I’m sure there have been times when you, like me, have received feelings or promptings directing you to make a change in your life, so you pray for understanding. Well, during my trip to Israel, I received my answer. So today, I write my last Sunday message to you...at least for a while.
I’m sad in many ways; I have really enjoyed our time together on Sundays and have felt a closeness in sharing what matters most over the last… has it been 7 years now? But following the Spirit is non-negotiable for me. For 60 years, I have worked in my industry, and it’s all happened because of you! Also, having to be the sole breadwinner for my young family for many years, I have always been very prayerful for direction regarding my work so I could spend the most time possible with my children. I love them so much as I know you love yours! I have felt the need lately to spend more time with them, especially with their precious babies - my adorable grandchildren. (By the way, #9 is on the way, and I would appreciate your prayers for my daughter Brianna🥰.) Any woman understands busy schedules and their demands. So I have felt great peace with this answer of spending more time with my husband, children, and grandchildren!🥰
Today’s message is about my trip to the Holy Land. As I’ve pieced together my feelings from this life-changing trip… let’s say it’s been challenging because how do you write about something so grand. I tried to post the first half last week, but there’s so much that I thought I’d put both posts in this Sunday’s message! All I can say is it’s a bit long! Sorry. 🤣
Every time I started writing, a flood of emotions would return. I’m so grateful I was taught about the Savior in my youth by a loving mother who stressed the importance of strengthening my personal testimony and not just relying on hers. She taught me the importance of feeding our spiritual appetites through daily study and prayer. It’s how we can comprehend the multiple layers, depths, and symbolic meanings of His teachings, His atonement, His death, and the gift of His resurrection. Understanding takes time… a lifetime (maybe a million lifetimes?).
I heard a great talk last week (I read so much, so I’m sorry I can’t remember who gave it), but the speaker’s message was about his mission. He had to learn a foreign language. When he got there, he could only say a few words, but over time, he could speak some sentences. After a year, he said he could talk comfortably without thinking about every word before he spoke. By the end of his two years, he felt so confident he had mastered the language he decided to take it for one of his college classes. He quickly realized he was only speaking on a two-year-old level. 😂 His point was it’s the same with our study of the Scriptures. You read the Bible once - you understand a few words the second, third, and fourth time you start putting sentences together. The 10th, 20th, or 50th time you begin to understand more deeply and know the words before you have to think about what you’re saying. It takes years to master the language of the Bible and the Savior’s life. That’s why it’s so important to continually read God’s words every day, every year, throughout our lives.
Before going to Israel, I read many books, listened to numerous talks, and watched countless documentaries to prepare for this trip. But to actually be in Jerusalem was more incredible than I ever could have imagined.
No other city has shaped this earth’s history and destiny like Jerusalem. Just think of the different nationalities that have come through Jerusalem for one reason or another. Egyptians, Hittites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Muslims, Crusaders, Turks, British, Arabs, and Israelis have all been a part of Jerusalem’s great history. And then there are the people! Individuals like Abraham, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Lehi, Jeremiah, Alexander the Great, Pompey, Cleopatra, Herod, Peter, Paul, Titus, Constantine, Muhammad, Richard the Lion-hearted, Maimonides, Saladin, Suleiman the Magnificent, and even today’s leaders to name a few. But the most significant person ever to be born in Israel or this world was Jesus Christ. He brought about the most important events and remarkable contributions of all time! His atoning sacrifice and resurrection from the dead have immortalized this great city and made the name Jerusalem forever holy. Ironically Jerusalem means “The City of Peace,” which is odd because very rarely has it ever enjoyed the fruits of this word--peace. Even today, Jerusalem is a diverse place that ignites people’s hearts in so many ways.
If you’ve put this trip on your bucket list… Do it now!!!! It’s simply amazing!!!!! So Here we go!❤️
I went wading in the sea of Galilee, you guys!
I went snorkeling in the Red Sea! Hey! It’s hard to record a video of yourself underwater! 🤣
I floated in the Dead Sea - it was unbelievable
So was this candy shop!! Isn’t this a dream come true?? We also stopped at the best ice cream store!!! It’s called, Katsefet, which means whipped crème. It’s a must if you are ever planning on going to Jerusalem. Do the fresh fruit yogurt!!!
I went to Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus said to Peter, “Peter, upon this rock, I will build my church,” He then promised to give him the “keys of the kingdom of heaven.” But to see the water coming out of the rocks was incredible!
I saw Temple Mount, and we went inside the Dome of the Rock because of my dear friends for years, Tom and Kelly Olds, who happen to be our in-laws. Their daughter married our son. The Temple Mount was so stunning and very touching to be invited. It’s a very significant site for all three major religions: Jews, Muslims, & Christians. To the Jewish faith, they believe it is the Center of the Universe.
