Mormon Life - Israel tag

A week on an archaeological dig in Israel is a messy but interesting Biblical lesson

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:33:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

4 a.m. My eyes feel heavy. Today is my second day of digging.

I'm in Israel for a week-long archaeological dig — not your regular vacation, but one that brought fulfillment and surprisingly more rest than I've gotten sitting on the beach.

Richard Stamps, a professor of anthropology, and Mike Pytlik, a special lecturer of archaeology and Jewish studies at Michigan's Oakland University, each year lead a group of students on a three-week archaeological dig and tour of Israel. Pytlik invited me to go along as a volunteer for a week.

LDS Church to blitz YouTube, Facebook with messages of Jesus Christ on Easter weekend

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:52:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: I love that the Church is doing this. Wouldn't it be awesome if all members shared the videos this weekend on their own social media? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is planning to blitz the world of social media this weekend with a new media campaign aimed at helping "those not of our faith understand that we believe in and follow Jesus Christ."

In an email sent from the LDS Church Missionary Department to those who have created profiles on the church's Mormon.org website, officials said the campaign will take place Friday through Sunday on YouTube and Facebook, and will feature "members of the church sharing their beliefs about the Savior."

The campaign will consist of paid advertising on YouTube during the weekend, which they expect to be viewed "a minimum of 15 million times."

Mormons in the Holy Land

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:16:00 -0600

source: washingtonpost.com

Mormon Life says: A non-LDS woman living in Jerusalem describes what the BYU Jerusalem Center is like. With all this talk of Mormonism back home, and the state of Mormon-Jewish relations, I decided to go Mormon-hunting here in Jerusalem. Didn’t need to look far.

Just up the hill there. On the slopes of Mt. Scopus.

Wow, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You’ve got quite a pad there.

Out on the Water

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:10:00 -0600

by Heidi Swinton
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Israel is not just a place for me. There, on seas he walked and calmed, I have felt the vibrant reminder that Jesus Christ lives and beckons us all to "Come."

We were in a wooden fishing boat fashioned to resemble those used at the time of Christ. No sign or buoy marked the spot where Jesus walked on the water and beckoned to Peter, “Come.”

And over the side of the boat went Peter and he, too, briefly walked on the sea. The account in Matthew is one of my favorites of all Christ’s miracles during his ministry. Peter was out on unfamiliar ground but he was walking to be with the Savior and the ground—dirt, water or mud in between—was not the point. He was focused, believing and determined. I love Peter. He is so real and so distracted as the wind swirled about him and the water lapped menacingly at his feet.

He had heard the Lord’s call and responded but—like we do as well—he lost faith. He cried out and the Lord reached for him with his hand. So many times I have felt like I was out on the water and, yes, the Lord was right there reaching out to save me.

The trip to the Holy Land was a pilgrimage of sorts. There were not busloads of us queuing up to glimpse a moment in such a sacred setting over the heads of hordes of fellow visitors. The group was small, intimate and we grew in understanding because we shared testimonies. We had walked hillsides and paths that Jesus trod centuries ago. We had sloshed single file through Hezekiah’s Tunnel, sat by the wine press and read the scriptures in the recreated village of Nazareth, been up on the Temple Mount where Jesus taught and cleansed the temple, looked down on the excavated Pool of Bethesda and saw in our minds the crippled man lodged at the side hoping for a chance to be healed. We knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane, just our little group; we stepped into the tomb early one morning just as Mary had—but He was gone. In every case we felt something and savored the thoughts that filled our minds and hearts and felt connected to others who were with us. We were flooded with increased spiritual understanding, as we asked questions of our appointed Israeli guide and quickly appreciated that our “real” guide was Jim Gee.

Out on the water there were no Churches plopped atop sacred settings and no crush of groups bedecked with ear phones jockeying to catch a glimpse of the faithful at the Wailing Wall on Friday eve. You can’t create such singular moments or conjure them up in class reading from the scriptures about the “fourth watch.” This was a pure and precious spiritual moment. Quiet. Serene. And so very real. The words of the song, “I walked today where Jesus walked,” took on a whole new meaning.

To see the rest of this article, click here.

