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

Or perhaps it did not aid in his apparent goal of building camaraderie between Mormonsand Jews, so it was less important. In any case, it is clear that Benson emphasizedspecific elements of Hyde's dedication, which, because they could be seen already inevidence, would serve to bolster his and other Church members' faith, and to buildrelations with his Jewish friends.The continuity of Benson's message across two and a half decades, even regardinghis choice of words (i.e. “miracle” and “miraculous”; “oblivious”, “unobserved”,“unnoticed”, etc.), is striking. His assurance that the Mormons see an important realitythat the rest of the world does not is nothing new in Mormon theology, and can likewisebe found in most religious theologies. What is worthy of note is his conviction thatMormons have played a unique and particular role in the fulfillment of ancient prophecy,indeed that Mormons themselves claim modern revelation similar to prophets of old.This is a notion singular to Latter-day Saint doctrine, and a point of contention with mostof the Christian world to the present.Benson, therefore, is partially correct when he professes that the “miracle” of thegathering of the Tribe of Judah goes on largely “unnoticed or unappreciated.” Mostspiritual leaders, including Christian and even Jewish leaders, did not see the eventsthrough exactly the same prism as did Benson. Yet, he himself was acutely aware ofChristian support, albeit somewhat ambivalent, of the Jewish State, and he took greatpains to illustrate the similarities in Mormon perspectives with those of his Jewish“brothers.” Among Benson's files from his time as Secretary of Agriculture is a sectionentitled “Jewish Literature.” 82 The name is somewhat misleading, however, as it is made82Ezra Taft Benson, Papers, 10:29, Eisenhower Presidential Library (Abilene, Kansas).30