It was amazing and helped me understand why so many wars have been fought over Jerusalem. Every single religion holds it sacred….you can feel it while you are there. Instead of writing about it because it would take a lot of space😂 here’s a great site you can read about it.
We walked through the flowing waters in Hezekiah’s tunnels at the Western Wall. If you’re claustrophobic, I wouldn’t recommend it, 😂but it was the most incredible half-hour underground walk. To see how they started digging at two different ends and met up in the middle was unbelievable!
We went to church on Sunday at the BYU Jerusalem Center, and as we partook of the sacrament overlooking Jerusalem...I can’t even tell you what it meant to me!
Since my first name is Olive, and the Jerusalem Center has an actual olive press outside, this must have meant more to Matt than I realized. He asked me to get inside it so that he could roll the Stone over me. I felt “pressed” to concede to his wishes!! 🤣🫒
We visited the unique historical museums in Jerusalem. The Israeli Museum fascinated me because it’s where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed. We also saw the very impressive miniature model of Jerusalem in Christ’s Day, The Model City. I never realized how large Solomon’s temple was in comparison to the size of Jerusalem in Christ’s day. It was very insightful!
And then there was the sacred pit in Caiaphas Palace (St. Peter of Gallicantu), where Jesus went before the Sanhedrin, and Peter allegedly denied Christ three times. It literally took my breath away. It is where the Savior spent the night before he was crucified. We saw where He was probably beaten and lowered into this hole the night before Pontius’ pilot sentenced him. I stood contemplating what occurred there, and although I’ve always been grateful to my Savior for the atonement, I will never forget how I felt inside there. Simply…. I was forever changed.
When I went outside, we saw the original steps where Christ would have walked down to his crucifixion. As I stood there, my eyes filled with tears. We cannot even semi-comprehend what must have been going through his heart, but mine was breaking!
We spent the night beside the Sea of Galilee in this beautiful hotel. Every room is only steps away from the shore!
The Sea of Galilee is where most of Christ’s miracles occurred. We visited the Mount of Beatitudes, where the Sermon on the Mount was delivered. Words can’t express how much I loved this!
We visited a church where they uncovered some fantastic new finds. They still are uncovering new ruins! This is where Jesus taught in the one synagogue and proclaimed He was the son of God. That was so moving to my heart. I literally stood where Christ testified to the Rabbis.
There’s a new Church at Magdala with a rotunda dedicated to the women in Jesus’s life. We read about them in our Scriptures, but this was different. It reminded me how profound the women were in Christ’s life at specific pivotal points. At the tomb, the first witnesses and messengers to the 12 apostles of the empty tomb who testified that “He has Risen” were the two Marys. And the first messengers of the birth of Christ were Mary and her cousin Elizabeth among many others. Women at that time lived in a society where females weren’t as valued, but this church testified and witnessed God’s love for his daughters. Intuitive, Christ-centered, powerful, and strong women devoted to God, and that chapel had significant meaning to me. We are nurturing caregivers, compassionate and intuitive, and should always esteem these attributes as divine qualities we were divinely given and possess. We are spiritual creatures in nature.
I know the Savior loves women today, and I hope you hear this with your entire being when I say women are the heart and soul of this world. The adversary would have you believe something else, that somehow you aren’t enough but believe me when I say…women are so important to the Savior.
I saw King Herod’s Palace on the ocean in Caesarea. You could see where the palace used to stand over the sea, and some of the original floors were still recognizable and beautiful. You could tell where the chariot races took place, where his great theater was, which they still used today and the aqueducts. I even saw an ancient toilet!😂 Caesarea still has the most expensive real estate anciently and modern day. But knowing the Savior was there is the value I placed on it.
Mount Precipice had a fantastic view of Nazareth, Mt Tabor, and the surrounding area.
And on Mt. Carmel is an excellent view of the Jezreel Valley (Valley of Armageddon, where we discussed the 2nd Coming and the future of this Holy Land.
When I saw the valley of Armageddon, I realized that “this is where the final battle will be fought, and the Savior will appear, showing the marks in His hand and feet for all to see.” Can you imagine that? I was there! As I pondered this valley, I realized that each day, we fight our own Armageddon, and I wish you every blessing for God’s infinite atonement and love to see you through. When you go into battle each day, euphemistically, of course, please don’t forget to take your Savior with you. Think of him every day and how he will protect you! Just ask! Think of how He will put His arms around you. Make it personal!! I know He will help lift and lighten those burdens from your shoulders. It has taken time for me to fully understand what it means to “Let go and let God.” For the longest time, we would hear that phrase only to be followed by those minions in our heads saying, “But you still have to do something to prove yourself to Him.” My testimony to you is if you love the Lord, you will be doing something; listening to Him offer you eternal happiness. So listen and love Him and then be grateful for all you go through. Follow what you are impressed to do. Because He’s always there, we only need to hear His voice.
