Modeling as Savior helps man find his faith

“And now behold, I ask of you … have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?” — Alma 5:14

AMERICAN FORK — One day in June 2007, Phillip Miner woke up in a backpacker’s hostel near Lusaka, Zambia, and couldn’t get out of bed. He was dizzy and felt that he might vomit.

For the past few days Miner, with trimmed beard and chocolate-brown, shoulder-length hair, had dressed as Jesus and interacted with African orphans as part of a photo and video shoot. Despite being "a shy people-avoider," he was suddenly the center of attention, and the experience had left him emotionally drained.

“I was overcome, stretched beyond my ability to cope,” Miner said as he sat comfortably on a sofa in an art studio. “But it was fairly clear to me at the time that it was not just physical symptoms; it was much more.”

Those were the circumstances right before Miner had the spiritual awakening of his life.

Acting as the Savior brought Miner closer to the Savior. Two months after modeling as the Savior in Africa, Miner had a new faith, wife and family.

“The truth is the Spirit touched my heart and gave me a wake-up call,” Miner said. “He knows me and loves me.”

Recognized in a bookstore

Miner grew up in an LDS family in Provo. Sometime between ages 12 and 14, “as soon as he was able to stand up to his mom,” he stopped going to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Miner got married and became a father at age 19. A second child followed. About three years later, the couple divorced. He made a living as a general contractor.

One day in 2005, Miner was browsing in a Border’s bookstore when he met Holly Gustafson, an assistant to artist Liz Lemon Swindle. Gustafson confused Miner with Christopher Crofts, Swindle’s model for paintings of Jesus, and introduced herself. That conversation led to Miner meeting Swindle and becoming an understudy for Crofts. At the time, Miner was not the least bit religious and knew very little about the life of Jesus.

“I have no idea how I came to be in Border’s that day. Just trolling, I guess,” Miner said. “Initially, I thought it was a little strange. I knew this Jesus guy really didn’t mean anything to me, but I got that he was a big deal in a lot of people’s lives. So my thinking was if this artist lady can use my face for that good cause, why not support it?”