Professor's discovery resurrects debate over 'Jesus tomb'

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:36:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: I don't agree with his thoughts about Christ's body, but his discovery is interesting. Five years removed from his controversial "Jesus Tomb" documentary, UNC Charlotte archaeologist James Tabor announced Tuesday that he has helped uncover perhaps the earliest Christian image ever found.

The discovery, in Jerusalem, took place in 2010, Tabor told The Charlotte Observer.

Biblical gardens come back to life in Israel

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:57:00 -0700

source: ksl.com

Mormon Life says: One more place to add to my bucket list. Scientists have reconstructed what the biblical Kingdom of Judah would have looked like 2,500 years ago.

The reconstruction shows a royal garden in Judah to have been an exotic paradise and is based on analyses of pollen grains found preserved at the gardens at Ramat Rahel, an ancient archaeological site located high above Israel, overlooking the modern cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

How to experience the Holy Land

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:18:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

As a boy, S. Michael Wilcox loved the Old Testament story of Elijah being fed by the ravens. “It was a wonderful thing that the ravens were bringing him food,” Wilcox said, recalling his boyhood fascination of the story found in I Kings 17.

On his first trip to Israel, Wilcox was sitting in Galilee when he noticed a black and grey bird walking on the grass. He inquired about the bird, and his guide replied that it was a raven.

“A wave of emotion swept over me and I started to weep as I looked at this raven,” said Wilcox, a retired instructor for LDS Church Educational System. “The reality of the story I loved as a boy hit somehow. It was a powerful moment, not just for the story, but because of the reality of what I was seeing. That is illustrative of what happens so often.”

Finding the Historical Jesus

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:04:00 -0600

by Jack Marshall
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Some argue about the historicity of the Bible, and an interest of mine has been to travel to the Holy Lands and find evidence of biblical individuals and events. It has affirmed my faith.

Some critics argue that Biblical scholars have created the historical Jesus in their own image. A small number of scholars believe the gospel accounts are so mythical in nature that nothing, including the very existence of Jesus, can be determined from them.

An interest of mine in traveling to the Holy Lands is finding historical evidence of individuals and events from the Bible.

Most scholars questioned the actual existence of a Roman Governor with the name Pontius Pilate, the procurator who ordered Jesus' crucifixion. Similarly they questioned the historical reliability of the Gospels. However in June 1961, Italian archaeologists… were excavating an ancient Roman amphitheater near Caesarea-on-the-Sea. They uncovered a limestone block. On the face was an engraved inscription which is part of a larger dedication to Tiberius Caesar which clearly says that it was from "Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea." This was a significant development in the quest for the historical Jesus, as scholars have confirmed the inscription to be authentic. (R. Russell, Fallen Empire, Bible History, 2010. p 1-2) Fun For Less tours to Israel takes you to see the stone and the remnants of Pilate’s Palace.

In Jerusalem recently, the remains of a crucified individual was found. The bones were preserved in a stone burial box called an ossuary and appeared to be those of a man about 5 feet, 5 inches tall and 24 to 28 years old. His open arms had been nailed to the crossbar, in the manner similar to that shown in crucifixion paintings. The knees had been doubled up and turned sideways, and a single large iron nail had been driven through both heels. The nail -- still lodged in the heel bone of one foot, though the executioners had removed the body from the cross after death -- was found bent, apparently having hit a knot in the wood. The shin bones seem to have been broken, corroborating what the Gospel of John suggests was normal practice in Roman crucifixions, that of breaking the legs of the crucified to expedite death. (U.S. News & World Report, Oct. 25, 1999)

To read the rest of this article, click here.

Book of Mormon expressly condemns anti-Semitism

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:27:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: The author maintains that the Book of Mormon is the only religious text to condemn anti-Semitism. In 1894, Alfred Dreyfus, a young French artillery officer of Jewish origin, was framed and unjustly convicted of spying for Germany. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in the distant, dreaded penal colony called Devil's Island, and placed in solitary confinement.

His trial, and the long, tumultuous, ultimately successful campaign to exonerate and free him, constitutes its own dramatic story.

Covering the Dreyfus case was an Austrian journalist named Theodor Herzl. Himself an assimilated, secularized Jew, he was horrified to see Paris mobs chanting "Death to the Jews!"

