"We did work timbers of curious workmanship. And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship." —1 Nephi 18:1

“We know where Nephi received his instructions from the Lord on how to build a curious ship; we just don’t know the how or the what of its design. We can only use logic and reasoning and, hopefully, some inspiration to envision its appearance. ‘Curious workmanship’ denoted objects of unusual design and superior craftsmanship. Interestingly, the Polynesian peoples of the South Pacific have for hundreds of years used a curious twin-hulled sailing craft in their island migrations. I chose to use a variation of that South Pacific design in my painting of the ship built by Nephi.” —Frank M. ThomasWe did work timbers of curious workmanship. And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship. —1 Nephi 18:1 “We know where Nephi received his instructions from the Lord on how to build a curious ship; we just don’t know the how or the what of its design. We can only use logic and reasoning and, hopefully, some inspiration to envision its appearance. ‘Curious workmanship’ denoted objects of unusual design and superior craftsmanship. Interestingly, the Polynesian peoples of the South Pacific have for hundreds of years used a curious twin-hulled sailing craft in their island migrations. I chose to use a variation of that South Pacific design in my painting of the ship built by Nephi.”

Dawn of a Promised Land

Frank M. Thomas (1939– )