Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

Her art has been featured throughout The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and copies of her paintings hang in numerous buildings across the globe. Now, the church History Museum is showcasing 45 of Minerva Teichert’s paintings at its headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City.

The exhibition, titled “With This Covenant in My Heart: The Art and Faith of Minerva Teichert,” shows the devotion Teichert evidenced in her life and in her mission to place the stories of her heart before the public, according to a press release.

The show is organized around Teichert’s account of falling ill during the 1918 influenza pandemic. Feeling close to death, Teichert remembered the art training she had recently completed and prayed.

“I promised the Lord if I’d finished my work and he’d give me some more, I’d gladly do it,” she said later. “With this covenant in my heart, I began to live.”

One work of art in the museum will be recognizable for longtime Provo residents — a glass-encased piece of original art of Tiechert’s that hung in the Provo Tabernacle and burned in the 2010 fire.

Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

“Among the items lost in the fire was the building’s unique organ, hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of video production equipment, a rented $100,000 Fazioli grand piano, and other instruments. The building also housed an original Minerva Teichert painting,” reads the Daily Herald story from Dec. 17, 2010.

Teichert’s richly layered life — in which she worked with her husband to raise a family on a cattle ranch in Cokeville, Wyoming, made connections with her community, studied scripture  and, of course, painted — evidenced her desire to devote her daily activities to God, the release said.

Trained as a muralist, Teichert believed in placing important stories before the public. She painted stories of Jesus Christ and of Old Testament themes, like the gathering of Israel, Book of Mormon narratives and stories of the western United States.

“I was delighted to have the opportunity to see her beautiful work,” said Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson. “I have always admired her tenacity and her testimony.”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was a major patron of Teichert’s works in the 1930s and 1940s. Due to the efforts of her friend and agent, Alice Merrill Horne, Teichert’s works have hung in Latter-day Saint meetinghouses and in other church buildings like the Lion House and tabernacles. These works are significant in the church’s art collection and have been preserved and conserved in preparation for this exhibition.

Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

“Minerva Teichert leaves a rich legacy and example for museum visitors today,” art curator Laura Paulsen Howe said. “Teichert’s faith in Jesus Christ gave context to all her activities, whether she was churning butter, reading stories to her children at the breakfast table, or painting grand narratives. Her legacy has been especially important to Latter-day Saint women who have drawn inspiration from her richly layered life.”

The exhibit includes interactive audio kiosks that feature Teichert talking about different parts of her life and her children talking about their mother. Visitors can also recreate Teichert’s view from her ranch house and children can collect cards that explain each painting and suggest activities to explore while looking at the artwork.

“You can collect all the cards, put them in a cute little envelope and have a wonderful take-home souvenir from your visit,” said Carrie Snow, museum employee.

“With This Covenant in My Heart: The Art and Faith of Minerva Teichert” opened Thursday and will be available until Aug. 3, 2024. The museum and museum store are open to the public Monday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Admission is free.

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