Badly shaken, Herzl concluded that Jews would never really be accepted in Europe, that they needed to move elsewhere and defend themselves.

No Photos Please

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:00:00 -0600

by John L. Lund
source: MormonLife.com

As Americans we are used to a tremendous amount of independent thinking. This translates into American tourists frequently ignoring the request at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo or in the tombs of the pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings to refrain from taking pictures with cameras or cell phones. My very own wife in a moment of mental relapse took a picture inside a "No Photos Please" zone and had her cell phone confiscated.

With great dismay she came to me and said, "They took my cell phone!" In this particular case, the guard was a man that I had known for ten years. I apologized for my wife’s indiscretion and assured him it would not happen again. Fortunately, for only twenty American dollars in "Bakshish," a tip or gratuity in Arabic, I was able to recover my wife's valuable cell phone. The guard could have kept it and sold it for more than the twenty dollars. We were lucky. Others get away with a sneak shot or two, but many have sacrificed cameras worth hundreds of dollars. Frankly it's not worth the risk and most of the photos you might have taken are available in packets that can be purchased ten for a dollar by vendors everywhere.

Thousands of people a day cross the borders of Israel and the borders of other countries and have had to deal with smugglers or terrorist. When entering Israel we tell the people on the bus "No Photos Please" when we approach the borders. We tell the people that there are plenty of abandoned tanks and other interesting things to photograph once we are inside of Israel. There are security cameras pointed at the bus and we are under surveillance by the Israelis.

As you might imagine, there was once a very determined lady who decided that she was going to click a couple of quick photos. It was hot and the (IDF) Israeli Defense Force was not in a forgiving mood. Our bus was stopped and all of the cameras were confiscated, all the pictures deleted or the film was exposed and their ensued a discussion on whether the person who had taken the photos with her camera should remain at the border for further questioning. An hour and a half later, after a call to the American Embassy, and the assurances of a high Jewish official, who was a friend to Fun For Less Tours, we were permitted to cross the border after a careful inspection of each and every bag, purse, suitcase, briefcase and computer bag that we had brought with us. In all it was a four hour delay.

Imagine how the fellow passengers resented the lady who just had to ignore the “No Photos Please” request. It also meant that we were not able to stop at an extra site we could have seen had we had the time. We did tell her the consequences of her choice to ignore the request of "No Photos Please." She felt terrible and promised to never do it again. All was forgiven and we went on to an incredibly wonderful experience in Israel, Jordan, and Egypt.

In Italy, Mexico and Guatemala the local guides and guards will tell you that the flash from your camera will ruin the picture or artifact that you want to photograph. It doesn't matter that it may not be true. It is an issue of following the rules and respecting the laws of the lands we visit.

When you return from your trips abroad you will have dozens if not hundreds of great photographs. They will remind you of the wonderful times you spent visiting these historic sites. For your sake and the sake of all those who will travel with you, respect the signs and observe the request: "No Photos Please."

Is It Really Safe to Travel in Israel?

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:00:00 -0600

by John L. Lund
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Is it really safe to travel to Israel? What about terrorists? Are the hotels safe and secure and what about the buses on a tour, are they truly safe? Here is the simple answer to all of those questions: ABSOLUTELY YES. Bad press and exaggerated TV reports have frightened many of the would-be travelers to Israel. But traveling to Israel is completely safe. Let me put it into perspective what I mean.

A few years ago at the height of an Arab and Israeli conflict in Gaza, I received an emergency phone call from my 89-year-old mother while I was leading a tour in Israel.

"Are you safe?" she asked.

"Well, yes Mom, and so are all the people that are traveling with us," I responded, "We watch it on TV just as you are but we are far away from Gaza." The conflict that people in America hear most about comes from the border between Israel and Gaza. Gaza is fifty miles away from Jerusalem and has never been a problem for any of the hundreds and hundreds of people who travel with my wife and me to the Holy Land.

It was during that same tour that I was asked while in Israel by several Jewish men and women if I thought it would be safe for them to travel to Disneyland in California for a vacation. I laughed because I thought they were joking. They assured me they were serious. They had seen on Jewish and British television all of the drive-by shootings that were taking place in Los Angeles, California. The only news coming from America was bad news and these people were sincerely concerned. I assured them that a trip to Disneyland would be a safe and enjoyable experience.

