Sculpture is his 'crowning point'
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Calling the event a "crowning point in my life," LDS sculptor Peter M. Fillerup participated Oct. 10 in the unveiling of his recent work, "Upon You My Fellow Servants . . ."
Brother Fillerup, a member of the Heber 6th Ward, Heber City Utah East Stake, sculpted the piece at the invitation of the Young Men general presidency. The nearly 2-foot-tall, bronze statue sits atop a wooden pedestal and depicts the bestowal of the Aaronic Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery by the resurrected John the Baptist. It was paid for with private funds and is part of the Aaronic Priesthood display in the Resource Center, located in the lower level of the Relief Society Building in Salt Lake City.Joining Brother Fillerup at the brief unveiling ceremony at the Relief Society Building was a small group of family, friends and Church leaders. Besides the sculptor, speakers included Elder Marion D. Hanks of the Presidency of the Seventy and executive director of the Priesthood Department, Elder Jack H Goaslind of the Seventy and Young Men general president, and Glen M. Leonard, director of the Museum of Church History and Art.
Elder Hanks and Elder Goaslind each related stories about young men close to them receiving the Aaronic Priesthood, and discussed the significance the priesthood plays in the lives of these and other young men throughout the Church. Both were highly complimentary of the work of Brother Fillerup, who besides having sculpted "Upon You My Fellow Servants . . ." has done other pieces for the Church and for others. The sculptor was mentioned as not only a man of tremendous artistic talent, but also as one of humility, dedication and faith.
"Our interaction with art can enrich our lives and allow us to enrich the lives of others," noted Brother Leonard. "As you appreciate art, you can learn from it . . . you can admire its beauty."
Brother Fillerup said he was a Blazer B teacher during the period he worked on the statue. As his students graduated into the Aaronic Priesthood, he often would be present as they had the priesthood conferred upon them and were ordained deacons. Many of the feelings he experienced during those ordinations were conveyed through "Upon You My Fellow Servants . . .," he related.
