Orson Hyde Gardens

This is a very special site we will visit on Western slopes of the Mount of Olives. This garden is prime location looking over the Old City and just up from the traditional spot of Gethsemane. It was dedicated as a commemorative garden remembering this Apostle/Missionary's early 1841 trip to Palestine to dedicate the land for the gathering of the Jews again, as prophesied in ancient and modern scriptures. Years before any Zionist movement back to Israel, a Mormon apostle prophesied that the Jews would return again to their home land. Reading this remarkable dedicatory prayer will give you remarkable insight into this site and the the Lord's promises to covenant Israel.

Since then, there has been at least 9 other dedications of land of Israel. Just a couple years ago marked the 175th anniversary of that prayer.

Read more here, for a start:

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1991/10/orson-hydes-1841-mission-to-the-holy-land?lang=eng

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormon-jewish-delegation-jerusalem

Here is an interview with David Whitchurch, who has done a lot of research on Orson Hyde and the Church in the Holy Land:

https://rsc.byu.edu/media/y-religion/68

See also:

“The Restored Church of Jesus Christ and the Holy Land” (BYU Studies, 2020)

Click here to watch David Whitchurch’s BYU Devotional, “Orson Hyde, the Holy Land, and Brigham Young University”

And see Elder Holland's address as part of an anniversary of Orson Hyde's dedication:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcWCh7T4m1I&app=desktop

The Life of Christ

You will probably want to study the Four Gospels again. Using the Harmony of the Gospels in the back or the New Testament Come Follow Me curriculum will help you become even more familiar with the life of Christ. Also, become familiar with the biblical geography. Pay attention to locations by using the Bible Maps, looking for relationships and connections within the Savior's life.

Digital Resources

If you would like to incorporate multimedia into your preparation consider a couple of very cool sites:

The Lamb of God - BYUtv

https://www.byutv.org/messiah

I think this series got discontinued, but the episodes they made are still pretty good.

The Chosen

https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen

Very popular mini-series that puts you in the world of Jesus and his disciples.

Light of Men Podcast

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/collection/light-of-men-podcast?lang=eng

Dramatic depictions of the Savior's life - plenty of artistic liberties, but it's a fun radio drama to listen to on long rides in the car. It makes you think about these scriptural accounts a little different ... but don't let this substitute for the scriptures!

Virtual New Testament App

https://virtualscriptures.org/virtual-new-testament/

Passports

Must be valid for 6 MONTHS beyond travel dates. Please verify.

Safety

Although, you will be more attuned to any exaggerated news reports about the Middle East, safety in Israel has generally remained steady over the years and you can feel confident that we will have a safe trip. BYU students continue to live there each semester. Israel has millions of tourists every year, with tourism being an important part of their economy.

Weather

Think Southern California and it is almost identical! Winter time will be pleasant in the deserts during the day, temperate near the beach, and colder in the evening. In some elevations, it may be cooler during the day and colder at night. The average January temperature for the Dead Sea (the lowest place on earth) is 67 degrees while Jerusalem (in the mountains) is 53 degrees. So plan to layer clothes, much like you would in Southern California. We will likely get a little rain as well.