The same is true for travel in Israel. From my understanding, since 1948 and the establishment of the State of Israel, there has not been one tourist who has died on a bus tour as a result of a terrorist attack. I have been traveling to Israel since 1976. Some years we travel four times in a single year to Israel, Egypt, and Jordan. Only twice in thirty-four years have we cancelled a trip to Israel because of wars in the Holy Land.

Because tourism is Israel's number one source of income, the Israeli government has taken extraordinary precautions to ensure that tourists are safe. In terms of violent crime, you are at greater risk in New Orleans, Detroit, or Washington D.C. than you are in any city in Israel. Are you afraid of Italians? No, but you might be afraid of the mafia. Are you afraid of Arabs? You don't need to be. Some of the most wonderful people you will meet in Israel are the Palestinian shop owners like Ephraim in Bethlehem, or Jimmy, Omar, or Shabaan, the owner of Ali Baba Shop in Jerusalem.

Your trip to Israel will be one of the highlights of your life. There are places where you can say, "Today, I walked where Jesus walked." The scriptures will come alive and you will read and understand them in ways that you could not imagine. It will change your life for the better. When you ride upon the Sea of Galilee, walk the streets of Old Jerusalem, and gaze upon the faithful Jews praying at the western "wailing" wall at the base of the Temple Mount, you will be grateful that fear did not rob you of an opportunity to increase your faith.

The Most Influential Jewish Man in Modern Mormon History

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:00:00 -0600

by John L. Lund
source: MormonLife.com

Had I not made the decision to travel abroad and to tour with Fun for Less Tours, I would never have met the most interesting man I had ever known, Dr. Joseph Ginat. His friends called him Jose (Yo-see), a nickname for Joseph in Hebrew.

Jose was a very important person in the Israeli Government. Over the years he developed a personal relationship with Presidents Harold B. Lee, Ezra Taft Benson, Spencer W. Kimball, Howard W. Hunter, Gordon B. Hinkley and Thomas S. Monson. He gave personal guided tours of Israel to four of these Prophets. He heard President Harold B. Lee say at the Garden Tomb, "The Holy Ghost bears witness to me that this is the place from which Jesus resurrected." (Ensign, Apr. 1972, p. 6 and Ensign, February 1974, p. 89.)

He was with President Lee again on the ground floor of the Antonio Fortress when President Lee asked a group of loud and boisterous French tourists to be quiet for "you are standing where the Roman soldiers mocked Jesus and placed a thorny crown atop his head."

Jose was a Sabra, or a Jew born in Palestine before the Jewish State of Israel was created on May 14, 1948. A Sabra is the name for what we in America call the "Prickly Pear" fruit on the cactus plant. The fruit is sweet on the inside and very tough on the outside. In order for the State of Israel to be established, it required a durable and determined people. Jose's grandfather, from the Tribe of Levi, came to the lands of Abraham when it was still called Palestine. For Jose's grandfather it was enough to live in the Promised Land for eleven years and to die and to be buried in sacred soil. Three times a day the grandfather had prayed for his children and grandchildren to be able to live in a Jewish nation, that the Holy Temple might be built again in a New Jerusalem that would me once again become the capital of the Jewish people, and that the Messiah would come. Jose told me that from the time of the scattering of the Jews by the Romans in 70 A.D.(C.E.), Jews from around the world have prayed for a return of the Jewish people to Jerusalem, for the Holy Temple to be built atop of Mount Moriah, and for the coming of the Messiah.

The State of Israel was a dream and remained the hope of every believing Jewish heart around the world. In 1948 a twelve-year-old Jose Ginat was given a World War I rifle and told to defend the east entry of a small Jewish village north of Tel Aviv. Once again, with a rifle in hand, a thirty-one-year-old Jose would help in the liberation of the city of Jerusalem during the Six Day War in June 1967. He served as an aide-de-camp to the one-eyed General Moshe Dayan. One third of the prayers of his grandfather had now been completed. Even though the State of Israel was created in 1948, the Jewish People did not have access to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. After the Six Day War, Jerusalem was declared the capital city of the State of Israel.