We boarded a fishing boat and crossed the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum. On our way, we cut the engines & had a short discussion that amazed my heart.
Once on shore, we had a very unique lunch. We had St. Peter’s Fish…🤣 We then visited Capernaum, then drove to the very northern border of Israel, where we looked over Lebanon and Syria. Then, we enjoyed a short nature hike to view the ancient city and altar at Tel Dan and learn how the lost tribes became “the lost ten tribes.”
I loved Banias, the ancient site of Caesarea Philippi. And Yardenit. That evening, I took a stroll on the Seashore and saw this duck!
I felt my sweet son Michael was with me. We always called him Mallard, and this duck just appeared out of nowhere.
Speaking of my son, my other son Matthew was with me on this trip. He has decided to devote his life to teaching youth groups about the Savior, and this trip was partly a preparation for him to understand the area. He knew he would be a better guide before taking out his first group if he made this trip. We loved everything, but going to the River Jordan (Jesus’ traditional baptismal site) was the best!!!! I learned so many details about the area and John the Baptist - it was incredible and moving.
In my last Sunday post, I told you that our friend and guide, Clark Anderson, took us over there. Well, two days ago, he sent this photo to me... Clark wrote, “I’m back at the River Jordan today teaching my new tour group, and look who I ran into. Your amazing son Matthew was beside me, teaching his youth group. How cool is that!?” Honestly, it made me tear up a bit! I’m so proud of him!!!
Knowing your child loves God and wants to help young people find their purpose through knowing Jesus Christ makes this mama very proud!!!
Watching him travel through Israel in preparation to teach was such a blessing. He said something that really touched my heart… He was teaching a group where he’s going to college (Matthew is a full-time seminary/institute teacher there); right before we left, he told me he showed the movie The Lion King to his classes. He asked the kids who is the villain in this movie. And, of course, they all agreed it was Scar… He said no! Then he offered up that it was Pumba! The kids looked confused, so Matt continued, “Think about it… Pumbaa convinced a king’s son to forget whose child he was… That he was a prince. Pumbaa even got Simba to stoop so low that he ate bugs and enjoyed it. Then Matthew said to them “don’t ever forget that you are the sons and daughters of God and don’t let anyone make you forget that. And please take care of your bodies - don’t hurt or abuse them, especially don’t eat bugs.😂. My Matt is such a good man and has such a cute way with these kids 🥰❤️
Laurus’ Tomb was so touching. It’s where the first person was resurrected. It was on the Palestinian side of Jerusalem, and our driver, Auman, who is Muslim, was so wonderful in taking us there and answering every question I had. I think I wore him out!😂 When we left him, he gave me a copy of the Quran, such a beautiful gesture of love! We drove with him to Qumran (the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls).
I’m so grateful that we were able to be in Jerusalem during Shavuot. This celebration begins in the evening at sundown. Jewish people from all over the world celebrate this holiday, also known as the “feast of weeks,” which commemorates the revelation of the Torah on Mt. Sinai to the Jewish people and commemorates the Torah being given by God to His people on Mount Sinai on Shavuot more than 3,300 years ago. From my best guess, over 5000 people were gathered there that evening. We weren’t allowed to take photos (understandingly), but I could go on the female side with the women and touch the wall. It was an incredible experience!!!! I don’t have photos of this evening, but here’s a picture of a necklace I bought there to commemorate it. The name of it in Hebrew is the “Shema,” meaning “Hear or hearken” from the beginning of Deut 6. This is the central prayer of Judaism saying:
Deuteronomy 6:4-7:
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
I believe the necklace says the very first part; Shema. But these are the verses Moses taught the children of Israel to be the most important verses to live by and obey. And these are the ones that the Jewish people have written and put in the Phylacteries they wear during their morning prayers. Also, these verses are written and placed in the mezuzahs, which are right outside on the wall next to the front door of every Jewish home. So these scriptures are central to the Jewish faith and ones we should all live by! To have a necklace with all that faith and history feels inspiring and significant to me!!!!
We visited the Garden of Gethsemane (which, as you know, means “oil press”).
We passed thousands of Jewish graves as we wandered down the Mt. of Olives. Including those of the Biblical Prophets, Haggai, Zechariah, & Malachi. We made a brief stop at the ‘Teardrop Church.’ We then visited St. Anne’s, the ancient site for the Pool of Bethesda.
