves. The color compliments the green of the lawn, creating a satisfying image for the eye.

The clear sky and crisp colors stand out in this photo and are a nice tribute to what makes Hawaii itself so beautiful. The temple itself rises up toward the clouds, reminding us that the temple can take us one step closer to our eternal Father in Heaven.

In this Laie Temple picture, our eyes are drawn to exactly what the photo is titled: Blue Reflection. The Laie Temple’s long reflection pool is stunning to look at, even through a photograph. We love that Scott was able to capture such a clear image of the temple’s reflection in the water. It resonates with the reality that many attend the temple in order to reflect on their personal lives and their relationship with God.

Fountains and pools such as these are often found on the grounds of LDS temples and are symbolic for many things. In this case, the blue stillness seems to bring a sense of cleanliness and peace. In order to enter the temple, we must be spiritually clean. That kind of lifestyle, as well as the temple itself, brings deep peace into our lives.

Here we see more of Scott’s LDS art style of using bright colors, more particularly blue. The sky and the reflection pool are practically the same bright tone, bringing the white of the temple and the green of the grounds into focus. 

Scott also has a gift for capturing the prettiest clouds. This photo is a good example. The clouds just above the temple are thick and fluffy which, in combination with the cheerful tones of blues and greens, makes for a happy scene. In the end, joy is the reason we follow God’s commandments and Christ’s teachings. We want happiness now and in the eternities, and we find it by living the gospel and making special promises, or covenants, with God.

Rather than the long stretch of water, this Laie Temple picture shows us the long stretch of flowers. A feature unique to the Hawaii setting, this enormous flower bed, in combination with the straight rows of palm trees lining the road, are instantly welcoming to any visitors.

It is a subtle reminder to us that even though life as a disciple of Christ is a long road and never easy, there will always be tender mercies and guidance along the way to our hopeful and peaceful destination. The way may be narrow, but in the end it will always be worth it.