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Matters of the Holy Land
In This Holy Land
By Elder Russell M. Nelson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Russell M. Nelson, “In This Holy Land,” Tambuli, Feb. 1991, pg 11
In His divine role, the Lord could have selected any portion of this bounteous planet to
accomplish His mission. He could have selected the beautiful islands of the sea with
their lush vegetation and breathtaking beauty. He could have chosen the scenery of
Switzerland or Scandinavia, or He could have preferred to walk upon the acres of
Africa or Australia.
Instead, he selected a land with places stark and arid, a land where nomads dwell,
living in tents and wandering as freely as the sheep and goats that they tend. He took
advantage of the setting to teach with geographical visual aids, and to fulfill scripture.
Birth in Bethlehem
He chose to the born in Bethlehem, adjoining Jerusalem. Why Bethlehem? Is there
symbolic significance in the meaning of the name Bethlehem, which in Hebrew means
“house of bread”? The Great Provider declared Himself to be the “bread of life.” (See
John 6:48.) How appropriate it was that He, the “bread of life,” was to come from the
“house of bread.”
But why among the animals? He, who John declared to be the “Lamb of God” (John
1:29), was born during the season of Passover amongst the animals, as were other
lambs being prepared for Paschal sacrifice.
At the birth of Him who is called the “good shepherd” (John 10:14), shepherds were
the first to receive the announcement of His holy birth. (See Luke 2:8-16.)
At the birth of Him who once identified himself as the “bright and morning star” (Rev.
22:16), a new star appeared in the heavens. (See Matt. 2:2; 3 Ne. 1:21.) Shining
brightly over Bethlehem, that star had been placed in orbit far in advance of the foretold
event in order that its light could coincide in time and place with His blessed birth.
At the arrival of Him who is called “the light of the world” (John 8:12), darkness was
banished as a sign of His holy birth. (See 3 Ne. 1:15, 19.) He was born the Son of
God and the son of a virgin mother, as foretold by Isaiah (see Isa. 7:14) and other
prophets. (See 1 Ne. 11:13-21; Alma 7:9-10.)
Exodus And Childhood
The place of His birth was to be in close proximity to Egypt in order to fulfill prophecy:
“[Joseph] took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: …
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of
Egypt have I called my son” (Matt. 2:14-15).
But He didn’t stay in Egypt very long. As a child, the Savior was brought to the village
of Nazareth. I am intrigued with the symbolic significance of the fact that some scholars
suggest that the word Nazareth is derived from the Hebrew word neser, which means
“branch.” Jesus, the divine Branch, was to be reared in the place with the name
meaning “branch.” Jeremiah further prophesied that the Lord would “cause the Branch
of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and
righteousness in the land” (Jer. 33:15).
Water
The River Jordan was the site Jesus chose for His baptism by John to “fulfill all
righteousness” (Matt. 3:15; see also 2 Ne. 31:5-6). Is it significant that this sacred
ordinance was performed in virtually the lowest body of fresh water on the planet?
Could He have selected a better place to symbolize the humble depths to which He
went and from which He rose? By example, he taught us that he literally descended
beneath all things to rise above all things. Surely, being baptized after the manner of His
baptism signifies that through our obedience and effort we, too, can come from the
depths to ascend to lofty heights of our own destiny.
We don’t know the precise location where Jesus was baptized. Both the Bible and the
Book of Mormon indicate that the baptism took place in the vicinity of Bethabara. (See
John 1:28; 1 Ne. 10:9; JST, John 1:34.) Bethabara in Hebrew means “house of the
crossing.” Could it be that Christ chose this location for His baptism in the River Jordan
as a silent commemoration of the crossing of the faithful Israelites under Joshua’s
direction so many years before (see Josh. 3), as well as a symbol that baptism is a
spiritual crossing into the kingdom of God?
Mountains
Mountain in the land were also made holy by Jesus. He employed them as spiritual and
visual aids to teach His followers.
Nearly a week after the Lord was with His disciples at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus took
“Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high [page 17]
mountain apart,
“And was transfigured before them: and … there appeared unto them Moses and
[Elijah]” (Matt. 17:1-3).
Scholars do not know for sure whether Mount Hermon or Mount Tabor was the actual
site of the Transfiguration. What is more important is that Moses and Elijah there
conferred keys of the priesthood, under the direction of the Lord, on Peter, James, and
John.
Remarkable is the fact that Moses and Elijah were those who conferred those same
special keys upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple, 3 April
1836, just one week after the dedication of that temple. (See D&C 110:11-16.)
For centuries faithful Jews have anticipated the return of Elijah at the Passover. Isn’t it
interesting that the date of 3 April 1836 was one of the few times when Easter Sunday
coincided with the beginning of Passover? Elijah did return as had been hoped, at the
Passover, on Easter, to restore keys of the sealing power that were uniquely assigned
to him to convey.
Those same keys are used today to effect eternal linkage in the holy temples of the
Lord. We know that the Lord will honor these ordinances, performed by His duly
authorized agents, as He declared, “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound
in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt.
18:18). Each such eternal ordinance is performed in a holy temple, appropriately
known as a “mountain of the Lord’s house” (Isa. 2:2; see also 2 Ne. 12:2).
Mountains were often used anciently for some of the same purposes temples are used
today. Moses, for example, was brought to Mount Sinai to be instructed there by the
Lord.
Mountains are not easy to climb. Then, as now, the Lord called His disciples to climb
mountains to emphasize the efficacy of effort and obedience. He will ask the same of
you, figuratively and possibly literally, also.