The Upper Room, where the Savior held the Last Supper, was beautiful. Even though it’s speculative where the exact location was, just being there and understanding the last week of his life brought the Bible pages to life for me.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is believed to be where many Christians and others believe the Garden Tomb. I must say the garden tomb sent warm chills through my body, knowing the history of mankind was changed eternally here!!!!
We departed Jerusalem and went down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea as Lehi and his family did. As we did, we traveled from “Jerusalem to Jericho” and reflected on the parable in Luke 10. Then we made our way to the Israeli/Jordanian border at Timnah.
There are too many photos to post but it in Timnah there is an exact replica of the ancient Tabernacle built by Moses. The temple that the Children of Israel carried in the wilderness for 40 years was smaller than I thought. But what came to my realization is that they used this temple for another 400+ years until king Solomon built his temple. As they walked us through it, it was obvious that the ordinances they kept were symbolic of Jesus Christ coming and his atonement. I really loved visiting this place!!!
This post is too long already, so I’ll try to share more later! Let me summarize this last Sunday Message...
Remember (Remember is my favorite word)- your one focus in life is to have a testimony of Jesus Christ. Whatever it takes, however long it takes to have a testimony. My trip to Jerusalem has undoubtedly changed my life in many ways. The stories in the Bible are real. They were documented by everything I saw around me, and the pages of that book came alive in every place I visited! I am sure you can understand this was not just a check on a list for me; this was a dream of mine ever since my parents went there and told me about it. I have been dreaming about this for 47 years. I went there looking for something, and I found it! And even more, I found peace, joy, and incredible gratitude... I am different in such a good way.
On the cross towards the final moments before His death, Jesus said In Matthew 27:
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is to say, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
In that very moment, He felt His Father retreat. Did He feel abandoned? I’m sure He did, but at Golgotha, as I stood in silence pondering these words, tears began rolling down my cheeks. Even in the darkest moment of abandonment, Christ did not abandon the Father nor His will. I wondered, Is it like this with us in our trials when we may feel God is just not there? Do we stay strong like our Savior and say, “Not my will, but thine be done”? He didn’t give up on doing His Father’s will, and neither should we. Christ never gives up on us; we should never give up on His love for us. His answers aren’t always immediate and may even be challenging to hear. But I also know that even Christ, while crucified on the cross, asked the Father this question. “Father, take this cup from me but nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.” And so He endured, and so shall we as His followers. I have gained much strength from what Jesus said. If we do, God will always be there, growth will happen in our souls, and a brighter day will occur. Remember…We are never left alone!
Two weeks ago, I wrote about Mount Sinai. It was interesting as I pondered upon God asking Moses to bring the children of Israel to the mountain so He could speak to them. When Moses invited them, they basically said back, “Tell ya what, Moses, you go back to the Lord and find out what He wants to say, then tell us what to do.” At that very moment, they gave up their personal relationship with God, their Father. They handed over their individual testimonies and their right to know personally! They gave their power over to someone else. They didn’t want to put forth the effort… they wanted to be told what to do. It was the easier path to take. They gave away and lost the greatest gift we have here in mortality…. Agency. Free will. The power to choose for ourselves. Instead, they gave it away for someone else to decide for them. They gave up a real personal relationship with the Father of our spirits and His son Jesus Christ.
I have loved writing these Sunday messages, but as I wrap them up, I want to leave you with one last thought…. The best way to really know the Savior is through the scriptures. When you know Him, you will follow Him…. So I hope you will continue to join me in reading the scriptures daily and gain a greater desire to learn of Him. Take His teachings and those of His prophets to heart. In Matthew 11, there is one of my favorite passages:
28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
I know this is the absolute truth; I have seen its promise fulfilled. The world may be changing and even be a difficult place to live at times but always remember… “The gospel is easy. Not living it is hard!” “People change; truth does not.” These verses spoke to me in Jerusalem… “I will give you rest”…” .my yoke is easy, my burden is light.”
With the Savior, all things are possible, forgiveness, opportunities, love, gratitude, awareness, joy, and especially peace. After this trip, I will never read the Bible in the same way again. It’s intended that we dive into the scriptures to create our own testimony of Jesus Christ. Not to rely only on the testimony of others in the books of the Bible but to search diligently and acquire our own personal relationship with our God.
On this trip, my son Matthew whispered to me that he learned something about me, his mom …I didn’t quit no matter how sore or tired my body was. He said, “Mom, you’re a finisher!” 😂 I told him, “That’s right, I may start something and not like it, so I’ll never do it again, but I WILL finish it!” 😂
So as I finish this last Sunday message…Let the Lord make it easy for you….Stay strong, keep the faith, and deepen your knowledge of His infinite love for you. Know that I love you with all my heart💖 I’ll see you during the weeks ahead, posting more of my insane #BucketListAdventures because… I am a finisher 👍🥰😂💖👈😘
