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Matters of the Holy Land
Israel Today—A Reflection of the Past
Don O. Thorpe, “Israel Today—A Reflection of the Past,” New Era, Jan. 1977, pg 22
It was July 4, 1976, and the huge, yellowed stones of the Western (Wailing) Wall, all
that remains of the enclosure that was once part of the resplendent glory of Solomon’s
Temple, echoed with singing: “God is with us; no one can defeat us.” The golden city of
Jerusalem, made more golden by the ruddy glow of the setting sun, sang her victory
song. Israel had amazed the world that morning with her daring commando raid on the
airport at Entebbe, Uganda. Ninety hijacked Israeli hostages, facing the threat of death,
had been rescued and flown back to Israel.
On the evening of that eventful day, I photographed soldiers and civilians whirling
together in dancing circles, singing and praising God. The dusky evening light merged
colors and shapes into a oneness. I stood next to a soldier as he leaned his head against
his arm to pray at the rough stone of the Wall, while behind us common folk and
government officials blended their voices in vocal prayer and thanksgiving for the glory
of Israel.
Israel seems to be looking to God
One evening in a small courtyard on Mount Zion near David’s tomb, I sat on a
weathered wooden bench talking to a group of Yeshivah (orthodox Jewish seminary)
students. The sun cast long golden shadows as they told me of God’s purposes for
them in Israel. Several of them, American Jews who had immigrated to Israel, felt that
God had arranged the events of their lives so that they would finally come to Israel.
Their feelings were intense and sincere, and they seemed willing to follow God’s will as
they felt it.
Israel seems to be preparing herself to renew her ancient covenant with God
Even now there is a rapidly growing group of Jewish Christians. These are Jews who
believe that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah. Quite by accident I met a young couple
who held that belief. Early one morning I entered a small stationery store in Jerusalem
and was greeted by a friendly couple who spoke excellent English. We chatted for a
few moments, and they were impressed by my Mormon attitudes, so they invited me
out to lunch with them later that afternoon. After a very pleasant meal of Hungarian
goulash, we talked for three hours, mostly about the similarities in our religious feelings.
They were fascinated by the story of Joseph Smith and the idea of a personal, tangible
God. They were especially interested in the Latter-day Saint concept of family unity
and exaltation. They warmed to an invitation to attend our branch services in Jerusalem
and expressed a desire to learn more about the Church. As we talked, I made a mental
note to send them a copy of the Book of Mormon with my personal testimony written
on the flyleaf.
Even atheists seem affected by God’s influence. A veteran Israeli soldier told me of his
experience during the fighting of the six-day war of 1967. “Even though I was an
atheist, a strange feeling came over me when we broke through the opposing forces
and reached the Wailing Wall. I stood there crying like a baby. And since then … I
don’t know … maybe there is a God.”
Most Latter-day Saints are familiar with the spirit of gathering that has impelled
thousands of Jews to leave the lands of their birth, comfortable homes, and good
businesses to immigrate to Israel. And they come in spite of extremely high income
taxes (generally 50 percent) and the constant threat of war and terrorist raids. One
immigrant told me that he had left his whole family and all of his friends in Chile. “I
really don’t know why,” he said simply. Another young man from South Africa
shrugged his shoulders: “I guess if I’m going to die for something, I want it to be for
God.”
“Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine
anger; … and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell
safely:
“And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” (Jer. 32:37-38.)
Just the land itself is enough to stir up thoughts of ancient prophets and the ministry of
the Savior. Jesus spoke of sowing seeds among the rocks; I’ve stumbled through fields
that seemed more rock than dirt. Rocks are so numerous that the many hilly terraces,
walls, and buildings made up of them do not seem to deplete their endless plenty. Wild
flowers, the “lilies of the field,” are in great abundance and beauty. Everywhere there
are shepherds and sheep, reflecting a changeless cycle and adding credence to the life
of the Good Shepherd.
For me that sense of reality is the strongest message of Israel. The Savior’s feet walked
and his voice sounded on the hills I climbed each evening as I wearily, but happily
headed homeward after a long day of photography. He saw the sun coming up in the
morning and felt its heat at noonday. Even some of the unpleasant odors of Old
Jerusalem were common to him. Jesus taught here.
Later I climbed the Mount of Olives by way of a very old stone path. The huge stones
were polished from the countless sandals of several thousand years. The feet of Jesus
probably climbed this path from Jerusalem to Bethany. It was long and steep, and I
stopped several times to gulp much needed air and to wipe the sweat from my eyes. As
I lifted my eyes to see the top of the hill, I imagined myself to be one of the Savior’s
disciples, following him up the path to Bethany. Perhaps I would have stumbled on a
projecting rock and called, “Master, wait for me.” Or I might have asked, “Lord, what
of the last days?” For a moment I stood there, aboard my own personal time-machine,
wondering about the closeness to Christ that I was feeling. As tears came
unexpectedly, I understood those I had seen in President David O. McKay’s eyes
during a sacrament meeting a few years ago. He had cried in contemplation of the
suffering of a close friend, a man called Jesus.
Later, almost by chance while reading an obscure book, I made a discovery. There
were still in existence two pillars, with the original capitals still crowning them, that had
been part of the portico of Solomon’s temple. It took special permission from the Arab
Religious Council to gain access to them, and then I could only get as close as the open
mesh of a wire fence. In breathless silence I looked at a fragment of the glory that was
Israel 3,000 years ago. Now they stand in a storage room crowded with empty chairs,
silent sentinels of a glorious past.
Even in the midst of modern technology, ancient Israel pokes its way into the present.
As they have done for thousands of years, Arab women in brightly colored dresses still
carry baskets balanced gracefully on their heads, though the baskets are now made of
garish plastic mesh. I saw a woman hand-spinning wool into yarn as she walked along
herding sheep; she wore modern slacks under her purple and orange dress.
Such is life in Israel today. An old Arab in the mosque-of-the-Dome area in Jerusalem,
caught my eye as I laughed at a group of children teasing him. “Children, the same
everywhere,” he smiled. And didn’t the Master of us all say, “Suffer the little children to
come unto me”? Jesus did walk and teach in changeless changed Jerusalem.
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