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

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast preserved Thy servant from thedangers of the seas, and from the plague and pestilence which have caused the land tomourn. The violence of man has also been restrained, and Thy providential care by nightand by day has been exercised over Thine unworthy servant. Accept, therefore, O Lord,the tribute of a grateful heart for all past favors, and be pleased to continue Thy kindnessand mercy towards a needy worm of the dust."O Thou, Who didst covenant with Abraham, Thy friend, and who didst renew thatcovenant with Isaac, and confirm the same with Jacob with an oath, that Thou wouldstnot only give them this land for an everlasting inheritance, but that Thou wouldst alsoremember their seed forever. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have long since closed their eyesin death, and made the grave their mansion. Their children are scattered and dispersedabroad among the nations of the Gentiles like sheep that have no shepherd, and are stilllooking forward for the fulfillment of those promises which Thou didst make concerningthem; and even this land, which once poured forth nature's richest bounty, and flowed, asit were, with milk and honey, has, to a certain extent, been smitten with barrenness andsterility since it drank from murderous hands the blood of Him who never sinned."Grant, therefore, O Lord, in the name of Thy well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to removethe barrenness and sterility of this land, and let springs of living water break forth towater its thirsty soil. Let the vine and olive produce in their strength, and the fig-treebloom and flourish. Let the land become abundantly fruitful when possessed by itsrightful heirs; let it again flow with plenty to feed the returning prodigals who comehome with a spirit of grace and supplication; upon it let the clouds distil virtue and74
ichness, and let the fields smile with plenty. Let the flocks and the herds greatly increaseand multiply upon the mountains and the hills; and let Thy great kindness conquer andsubdue the unbelief of Thy people. Do Thou take from them their stony heart, and givethem a heart of flesh; and may the Sun of Thy favor dispel the cold mists of darknesswhich have beclouded their atmosphere. Incline them to gather in upon this landaccording to Thy word. Let them come like clouds and like doves to their windows. Letthe large ships of the nations bring them from the distant isles; and let kings become theirnursing fathers, and queens with motherly fondness wipe the tear of sorrow from theireye."Thou, O Lord, did once move upon the heart of Cyrus to show favor unto Jerusalem andher children. Do Thou now also be pleased to inspire the hearts of kings and the powersof the earth to look with a friendly eye towards this place, and with a desire to see Thyrighteous purposes executed in relation thereto. Let them know that it is Thy goodpleasure to restore the kingdom unto Israel -- raise up Jerusalem as its capital, andconstitute her people a distinct nation and government, with David Thy servant, even adescendant from the loins of ancient David to be their king."Let that nation or that people who shall take an active part in behalf of Abraham'schildren, and in the raising up of Jerusalem, find favor in Thy sight. Let not their enemiesprevail against them, neither let pestilence or famine overcome them, but let the glory ofIsrael overshadow them, and the power of the Highest protect them; while that nation orkingdom that will not serve Thee in this glorious work must perish, according to Thyword --- Yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.75
Page 2 and 3:
AcknowledgementsI am indebted to Pr
Page 4 and 5:
Table of ContentsIntroduction - 1Ch
Page 6 and 7:
elationship in any depth.In researc
Page 8 and 9:
friendships with various Israeli le
Page 10 and 11:
Joseph Smith taught that Latter-day
Page 12 and 13:
Gentiles, and it will be again inha
Page 14 and 15:
for their long suffering. Yet, he,
Page 16 and 17:
focus on both the fulfillment of pr
Page 18 and 19:
Smith and Brigham Young, as previou
Page 20 and 21:
Smith, the members of the group “
Page 22 and 23:
Jews.'” 46Benjamin further descri
Page 24 and 25:
Chapter 2: Benson's Religious Leade
Page 26 and 27:
audiences. The first, called, “Je
Page 28 and 29: Benson's sense of kinship for the J
Page 30 and 31: eturn of the Jews to the land of Pa
Page 32 and 33: general mention of his efforts at s
Page 34 and 35: Or perhaps it did not aid in his ap
Page 36 and 37: about Jews and Israel, throughout t
Page 38 and 39: and Peter Grose describe the frustr
Page 40 and 41: Israel's victory in the Six Day War
Page 42 and 43: the Messiah. Indeed, both Benson an
Page 44 and 45: those visits, as opposed to those o
Page 46 and 47: U.S. agricultural products on credi
Page 48 and 49: The American public, though divided
Page 50 and 51: States.” 133Indeed, a Gallup poll
Page 52 and 53: with Britain and France, for their
Page 54 and 55: many Americans that Israel was now,
Page 56 and 57: those experiences to give validity
Page 58 and 59: Benson, “I want you to pray to Go
Page 60 and 61: gathering. Some of those themes inc
Page 62 and 63: Ben Gurion and Levi Eshkol, both of
Page 64 and 65: sending “two Mormon Books,” and
Page 66 and 67: Yet Ben Gurion's next letter, dated
Page 68 and 69: on this occasion with Shimon Peres
Page 70 and 71: cultivate land for crops in the 194
Page 72 and 73: attitude in the Synagogue Light art
Page 74 and 75: United States, his views on Israel
Page 76 and 77: eminded the host that he had not be
Page 80 and 81: "Though Thy servant is now far from
Page 82 and 83: BibliographyAlteras, Isaac. Eisenho
Page 84 and 85: Madsen, Truman G. “Mormon Attitud
show all

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

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?