This self-portrait, painted shortly after the artist’s return from serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Ukraine Donetsk Mission, depicts her as a missionary standing on the coast of the Azov Sea in Mariupol. Her golden wool coat is an homage to her personal friend and hero, Elaine S. Dalton, who has often spoken about the symbolism of gold and virtue. In her address, "Come Let Us Go Up to the Mountain of the Lord," Sister Dalton uses gold to represent purity and strength, ideals that deeply resonated with the artist during her mission. The coat embodies the protective strength and spiritual purity she sought to maintain as she navigated the challenges of missionary life.

The painting's title is inspired by Ether 12:4, a scripture that speaks of hope as an anchor for men's souls. During her time in Mariupol, the artist witnessed extreme poverty and hardship yet also experienced profound miracles. The people she served embodied a steadfast hope in Christ, which anchored them in their trials. This hope became a guiding light for her, a reminder of the resilience that faith in Christ can foster.

In the years since her mission, the Ukrainian-Russian conflict has devastated the cities where she served Mariupol, Lugansk, Makiivka, Kharkiv, and Donetsk. The artist has mourned the loss of friends, the destruction of familiar streets, and the disappearance of buildings that once filled the landscape of the city she came to love. This painting reflects her love for the people of Mariupol and her profound loss for the place that holds such cherished memories. The golden coat, symbolizing both virtue and resilience, serves as a reminder of the hope that continues to anchor her, even amid the changes and sorrows that have reshaped the world she once knew.