Ezra Taft Benson and the State of Israel - Brandeis Institutional ...

Smith, the members of the group “emphasized the lofty aspects of Jewish religiouscommunity life.” 39 Another prominent leader of the Mormon faith and member of thegroup in 1873, Heber C. Kimball, sent home poignant letters describing his impressions.Many of those impressions include encounters with Jewish people in Europe andelsewhere, and reflect his personal admiration for them. “They are the most spirited,ambitious and persevering people I ever saw. They believe the gathering of Israel. . . isnear. . .” 40Other meetings described by the Mormon missionary group are similarlypositive and enthusiastic about the Jewish people and their forthcoming gathering. 41Brigham Young, close friend of Heber C. Kimball and second president of the Church,expressed his view on the subject of the Jewish people amongst the nations, contrastingthem specifically with the Rhoma, or Gypsies: “The Jew is a worshiper of Jehovah – theGritana, or Rhoma, knows him not. . . .” 42 Wilford Woodruff, fourth president of theChurch, expounded on the Mormons' familial bond with the “Brother Jew.” “Whom doyou call Gentiles?” he asked. “Every nation except the literal descendents of Israel. We,the Latter Day Saints, are Gentile, in other words, we have come from among the Gentilenations, though many of us may have the blood of Israel within our veins.” 43This sense of kinship generally translated into positive relations betweenMormons and Jews, as well as continued support for Jewish aspirations for theirhomeland. In a 1902 General Conference of the Church, Latter-day Saint historian andapostle Brigham H. Roberts spoke favorably and passionately about the emerging Zionistmovement, and their recent meetings in Basle, Switzerland to move forward the return of3940414243Glanz, Jew and Mormon, 86.As quoted in Glanz, Jew and Mormon, 87.Glanz, Jew and Mormon, 86-88.Glanz, Jew and Mormon, 62.Glanz, Jew and Mormon, 64.16