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

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Jews.'” 46Benjamin further describes that a favorite theme of the prayers among theLatter-day Saints was “the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the restoration of Israel inconnection with it.” 47While Brigham Young and others made specific efforts at educating the Mormonpeople in Utah about “subjects of such deep and abiding interest to [them] all,” much ofthe Mormon-Jewish relationship developed more casually and locally, as Jews beganmigrating west and settling in Utah (and other western states), alongside Mormoncommunities. Benjamin briefly notes this in his travels, claiming that in Salt Lake City,there are “five Israelites here. Two of these have become Mormons. The other three aremerchants and are doing very well.” 48Juanita Brooks further describes some of theserelations and concludes that in Salt Lake City, the Mormon “capitol,” relations werefriendly. She reports that the 1870 visit of Rabbi Sneersohn “drew a good audience,” andexplains,While individual Jews might criticize or work against the Mormons, orgenerally vote against them, there was never any bitterness. On the otherhand, Mormon children heard the stories of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,with emphasis on Joseph who was sold into Egypt as their own linealancestor. . . Hebrew customs persisted as Mormon customs. . . 49Interestingly, her description illustrates that Mormon customs and teachings emphasizedJewish themes, but, while the relationship remained “friendly,” Jews seemed far lessengaged in the welfare of their Mormon counterparts.Yet, the fact that the association remained friendly is remarkable and important, ina time when Jews suffered discrimination not only among their European neighbors, but46474849I.J. Benjamin, Three Years in America, Vol. 2, trans. Charles Reznikoff, (Philadelphia: The JewishPublication Society of America), 224.I.J. Benjamin, Three Years in America, 225.I.J. Benjamin, Three Years in America, 251.Juanita Brooks, The History of the Jews in Utah and Idaho, (Salt Lake City: Western Epics, 1973), 69.18
in much of America as well. Latter-day Saints, as in other respects, remained unique inthis way. “There simply was not anti-Jewish conflict in Utah.” 50 A quote by Heber J.Grant, seventh president of the Church, in 1921 is further evidence of the positiverelations.There should be no ill will, and I am sure there is none, in the heart ofany true Latter-day Saint, toward the Jewish people. . . And let no LatterdaySaint be guilty of taking any part in the crusade against these people.I believe in no other part of the world there is as good a feeling in thehearts of mankind toward the Jewish people as among the Latter-daySaints. 51From the Jewish perspective, a compelling testimony from Louis C. Zucker in 1981,might best summarize the goodwill between Mormons and Jews: “I have perceived nosign of anti-Semitism in any office, school or government, where I was known, andknown to be a Jew. . . This may safely be said: there is probably no Christian-Gentileculture which is less disposed to anti-Semitism than the Mormon culture here in Zion.” 52With this tradition behind him, Ezra Taft Benson, apostle of the Church of JesusChrist of Latter-day Saints, and United States Secretary of Agriculture under PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961), became an ardent supporter of the State of Israel.His teachings and writings reflect his Mormon background, his visits to the Middle Eastmanifest his favor of the Jewish State, and his personal and lasting friendships withvarious Jewish and Israeli leaders illustrate his firm commitment to the Jewish people andwhat he saw as their rightful restoration to their ancient land.505152Glanz, Jew and Mormon, 66.Mauss, All Abraham's Children, 191.Mauss, All Abraham's Children, 191.19
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 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 78 and 79:
Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and
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
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