O Jerusalem

What a jam-packed day! First we went to the wailing wall. A powerful feeling is there. I had to wear a yamaka to pray at the wall.

We crossed into the Muslim quarter and security was a lot tighter than it had been in the Jewish quarter. They were checking people's bags for bibles and making them hide their cross necklaces. I was a bit nervous because I had a Book of Mormon in my backpack. The guard pulled it out, sounded out the words, "The Book of Mor-mon" and then put it back in my bag and let me through. Hoof. We aren't aloud to talk about the church at all in Israel. But the Dome of the Rock was beautiful.

Next we walked over to Gethsemane and enjoyed the beautiful church there. It is right on the Mount of Olives, and it faces the Golden Gate entrance to the city: a gate that it was prophesied the Messiah would come thru, and so the Muslims have sealed it shut with stone centuries ago. A Muslim cemetery is on the other side of the gate.

If you look thru these trees of Gethsemane you can see the gate.

As we were making our way back from the beautiful garden of Gethsemane, we met a young man who didn't speak english but he signaled that we should follow him. He seemed nice so we did. He took us a short distance and pointed to a sign that said "Orson Hyde Memorial Park." What are the chances? We weren't even looking for it. This is where Orson Hyde came and dedicated the land of Jerusalem for the gathering of the children of Abraham in the last days. The boys name was Mohammed and he took us on some off-road paths. It was rough going and he helped me not slip, and also helped Katie not slip. He was a little too friendly with her and she didn't feel super comfortable. As we said goodbye, he kissed me on both cheeks, and then he kissed her on both cheeks, and tried to kiss her on the mouth. Nope, not ok. But we were grateful for the experience and to have found the park. We gave him two shekels (about 60 cents) to say thanks. Katie said afterwards that her desire to travel in the middle east has dramatically decreased.

Mohammed

We followed the "Via Dolorosa" which is a long road where Christ supposedly carried his Cross. It is demarcated with phony relics and questionable sites (here Christ fell for the first time under the weight, here a saint gave him a handkerchief to wipe his face, etc..) Although the streets are about 20 feet higher than they used to be (Jerusalem has ruin built on top of ruin) it was neat to think of the long walk of the Savior.

The church of the Holy Sepulcher is the sight where traditionally Jesus is believed to have been crucified, buried, and resurrected, although there is pretty much no evidence for that location other than Constantine's mother choosing it. It is a MASSIVE church complex run by six major Christian sects. The people in front of us were Italian pilgrims, reciting prayers to Mary as they approached the empty tomb. We entered into the empty tomb. The man ahead of us was obviously very devout and moved by the experience. But after 10 seconds, the guard clapped and said loudly, "Ok, enough, come out, move out..." I much more enjoyed the Garden Tomb. Although the exact location of Golgotha and the tomb are unknown, a lot of evidence points to this location. It is run by volunteers and only a certain number of people can visit at a time. It was one of the most peaceful places on earth. I feel like I will have more to envision when I think of the life of Christ henceforth.

We walked around the ramparts of the City as well before walking up to meet my friend at the BYU Jerusalem Center. We looked South to where Nephi and his family probably left Jerusalem.

BYU's center is FANTASTIC! It has the best view of the whole city of Jerusalem in my opinion. The grounds feel like temple grounds. Very impressive.

Ben, my buddy, told us to visit the 3rd Temple institute, a Jewish organization that has prepared a menorah, temple ceremony clothes, etc. all based off of the Old Testament to prepare for the temple to be rebuilt on the Temple Mount (where the Muslim Dome of the Rock is currently standing.) They seem to ignore the obvious tension of the situation, saying, "Well, unfortunately there is something on that property currently, but that will be taken care of eventually. And when it is, we will be prepared."

Currently Jews are forbidden to even enter the temple mount, but not by Muslims: the Jewish leaders have imposed a ban on Jews entering because, seeing as the Divine Presence was in the Holy of Holies, and they can't prove where the Holy of Holies was exactly, the whole temple mount is sacred ground and can't be entered into.

The Dome of the Rock was built in memory of Mohammed's "Night Journey," from what I understand. He and some leaders of Islam journeyed one night to Jerusalem, the story goes, and he on the temple mount was enrapt in a vision and caught up to heaven. He traveled thru 7 levels, meeting a prophet at each level, and eventually met Abraham at the 7th level and communed with Allah. Allah commanded him to tell the people to pray 50 times a day, and the Prophet traveled back to level 6, where he met Moses. Moses said, "Look, I can tell you from experience with the children of Israel, 50 is not going to go over well. Ask if it can be reduced." So Mohammed returned to commune with God and it was reduced to 40. Again Moses counseled him to barter and so it was reduced to 30, 20, 10, 5...and then Mohammed said he was embarrassed to barter any lower than that and so it was. They pray 5 times a day, and the Lord counts each prayer as if it were 10 prayers.

I love this place.