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 ...
eturn of the Jews to the land of Palestine.” 70Clearly Benson, like many of the Mormonleaders before him, was convinced of the role of Latter-day Saint involvement, thoughnot through preaching in the land, in bringing about the fulfillment of the Biblicalprophecies regarding the gathering of the Jews.Benson's “Message to Judah” in 1976 includes many of the same elements – anexplanation of Hyde's visit, reference to his prayer of dedication and a brief mention ofthe gathering that began relatively shortly after. Yet he entirely excludes Elder George A.Smith's visit in 1873, spending much more time quoting passages of the prayer thatilluminate Mormon hope for a restoration of Jews to Palestine. Perhaps Benson's 1976choice to include only Hyde's mission to dedicate Palestine was because of his emphasison Mormon kinship with the Jews. Hyde, Benson pointed out to David Ben Gurion in1964, was “of Jewish descent.” 71 Overall, the emphasis is much less on fulfillment ofLatter-day Saint prophecy than on evidence of fulfillment of ancient prophecy in general,and the accompanying Mormon approbation. Yet a further element of interest is the factthat Benson does not end there. Instead he tells how Levi Eshkol in 1960 asked to hearthe Orson Hyde story, and that Ben Gurion in 1964 even requested that Benson send himall the information regarding the story so that he could include it in his history of theState of Israel. 72 This is another aspect that Benson had brought up before, and whichseems to hold great significance in his memory. He uses it here to further witness of “the707172Benson, “Jews Return to Palestine,” 4Ezra Taft Benson, Letter to David Ben Gurion, December 9, 1964, Ben Gurion Archives, (Sde Boker,Israel).Benson, “Message to Judah,” 4.Apparently Ben Gurion never finished this History; further research needs to be conducted to seewhether he indeed had plans to include the Hyde story in his work.26
sincerity of our declaration to you, 'Shalom Haverim,'” 73 and affirm the awareness thatIsraeli leadership has had of the Mormon sense of fraternity.Benson certainly told the account of Orson Hyde in Palestine on more than fouroccasions. I have been able to uncover only a few, but the two public references citedhere give evidence for the varied opportunities Benson took to explain the Mormonfriendship with Israel. In his 1960 Stake Conference address, Benson again siezed theopportunity to emphasize Mormon relations with Israel and the Jewish people. This talktook place while Benson served as Secretary of Agriculture, and shortly after his secondvisit to Israel in that capacity. His words before the congregation appear to be largelyunscripted, influenced by a song performed just prior to his rising to the pulpit. Hementions the song, “I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked,” and then embarks on severalparagraphs of reminiscence of his time spent in the State of Israel. 74He speaks of thewonder of being in the Holy Land, where, he exclaims, “You can't be among those peoplewithout feeling their devotion, their dedication, their assurance that they are fulfillingprophecy – the prophecies of Isaiah, of Jeremiah, and other Old Testament prophets.”And, like the other two texts, he mentions the remarkable farming progress that Israelisseem to be making. “The hills long denuded of all vegetation, land that was desert, isnow blossoming.” 75In keeping with his custom of rehearsing the Orson Hyde story, Benson tells howhe took every opportunity to acquaint Israelis with that event. Specifically, he mentionstwo occasions: with his tour guide from the Hebrew University, and later as a more737475Benson, “Message to Judah,” 12.Benson, Stake Conference Address, 7-9.Benson, Stake Conference Address, 8.27
- Page 2 and 3: AcknowledgementsI am indebted to Pr
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sincerity <strong>of</strong> our declaration to you, 'Shalom Haverim,'” 73 <strong>and</strong> affirm <strong>the</strong> awareness that<strong>Israel</strong>i leadership has had <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Mormon sense <strong>of</strong> fraternity.<strong>Benson</strong> certainly told <strong>the</strong> account <strong>of</strong> Orson Hyde in Palestine on more than fouroccasions. I have been able to uncover only a few, but <strong>the</strong> two public references citedhere give evidence for <strong>the</strong> varied opportunities <strong>Benson</strong> took to explain <strong>the</strong> Mormonfriendship with <strong>Israel</strong>. In his 1960 Stake Conference address, <strong>Benson</strong> again siezed <strong>the</strong>opportunity to emphasize Mormon relations with <strong>Israel</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jewish people. This talktook place while <strong>Benson</strong> served as Secretary <strong>of</strong> Agriculture, <strong>and</strong> shortly after his secondvisit to <strong>Israel</strong> in that capacity. His words before <strong>the</strong> congregation appear to be largelyunscripted, influenced by a song performed just prior to his rising to <strong>the</strong> pulpit. Hementions <strong>the</strong> song, “I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked,” <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>n embarks on severalparagraphs <strong>of</strong> reminiscence <strong>of</strong> his time spent in <strong>the</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Israel</strong>. 74He speaks <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>wonder <strong>of</strong> being in <strong>the</strong> Holy L<strong>and</strong>, where, he exclaims, “You can't be among those peoplewithout feeling <strong>the</strong>ir devotion, <strong>the</strong>ir dedication, <strong>the</strong>ir assurance that <strong>the</strong>y are fulfillingprophecy – <strong>the</strong> prophecies <strong>of</strong> Isaiah, <strong>of</strong> Jeremiah, <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r Old Testament prophets.”And, like <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r two texts, he mentions <strong>the</strong> remarkable farming progress that <strong>Israel</strong>isseem to be making. “The hills long denuded <strong>of</strong> all vegetation, l<strong>and</strong> that was desert, isnow blossoming.” 75In keeping with his custom <strong>of</strong> rehearsing <strong>the</strong> Orson Hyde story, <strong>Benson</strong> tells howhe took every opportunity to acquaint <strong>Israel</strong>is with that event. Specifically, he mentionstwo occasions: with his tour guide from <strong>the</strong> Hebrew University, <strong>and</strong> later as a more737475<strong>Benson</strong>, “Message to Judah,” 12.<strong>Benson</strong>, Stake Conference Address, 7-9.<strong>Benson</strong>, Stake Conference Address, 8.27
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