Ezra Taft Benson and the State of Israel - Brandeis Institutional ...
Ezra Taft Benson and the State of Israel - Brandeis Institutional ... Ezra Taft Benson and the State of Israel - Brandeis Institutional ...
Joseph Smith taught that Latter-day Saints were actually descendants of theTwelve Tribes of Israel – specifically the tribe of Ephraim, and as such shared “Israeliteancestry with the Jews.” 8 This shared ancestry led to a spirit of brotherliness, at leastfrom the Mormon perspective, and a sense of common purpose in the restorationprophesied anciently to come about in the latter days. According to Smith,We [the house of Israel] are the favored people that God has made choiceof to bring about the Latter-day glory; it is left for us to participate in andhelp to roll forward the Latter-day glory, “the dispensation of the fulnessof times, when God will gather together all things that are in heaven, andall things that are upon the earth,” “even in one,” when the Saints of Godwill be gathered in one from every nation, and kindred, and people, andtongue, when the Jews will be gathered together into one. 9Along with a sense of common ancestry and camaraderie, Smith taught that thegathering spoken of in the Bible was already underway, and the Latter-day Saints had amost important role in that gathering. The gathering would consist of two branches: theancient kingdom of Judah, and the “lost” tribes of Israel. 10Judah would be gathered toJerusalem, and the other tribes, led by Ephraim (Latter-day Saints), would gather to Zion,located in America. “The city of Zion spoken of by David,” he claimed, “will be builtupon the land of America. . . But Judah shall obtain deliverance at Jerusalem.” 11 Thegathering was to consist not only of Latter-day Saints' gathering in the elect from amongthe “lost tribes” (i.e., conversion to the Mormon faith), but also a literal gathering of theJews to Jerusalem, and a redemption of the land. Within this notion was theunderstanding that Jews were not, therefore, cut off from the ancient covenant. Their891011Mauss, All Abraham's Children, 164; see also Rudolf Glanz, Jew and Mormon: Historic GroupRelations and Religious Outlook (New York: Waldon Press, 1963), 51-55.Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. (SaltLake City: Deseret Book, 1938), 231.Mauss, All Abraham's Children, 164.Joseph Smith, Teachings, 17.6
covenant relationship and promise of future redemption remained very much alive, andits realization would be part of the fulfillment of prophesy leading to the (second) comingof the Messiah. “No spiritual restoration of the people would be complete or successful ifit did not include the return and reconstruction of the people in their own land.” 12This expectation that a restoration includes a return of the Jews to Palestine is adistinctive component to Mormon theology, but it is also occasionally found in otherAmerican Christian traditions of the early nineteenth century. Napoleon’s appearance inEurope for instance was seen by certain groups as evidence of the imminent gatheringforetold in the Old Testament. 13Yet, the Mormon perception of the Jews' gathering was also unique in that forthem it was part of a larger gathering, in which the Latter-day Saints claimed a verysignificant part. And even in the years since Joseph Smith's death the idea of gatheringand the return of the Jews continued to animate Mormon theology. In fact, everyMormon prophet from Smith to the modern day has reiterated the Mormon covenantalrelationship and its place in the fulfillment of prophecy. “Every sentiment and feeling,”Brigham Young wrote in 1853, “should be to cleanse the earth from wickedness, to purifythe people, sanctify the nations, gather the nations of Israel home, redeem and build upZion, redeem Jerusalem and gather the Jews there, and establish the reign and kingdom ofGod on earth.” 14Likewise, Orson Pratt, another contemporary of Joseph Smith andBrigham Young, predicted the return of the Jews to the land of their fathers. “The Jewsand the ten tribes shall return. . . Jerusalem will be redeemed from the hands of the121314Stephen D. Ricks, “From Joseph to Joseph: Covenant and Chosenness in the Revelations and Writingsof Joseph Smith,” in Covenant and Chosenness in Judaism and Mormonism, Raphael Jospe, Truman G.Madsen, and Seth Ward, ed. (Cranbury, New Jersey: Associated University Presses, 2001), 96.Glanz, Jew and Mormon, 95-96.Glanz, Jew and Mormon, 52.7
- Page 2 and 3: AcknowledgementsI am indebted to Pr
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covenant relationship <strong>and</strong> promise <strong>of</strong> future redemption remained very much alive, <strong>and</strong>its realization would be part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fulfillment <strong>of</strong> prophesy leading to <strong>the</strong> (second) coming<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Messiah. “No spiritual restoration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people would be complete or successful ifit did not include <strong>the</strong> return <strong>and</strong> reconstruction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people in <strong>the</strong>ir own l<strong>and</strong>.” 12This expectation that a restoration includes a return <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jews to Palestine is adistinctive component to Mormon <strong>the</strong>ology, but it is also occasionally found in o<strong>the</strong>rAmerican Christian traditions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> early nineteenth century. Napoleon’s appearance inEurope for instance was seen by certain groups as evidence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> imminent ga<strong>the</strong>ringforetold in <strong>the</strong> Old Testament. 13Yet, <strong>the</strong> Mormon perception <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jews' ga<strong>the</strong>ring was also unique in that for<strong>the</strong>m it was part <strong>of</strong> a larger ga<strong>the</strong>ring, in which <strong>the</strong> Latter-day Saints claimed a verysignificant part. And even in <strong>the</strong> years since Joseph Smith's death <strong>the</strong> idea <strong>of</strong> ga<strong>the</strong>ring<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> return <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jews continued to animate Mormon <strong>the</strong>ology. In fact, everyMormon prophet from Smith to <strong>the</strong> modern day has reiterated <strong>the</strong> Mormon covenantalrelationship <strong>and</strong> its place in <strong>the</strong> fulfillment <strong>of</strong> prophecy. “Every sentiment <strong>and</strong> feeling,”Brigham Young wrote in 1853, “should be to cleanse <strong>the</strong> earth from wickedness, to purify<strong>the</strong> people, sanctify <strong>the</strong> nations, ga<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> nations <strong>of</strong> <strong>Israel</strong> home, redeem <strong>and</strong> build upZion, redeem Jerusalem <strong>and</strong> ga<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> Jews <strong>the</strong>re, <strong>and</strong> establish <strong>the</strong> reign <strong>and</strong> kingdom <strong>of</strong>God on earth.” 14Likewise, Orson Pratt, ano<strong>the</strong>r contemporary <strong>of</strong> Joseph Smith <strong>and</strong>Brigham Young, predicted <strong>the</strong> return <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jews to <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir fa<strong>the</strong>rs. “The Jews<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> ten tribes shall return. . . Jerusalem will be redeemed from <strong>the</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>121314Stephen D. Ricks, “From Joseph to Joseph: Covenant <strong>and</strong> Chosenness in <strong>the</strong> Revelations <strong>and</strong> Writings<strong>of</strong> Joseph Smith,” in Covenant <strong>and</strong> Chosenness in Judaism <strong>and</strong> Mormonism, Raphael Jospe, Truman G.Madsen, <strong>and</strong> Seth Ward, ed. (Cranbury, New Jersey: Associated University Presses, 2001), 96.Glanz, Jew <strong>and</strong> Mormon, 95-96.Glanz, Jew <strong>and</strong> Mormon, 52.7
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