Jose found out from President Ezra Taft Benson that Orson Hyde, a Jewish American and a Mormon, had dedicated the Holy Land for the return of the Jews thirty-seven years before Theodore Hertzl. Most scholars have, and still do, credit Theodore Hertzl as the Father of modern Zionism. Jose also discovered that Orson Hyde had traveled to Europe and spent months going from one synagogue to another in England, France, Germany, and Poland to convince the Jews to return to Jerusalem; this was in 1840. Jose recognized that Orson Hyde was the First Zionist and wanted Orson Hyde to be honored and recognized as such.

It was only due to the hard work and effort of Jose that the Orson Hyde Park exists today on the side of the Mount of Olives. It is also true that the Orson Hyde Memorial Garden located at Netanya College today, north of Tel Aviv, is due to the passionate commitment of Dr. Josef Ginat and the donations of many who have traveled with Fun For Less Tours.

Dr. Josef Ginat, as an instrument in the hands of the Lord, is the reason there is a BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies. As an Advisor for Arab Affairs five times to three different Prime Ministers of Israel, Dr. Ginat was able to obtain permission for the land to be leased to the Church through BYU.

The Temple in Jerusalem has not yet been dedicated nor have the prophesies of Zachariah concerning the Messiah standing on the Mount of Olives been fulfilled. Those of us who travel to the Holy Land at this time are "In-Betweeners." We are blessed to be witnesses "in between" the establishment of the Jewish nation and the appearance of Jesus on the Mount of Olives, wherein he will say in answer to the question, "What are these wounds in thine hands and in thy feet? . . . I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God" (D&C 45:51-52).

You owe it to yourself to experience the Holy Land. You will feel the spirit abundantly when you walk upon the sacred ground where Jesus walked.

--- John L. Lund has taught as adjunct faculty at major universities throughout Washington, Idaho, California and Utah. He is a consultant to both the business world and the private sector as a family counselor. He currently travels with Fun For Less Tours as an educator. Find out more about these tours.

A Jewel of Jerusalem

Fri, 15 May 2009 18:00:00 -0600

by Jamie Lawson
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Today, May 16, marks the twentieth anniversary of the dedication of the Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies. The Center is considered by members and nonmembers alike to be a stunning addition to the Holy City’s landscape, but it didn’t start out that way. In fact, plans to build the Jerusalem Center caused so much controversy that the “Mormon issue” nearly caused the collapse of the Israeli government—on more than one occasion. Located on Mount Scopus, on the northern end of the Mount of Olives, the grace and beauty of the Jerusalem Center is distinctive. With its ingenious use of space and light, and the best natural materials from around the globe, it is an architectural masterpiece that reflects the style of the Near East and makes the most of the spectacular panoramic view of the Old City below.

The beauty and serenity that permeates the Center today is a stark contrast to the events that surrounded the construction process - events which were tumultuous and fraught with opposition at nearly every turn. There were death threats, vandalism, and protest after protest. But even as the Jerusalem Center project grew into an international controversy, there were friends and supporters of many faiths who stood courageously in defense of Brigham Young University's ambitious and impressive project.

Humble Beginnings

In 1968, BYU began a study abroad program in Israel with just a handful of students renting hotel rooms. But the program quickly grew in popularity, and by 1973 Church and University leaders were considering the possibility of building a school for the students. Meanwhile, a search was underway to find land suitable for constructing a chapel for local members.

Then, on October 24, 1979, en route to the dedication of the Orson Hyde Memorial Garden - a beautifully designed park on the Mount of Olives honoring the Apostle's visit to the Holy Land in 1841 - President Spencer W. Kimball announced plans to build a center in Jerusalem that would not only accommodate BYU's study abroad program, but would also serve as a multipurpose complex that would include a chapel and a visitors' center.

Elder Howard W. Hunter and Elder James E. Faust - who had been in charge of searching for land prior to the announcement - were assigned to supervise the Jerusalem Center project along with BYU President Jeffrey R. Holland. They had help from several BYU administrators, including David B. Galbraith, resident director of the study abroad program, who would later become the first executive director of the Center, and D. Kelly Ogden, an administrative assistant for BYU in Jerusalem, who would go on to become the first associate director.

