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

precisely what is happening, though “most of the world is oblivious to what is going onin the little country of Israel.” He continues, “This is an area, my brothers and sisters,where prophecies are being fulfilled right before our very eyes.” 79 Ten years earlier, inhis 1950 General Conference address, he opened with a similar claim:I should like to speak with reference to a rather miraculous drama that istaking place today before our very eyes. In large measure it isunobserved, particularly by spiritual leaders, and yet it has been predictedby prophets anciently thousands of years ago, and in modern times hasbeen referred to frequently by Latter-day prophets during the past onehundred and twenty years. 80Again, in his 1976 “Message to Judah,” he asserts that “since 1948, the people of theworld have witnessed a marvelous drama taking place before their eyes; and yet it is amiracle that has gone rather unnoticed and unappreciated.” 81 Yet again the emphasis is inon the miraculous fulfillment of prophecy, along with Benson's perception that themiracle remains largely unobserved by the world, but uniquely understood by Latter-daySaints.The messages are significant for their similarity in what Benson chose toemphasize and include from Hyde's prayer, as well as what he chose not to include. Asnoted in chapter one, the prayer focused on three major themes of Jewish restoration:gathering of the Jews to Palestine, the building up of Jerusalem, and the rearing of theTemple there. Benson's messages each note the miracle of the gathering taking place, andthe building up of Jerusalem and the land, but do not even mention the rearing of theTemple. Perhaps, since the event had not yet taken place, Benson chose not to include it.798081Benson, Stake Conference Address, 7.Benson, “Jews Return to Palestine,” 1.Benson, “Message to Judah,” 9.29