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Show -- TEN The Holy Land I Madelyn From Sunday School, she had wanted first studied the Bible in to visit the land and peoples of the Middle East. From church study she knew that the Prophet Joseph Smith had appointed Apostle Orson Hyde to ded icate Palestine for the return of the Jews. On October 24, 1841, Elder Hyde climbed the Mount of Olives and consecrated the land for the gathering of the scattered remnants of Judah. This had become a part of Mormon heritage, as did the visit of George A. Smith, Lorenzo Snow, Eliza R. Snow, and others whose journey through Europe culminated in a solemn ceremony on March 2, 1873, on the Mount of Olives, during which President Smith rededicated the land of Palestine for the gathering of the Jews. A book detailing the tour was in Madelyn's home as she grew up and gave her the desire to make such a trip herself.' Since that time, many Mormon tourists, scholars, and church officials had visited biblical sites in Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey, and had written of their experiences. Thus, when Madelyn and Harold planned their round-the world tour in 1954 they expected to spend three or four weeks the time that 218 |