During President Kimball's 1979 visit to Jerusalem, he was shown a number of possible building sites. But after walking onto a large open field north of the Orson Hyde Memorial Garden, he felt inspired that it was the spot where the Center should be built.

"I knew that site was almost certainly unavailable," recalls David B. Galbraith. "Sure enough, we were told over and over again by Israelis in real estate and government positions that it was impossible to get that site. Everyone wanted it." Even the Israeli government was eyeing the same piece of real estate to build the Supreme Court building. "But we remained undeterred," Galbraith says.

The next year was spent negotiating with Israeli officials, and ultimately the University was granted a forty-nine-year lease for the coveted plot of land with an option to renew. "Certainly it was a miracle that the government would even entertain our desire to build on that site," Galbraith says. "We'd been told over and over again that it was hopeless."

Obtaining the lease was a huge victory, but it was just the beginning of a very lengthy process. The property was "green zoned" - not zoned for construction - so, according to Galbraith, the second miracle was getting the zoning changed. In fact, "many miracles occurred that led to the University's obtaining the most prestigious building site in all Jerusalem," D. Kelly Ogden says. And after three years of submitting plans and working to obtain all the required permits, construction began in August 1984.

The Controversy

Until this point, most Israelis were unaware of the University's plans to build, and upon seeing large bulldozers carving up the Mount, there was immediate public outcry.

"People wondered how we got permission to build on such a site," Galbraith recalls. "Who signed off on this? How could it be that one of the last, most beautiful sites in all Jerusalem would go to a Christian group - and of all groups, the 'Mormons,' who are a proselytizing faith?"

Orthodox Jews were particularly suspicious of a church that boldly proclaimed "every member a missionary." Galbraith explains, "They insisted, despite whatever assurances we gave them, that we had an ulterior motive, that we were establishing a missionary center. And in their eyes there was great reason to be concerned - conversion of Jews to another faith is tantamount to a 'spiritual holocaust.'"

And so began nearly four years of bitter opposition. Groups who opposed the Center picketed outside the construction site, Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek's office (the mayor considered the Church to be a true friend of Israel and was instrumental in helping secure the property for the Center), and even the Galbraiths' and Ogdens' homes. "They harassed us, our children at school, and threatened violence against us. They tapped our telephones," Galbraith recalls. Opponents also heavily lobbied the Israeli Knesset (the legislative branch of the Israeli government).

Once the media caught wind of the controversy, articles about the Jerusalem Center were splashed across newspapers and magazines in Israel and abroad with increasing frequency. Some warned of the impending "Mormon threat," while others presented a more fair and balanced view. As those who objected to the Center gained momentum, major television networks picked up on the story, as well as publications such as Time magazine, the New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times.

Ogden kept a detailed journal of the Jerusalem Center project from start to finish, including the fierce opposition. In his entry for July 19, 1985, he made record of one particularly large and high-profile demonstration:

Last night thousands of Orthodox Jews gathered at the Western Wall, fasting, to stage a mass protest against our "Missionary Center," as they persist in calling it. . . . CBS and NBC were also there, so we suppose that everybody in America will see it within hours. (The two networks interviewed David [Galbraith] in his home also.)

Galbraith often fielded questions from the press, granting interviews to CNN and other major news outlets. But despite his and the University's best efforts to allay fears of proselytizing and clarify the purpose of the Center, the issue became so hotly contested that the Israeli government faced no-confidence votes on three separate occasions. Since the Israeli government is a coalition government that is made up of several small parties - many of which are religious orthodox and have a great deal of political power - if a no-confidence vote had passed, the opposing parties would have caused the government to collapse by dissolving the Knesset. Luckily, the no-confidence votes were defeated.

However, in December 1985, to satisfy the opposition, Prime Minister Shimon Peres created a committee of four Cabinet ministers in favor of the Center and four Cabinet ministers opposed. The committee of eight was assigned to hold hearings and ultimately make a recommendation for or against the continued construction.

"The committee went immediately into deadlock," Galbraith recalls. "In the meantime, we just kept building."

