The theme of the International Art Competition for Youth—""Arise and Shine Forth""—comes from Doctrine and Covenants 115:4–6. These verses record the Lord's call to His Saints throughout the world to ""arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations."" The Lord invites His Saints to be unified and to find ""refuge from the storm"" in the gospel.

Through the 2012 Young Men and Young Women programs, Latter-day Saint youth pondered this scripture and explored personal ways they “arise and shine forth” in daily life. The Church History Museum’s Youth International Art Competition invited youth, ages thirteen to eighteen, to create original artworks that visually express their insights. The 82 works selected for this exhibition were on display at the Church History Museum from November 15, 2012 to June 17, 2013.