Peay 1 Sharlee Peay Edwin Austin D 459: Seminar in Dance 25 February 2013 Personal Examination of LDS Values and

the Dance Artist Creativity is the action of bringing something into existence; something that has never been known to mankind before. What a beautiful, powerful gift artists have. They make discoveries that affect the human condition on a personal or populace level. An artist has been defined as a person who produces worksthat are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria (Dictionary). Art has assumed many different forms. It has been a subject to several definitions and stigmatizations throughout centuries. Its evolution directly relates to time eras, philosophies, and cultural customs. Therefore, art continues to transform and adjust today. For the Latter-day Saint artist it becomes important to positively use creativity in order to progress the arts. It is vital to center all creativity on Christ with a determined purpose to utilize our works in a way that enables us to reach our fullest potential. Creative work is a special expression of our love for God and his children. It allows us to see possibilities that we have not seen before and [see] connections between patches of truth and beauty and [respond] to them in ways we have not done before (Maxwell). The utilization of creativity not only enables us to expand our understanding, but also offers us more access to truth. This truth enables us to learn and grow in preparation for the eternities. We must, however, be aware of partial truths. They are real and exist in our daily lives. Often times we believe we know the truth, but sometimes the Deceiver takes parts and aspects of truth and applies it to the whole. It is necessary to create and take part in art that accentuates and epitomizes truth. All truth

Peay 2 can be recognized through the spirit (dance can expose truth). We can discover truth by calling upon the spirit to witness and minister to us in times of need. We cannot convince ourselves to believe in a new truth. We cannot create our own truths. The Lord is the only one who can shed light on us concerning the whole truth. His spirit grasps the capability of revealing this truth (Uchtdorf 1-8). Creative art is also valuable to our human existence. Expression of creativity (dance/art) enables us to live life with joy, abundance, and excellence. We are therefore able to live life more fully and with greater potential as we righteously exercise the divine principle of creativity. Not only does it enhance our mortal existence, but it is also a godly characteristic used to design universes (worlds without end). Like any creative art form, dance requires self-discipline and hard work that spring forth unique and valuable self-discovery. Because all truth comes from God, we celebrate truth in creative breakthroughs. Our love for God and His children grow as we acknowledge the brilliant order of His universe with wholesome arts. Ultimately, artistic experiences allow us to progress to become perfect and more like our Savior and Heavenly Father. It is therefore our responsibility to envelop ourselves with art that epitomizes these principles. When creating and developing art we must act as Christ, we must counsel with him and seek the guidance of his holy spirit. Brother k. Newell Dayley eloquently described the arts as well as its significance and valuable capacity. He said: The arts embody a unique learning process that awakens the very core of one's being to life's meaning and beauty. Through the arts we can learn to see, hear, move, and feel with greater sensitivity and understanding. They provide both substance and stimulus for

Peay 3 learning the creative process and nurture our capacity to explore the infinite. The arts enable us to communicate important realities that can be shared in no other way. (Dayley)

The arts help facilitate greater spiritual understanding because they accelerate our ability to comprehend in all areas of our lives. The arts should be a marvelous manifestation of the light of chirst. Brother Dayley also explained that those who seek to follow Christ are free to receive the enlightenment and pure joy that flows through art centered in Him (Dayley). Art centered on Christ radiates light, expresses hope, charity, joy, and persuades men to believe in Christ. These characteristics will enable proper recognition of edifying arts, supported by the Lord. Our potential is unlimited (Nelson). The arts help us discover this unlimited power because of the natural creative element they possess. This unlimited potential we have been given as sons and daughters of God allows us to create and explore things that have not yet been discovered. All dance forms we encounter should aid us in unveiling our unlimited potential as we practice the godly characteristic of creating. We can convey our godly potential through our character and what we associate with. Our character clothed in integrity will permit us to be a part of and produce god-fearing work in the artistic realm. We must seek dance that is virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy. Dance offers us a valuable and expressive way to discover this potential. It enables us to become more in tune and sensitive to all creation. We cannot live up to our potential if we are participating in things that reflect Satans plan. We limit our abilities and forego the opportunity to praise light, truth, and ultimately God. It becomes important for LDS artists to uphold truth, live with integrity, live with honesty, and a firm declaration to produce (and participate) works that testify of all good things.

Peay 4 We can obtain our fullest potential through artistic study. We learn that the greater our sensitivity to the Spirit, the greater our response to beauty, grace, and truth in all their forms as these exist about us (Maxwell). The spirit is coupled with artistic learning and our ability to recognize it. As we center our study on Christ and use the spirit to create we will discover truth and enhance our abilities to become gods.

Peay 5 Works Cited "artist." Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. Web. 25 Feb. 2013 <Dictionary.com <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/artist> Dayley , Newell, K. "Centering the Arts in Christ." Brigham Young University Speeches. 06 Mar 2001: n. page. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://speeches.byu.edu.erl.lib.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=264> Maxwell, Neal, A. "Creativity." New Era. Aug 1982: n. page. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <https://www.lds.org/new-era/1982/08/creativity?lang=eng>. Nelson, Russell, M. "We Are Children of God." General Conference. Oct 1998: n. page. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://www.lds.org.erl.lib.byu.edu/general-conference/1998/10/we-arechildren-of-god?lang=eng>. Uchtdorf, Dieter, F. "What is Truth?." Broadcasts, CES Devotionals. 15 Jan 2013: 1-8. Web. 26 Feb. 2013. <http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/print/ces-devotionals/2013/01/what-istruth?lang=eng>.