Friends and Supporters

Despite the intense protests by Orthodox and nationalist Jews, not all Israelis opposed the construction of the Jerusalem Center. In fact, many, like Mayor Kollek, viewed the project as an opportunity to celebrate diversity and freedom of religion. Kollek, forever the peacemaker, stamped his outgoing mail with the slogan, "Let's be tolerant."

Even Jews in the U.S. weighed in on the issue. And while many were opposed to the Center like their Israeli counterparts, others rushed to defend the University's project. For example, on January 23, 1986, Rabbi Eric A. Silver, the leader of Utah's Jewish community, wrote a letter to the Knesset on behalf of the Church. He stated:

We have come to know, understand, and love our Mormon neighbors as people of the greatest decency, piety, and above all - honesty. . . . When President Holland gives his solemn assurance that the BYU Centre [sic] will not be used for missionary activity, I would stake my life on his promise, and I hasten to assure you that you can do likewise.

Less than four months later, on May 8, 1986, the United States Congress sent a letter of its own to members of the Knesset. Signed by 154 members of Congress, it reads in part:

We have become increasingly concerned by reports here in the United States concerning certain groups in Israel who have undertaken a campaign to halt the construction and use of the Brigham Young University Center for Near Eastern Studies currently under construction in Jerusalem. . . . Many of us know the sponsoring organization and the reputation of its members, and they are known as a trustworthy and moral people who live up to their promises. . . .
We believe that rather than hinder U.S.-Israeli ties, the BYU Center will be a further source of understanding and cooperation between our two countries. Those students who study there will be uniquely able to teach the rest of us about your society, your culture and your rich and fascinating history. We therefore request, gentlemen, that you do all that is necessary to see that this project is allowed to be completed and occupied without undue impediments or delays.

"We had Republicans and Democrats who all lent their name and reputation. There was amazing widespread support by members of the U.S. Congress in favor of our Center," says Galbraith. Even former President Gerald Ford had sent a letter to Israeli lawmakers in favor of the project. "We were ecstatic at such a show of support," recalls Ogden.

According to Galbraith, that support was a turning point for the success of the Jerusalem Center. "In August 1986, just as the letter from Congress was having its largest effect, the ministerial committee voted in our favor. Now we were sailing - we had overcome the worst of it."

Compromise and Completion

Just as the construction seemed to be going smoothly, however, the Department of Antiquities sent a letter stating that if during the process of excavation any relics or ruins were discovered, the project must stop immediately until the findings could be investigated and permission was given to proceed - if it was ever given.

"The entire Mount of Olives is filled with tombs," says Galbraith. "We were way past the point of no return, and we were warned that our neighbors, Hebrew University, encountered many tombs during their construction process."

The Department of Antiquities assigned people to monitor the Center's excavation site daily. Remarkably, no tombs were found.

"It was yet another miracle," Galbraith says. "There is no reason that site shouldn't have been peppered with tombs." Ogden adds, "It's as though the Lord had preserved that site for us."

Just when it seemed every hurdle had been cleared, Galbraith and others were informed of a last-ditch effort to prevent BYU students from ever moving in to the Center. "Legally, once you take occupation of a building, you cannot be evicted. Someone wanted to make sure we did not take possession," he says. "Our public relations people said, 'Drop everything and just move in! Never mind that it isn't finished!' In a single day we moved in unannounced."

Luckily, the dormitories were completed, but the upper levels still were not. Barriers were put up to protect students and faculty from being injured while the construction continued.

One of the final details regarding the Jerusalem Center came when the Israeli government requested a legal document stating that the building would not be used for proselytizing purposes. "It was not an easy decision to make," says Galbraith. "Such a request singled out the Church from many other religions in Israel, so it was somewhat discriminatory in nature." But to help assure Israelis and reinforce the promises Church and University leaders had already given, in May 1988 Elder Howard W. Hunter and BYU President Jeffrey R. Holland both presented formally signed documents declaring that the Jerusalem Center would not be used for missionary activity in Israel. Finally, the "Mormon issue" was put to rest.

"In the end, strong friendships were forged through the opposition and adversity we faced," says Galbraith. "Today we have a good reputation and are well regarded by both Israelis and Palestinians. We've made our peace with most everyone."