There is another important mountain known in today’s Israel, as in yesteryear, as
Mount Moriah. Now ornamented by objects and mosques of man, it still suggests
sacred recollection of the obedience and faith of Abraham and Isaac. Their long
three-day journey from Beersheba to Mount Moriah was taken at the request of God.
Moriah in the Hebrew language means “seen or chosen by Jehovah.”
The first sacred temple of Jerusalem was constructed on Mount Moriah.
Local Knowledge
Underground tombs were commonly used for interment of the dead. Jesus was
elsewhere when His dear friend Lazarus died. But the Lord knew very well what had
transpired. The scriptural account relates that not until Lazarus had been dead four
days did Jesus appear on the scene. At the late date Martha, sister of Lazarus,
exclaimed, “By this time he stinketh” (John 11:39).
Jesus then “cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
“And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his
face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
“Then many … believed on [the Lord]” (John 11:43-45).
There is great significance to the four-day interval between the death of Lazarus and his
being called forth alive from the tomb. A portion of that significance was that, according
to some Jewish traditions, it took four days before the Spirit finally and irrevocably
departed from the body of the deceased person, so that decomposition could then
proceed. The Master, in order to demonstrate His total power over death and His
control over life, knowingly waited until that four-day interval had elapsed. Then He
raised Lazarus from the dead!
Symbols of the Atonement
Olive trees are special in the Holy Land. The olive branch is universally regarded as a
symbol of peace. This tree provides food, light, heat, lumber, ointments, and medicine.
It is now, as it was then, crucial to life in Israel. It is not a deciduous tree, but ever
bearing—always green. Even if the tree is chopped down, life will spring from its roots,
suggesting everlasting life.
Jesus came to the base of the Mount of Olives to effect the first component of the
Atonement. This He did at the Garden of Gethsemane. The word Gethsemane comes
from two Hebrew roots: gath, meaning “press,” and shemen, meaning “oil,” especially
that of the olive.
There olives had been pressed under the weight of great stone wheels to squeeze
precious oil from them. So the Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane was literally
pressed under the weight of the sins of the world. He sweat great drops of blood—his
life’s “oil”—which issued from every pore. (See Luke 22:44; D&C 19:18.)
Jesus was accorded titles of unique significance. one was the Messiah, which in
Hebrew means “anointed.” The other was the Christ, which in the Greek language
means “anointed” as well. In our day, as it was in His day, the ordinance of
administration to the sick includes anointing with the consecrated oil of the olive. So the
next time you witness consecrated oil being anointed on the head of one to be blessed,
and these sacred words are said, “I anoint you with this consecrated oil,” remember
what that original consecration cost. Remember what it meant to all who had ever lived
and who ever would yet live. Remember the redemptive power of healing, soothing,
and ministering to those in need. Remember, just as the body of the olive, which was
pressed for the oil that gave light, so the Savior was pressed. From every pore oozed
the life blood of our Redeemer. And when sore trials come upon you, remember
Gethsemane.
The second phase of His atonement was effected on the cross. Hours before that was
accomplished, Pilate delivered the lamb of God to be crucified at the same time
Paschal lambs nearby were being prepared for sacrifice. (See John 19:13-14).
The crucifixion took place at a hill called Golgotha (Hebrew) or Calvary (Latin)
meaning “the skull.” The skull symbolized death. At a place such as this, the atoning
sacrifice was completed. On the cross, the Savior of the world was lifted up over death
in the greatest of all possible significance—the realization and reality of the Lord’s
power over death.
God the Father offered His son Jesus at Golgotha (or Calvary), a northern outcropping
of Mount Moriah, where Abraham had nearly sacrificed Isaac some two thousand
years previously. Foreseen long before, there the Savior’s atoning sacrifice was
completed.
But of course that was not the end. It was but a new beginning. The reality of the
resurrection was the most glorious event of all. The Apostle Paul wrote that after three
days in the tomb Jesus had “Risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them
that slept. …
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:20, 22).
As a resurrected personage, the Lord charged his disciples with this important
responsibility: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature”
(Mark 16:15).
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of
the son, and of the Holy Ghost:
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am
with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:19-20).
This charge still applies to each of us. All true disciples of the Lord bear that sacred
responsibility.
Future
But the Savior’s ministry was not limited to the Holy Land. He spoke of “other sheep I
have, which are not of this fold: … they shall hear my voice” (John 10:16).
Love for those other sheep brought the resurrected Lord to them on the American
hemisphere. (See 3 Ne. 15:21.) He taught the Gospel to them. He established His
church. He charged them with the responsibility of keeping records of His ministry
among them.
This precious record we received from them as the Book of Mormon is the great
clarifying scripture. It is the great missionary scripture. It is another testament of Jesus
Christ. We testify that God our Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to the
prophet Joseph Smith in upstate New York in 1820. There and then the promised
restitution of all things was begun. The great latter-day work of which we are a part
was established, on schedule, to bless a waiting and weeping world.
But eventually the Lord will return to the land that He made holy by His mission there in
mortality. In triumph, He will come again to Jerusalem. In flaming royal robes of red to
symbolize His blood, which oozed from every pore, He shall return to the Holy City.
There and elsewhere, “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it
together” (Isa. 40:5). The Mount of Olives to which He will return “shall cleave in
twain” (D&C 45:48).
Our sacred charge is to prepare the world for that glorious second coming of the Lord.
May we sense and appreciate the symbolic significance of His mortal ministry in this
Holy Land. May we understand His ministry to other sheep that He loved. May we
realize our role in the restoration He has required, to prepare the world for His second
coming. May we comprehend the eternal consequences of the endless life of our Lord,
whose servants we are. May we have power and strength to motivate ourselves to do
His will in the mountainous responsibilities that are before us.
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