Garden Tomb

Shalom,

            We have just finished our last day in Israel.  It was a wonderful day and ended appropriately at the Garden Tomb.  We started the day by going to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Ryan and I have now had the opportunity to visit all three of the Gardens listed in the Scriptures.  All three have been wonderful for our testimonies.  We had a great discussion at Gethsemane, and were able to take lots of pictures.  We had a beautiful view of the Temple mount and all of the Old City.  We sang a couple of hymns and listened to Brother Ogden teach about the events that would have transpired in the time of Jesus.  We had time to contemplate the atoning sacrifice of our Savior.  I also had the opportunity to consecrate some olive oil purchased in Gethsemane and we performed the ordinance in the Garden, surrounded by all of those ancient Olive trees.  Some of these trees even existed and were perhaps witnesses of Christ’s agony in the Garden.  We distributed the oil to each of those in our group.  Ryan is excited that he will have some oil from Jerusalem to take on his mission.

            We then went to see the Model of the City of Jerusalem as it was in the time of Jesus.  This model is 1/50th of the city in scale.  It gives a terrific view of where everything has been.  I will be able to use my pictures as teaching tools in the future.  What a treasure they will be for both Ryan and I.  At this same location, which is the Museum of History in Jerusalem, is Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit.  They have two of the original clay jars that the scrolls were found in, as well as some of the scrolls themselves.  I was thrilled to see the full Isaiah scroll.  How I would love to be able to read it in the original Hebrew. While there we were able to participate in a moment of silence to honor the six million Jews that were killed in WWII.  Sirens sounded throughout the city and my thoughts were about them, and how our Heavenly Father loves them and that they will have a place in his mansions above.  Those people made sacrifices that most people in this world will never have to make.

            Next we went to the Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies owned by the Church on the Mount of Olives.  There is a terrific view of the Temple Mount from there and we took some great pictures.  This is a wonderful facility.  As you enter the gates, you know you’re on sacred ground.  We heard the miracle story of its origin, and heard three awesome songs played on the organ in the assembly hall.  The grounds were landscaped on caliber of the Temples throughout the world.  I also sensed a familiar spirit when I was there.  Who can doubt that the Holy Ghost and the angels above were there looking over that facility.  Just down the road from the Jerusalem Center we had lunch and it was at the so called site where Jesus said “Oh Jerusalem, Oh Jerusalem, Thou that Killest the Prophets.”  We took pictures there and had a neat view of the city from the Mount of Olives where this could have happened.

            We spent the rest of the afternoon at the Garden Tomb.  I prepared myself well for what I would experience there and was not disappointed.  The feelings were definitely near the surface, as you would expect, especially for me.  Ryan was equally touched.  I expressed to him how happy I was that he was with me there.  We had a great testimony from Kelly Ogden and read several scriptures about the events and the Risen Lord.  I kept thinking about the sign inside the tomb that says, “He is not here, He is Risen.”  Then my thoughts quickly went to the testimony of the living Prophets; The Living Christ.  How grateful I am that I had it memorized.  I kept thinking of Jesus as a living, resurrected God who suffered for me, and for everyone, but also resurrected for me and for everyone.  The experience in the Garden Tomb was unforgettable.  We sang the hymns; He is Risen, and I Stand All Amazed.  I don’t think I will sing those songs the same again.  There are several hymns that will have different impacts on me from now on.  My Testimony is that he did resurrect, and that he does live today and this is his Gospel and his church on the earth today.  All of the churches have built up shrines and altars to this or that, and have missed the true message of what took place here, or what will someday take place again.  I love him and know he has a Prophet on the earth today.  His name is Thomas Monson, and he holds the keys of the kingdom.  The Priesthood is back on the earth and I was able to exercise it today in this very city.  The church is true, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

We had dinner and are preparing to leave for Egypt tonight.  We leave at 1:15 am local time.  This will make for a long day.  I believe Hearts are in order for the airport wait.  Out journey continues tomorrow in the ancient land of the Pharaohs.  I will see you all tomorrow,

Goodbye to the City of David,

Bishop and Ryan