Of Galbraith and others who pioneered the Jerusalem Center efforts, Ogden says, "Nobody in this world can know the strains and pains they endured for years to see all this through." And he includes Mayor Teddy Kollek in that group. "Through it all, he was our staunchest ally. He is the one man in Jerusalem who probably suffered most for our center being built." Despite the risk to his political career, the mayor came to tour the Center after its completion. He remarked, "I was unprepared for the beauty of this building."

On another occasion when Church leaders were in Jerusalem, Ogden recorded in his journal Elder James E. Faust's comments about the Center. Ogden wrote:

Elder Faust said, "Some have wondered if the Center hasn't required too much time, too much energy, too much money. . . . We make no apologies for this Center - how big it is, how lovely it is. . . . This is the jewel of the Holy City."

On May 16, 1989, Elder Howard W. Hunter, then president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, quietly dedicated the Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies with President Thomas S. Monson, Elder Boyd K. Packer, and BYU President Jeffrey R. Holland, among others, in attendance. It was done without fanfare and announced nearly a month later because the Center was still a sensitive issue for many people.

The Jerusalem Center Today

After the completion of the Center, thousands flocked to tour the facility, and thousands continue to do so today. "Word was out that when you visit Jerusalem - or if you live in Jerusalem - you ought to visit the Mormon Center," recalls Galbraith. "We never could get rid of that name. In the eyes of the Israelis, it's still the Mormon Center, even today."

People who tour the building are not allowed in the student dormitory areas, but are shown a short video about the Center, given a tour of the beautiful upper levels and the surrounding gardens, and treated to a brief organ performance while enjoying the breathtaking view. But tours aren't the only way the public can enjoy the beauty of the building. The Center also hosts art exhibits by local artists, as well as a renowned weekly concert series - and there is rarely an empty seat in the house.

"Musicians consider it a plum on their resumes to say that they have played on our stage," says S. Kent Brown, currently associate director of the Jerusalem Center. In fact, there is a long waiting list of musicians anxious for the chance to perform there.

While the public gets just a glimpse of the beauty of the facility, students studying at the Center get to savor not only the architecture, but also the fascinating and informative academic program offered within its walls. Students who participate in the study abroad program live in the Center for four months, studying the Old and New Testaments, ancient and modern Near Eastern studies, and either Hebrew or Arabic. In addition to classroom study, they enjoy numerous field trips that cover many aspects of the Holy Land - with a major focus on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and his Apostles.

"The fundamentals of the Jerusalem Center program have remained firm through the decades," says Brown. "Only minor details have changed. The original leaders perceived that scripture would form the foundation of the program and then built a broader program from that point."

And, as always, the study abroad program strives to present a balanced view of the complex issues of the Holy Land. To help accomplish this, the Center's faculty includes Americans, Israelis, and Palestinians.

"We hire local teachers to teach not only the language classes of Hebrew and Arabic but also the classes on Islam and Judaism. We want students to see these subjects through the eyes of those who live in this society," Brown explains. In fact, the executive director of the Jerusalem Center today is Eran Hayet, an Israeli. The assistant director in charge of security, Tawfic Alawi, is Palestinian.

Meagan Knudson, who studied at the Jerusalem Center in 2008, says she gained invaluable insight and knowledge while in the Holy Land. "Learning about issues and seeing the people really broadened my view," she says. "It's made it so much easier for me to meet all kinds of different people and see different perspectives and understand where people are coming from."

She continues, "And now I have a context for scripture study. I know where events happened, and I know more about the people who lived there because we learned so much about the ancient culture. To spend so much time where the Savior lived, where he performed so many miracles, was a life-changing experience."

And this is exactly the kind of experience that Church and University leaders envisioned the students having. "We hope that, first, they return home with a brighter faith, and second, with a more informed view of the complexities of life in the Holy Land," says Brown.

Want to visit the Jerusalem Center?

It's Never Too Late!

If you've dreamed of touring the Holy Land but your college days are long past, there is still a great option - LDS Travel Study. With a program that is both educational and spiritual, LDS Travel Study provides extensive tours of the Holy Land while providing a uniquely LDS perspective. Tour options include visits to Egypt, Israel (with a stop at the Jerusalem Center), Jordan, Greece, and Turkey. Go to ldstravelstudy.org for more information.