Haifa – Israel Tour

Posted by on Nov 22, 2010 in Site of the Week - LDS Church History Tour |

HAIFA Located on the Mediterranean Sea where Mt Carmel juts into the water forming a bay, Haifa is one of the most beautifully situated cities in the world.  From atop the mount, panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea are similar to those of San Francisco.  Little existed here until 1933 when the British built a modern harbor which is now the main port of Israel.  The city now has the nation’s largest heavy industries.  Historically, Haifa was destroyed by Muslim conquerors in the seventh century, conquered by Crusaders in 1100, and destroyed in 1761 by Taher el Amar.  Today, Haifa is Israel’s ship-building center and third largest city.  There’s an Israeli saying: “Jerusalem prays, Tel Aviv plays, Haifa works.”  Thousands have come “home” to the promised land through the port of Haifa. For more Israel Sites – See our Israel Tour...

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Glimpse of the Past – LDS Church History Nov 18-24

Posted by on Nov 22, 2010 in Glimpse of the Past - LDS Church History |

November 21, 1841 (Sunday) – Baptisms for the dead were commenced in the font in the basement of the Nauvoo Temple. November 19, 1849 (Monday) – Sanpete Valley was settled by a company, under the guidance of Isaac Morley, Seth Taft and Charles Shumway. They located near the present site of Manti. November 23, 1918 – Heber J. Grant became President of the Church. November 1997 – Church membership reached 10...

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Caesarea – Israel Tour, Site of the Week

Posted by on Nov 15, 2010 in Site of the Week - LDS Church History Tour |

CAESAREA, Israel On the main road from Tyre to Egypt.  About 20 B.C., King Herod the Great built it into a magnificent city employing the best of the Roman architects.  A priority was the excellent deep water port with protective water breaks, etc.  He chose the name Caesarea to please his friend Augusts Caesar.  It was “the place to be” for Romans during the occupation of Israel.  The ocean moderated the harsh climate, good water was provided via an impressive Roman aqueduct, also built by Herod, as was a coliseum for gladiators and an hypodrome for chariot racing.  Caesarea was also the site of some of the most horrific crusader battles with the Muslims.  The moat and some ruins of what was once a huge Crusader fortress still remain. Paul the Apostle was a prisoner here for two years awaiting his right to go to Rome to be tried by Caesar for supposed crimes charged by the Jewish priests.  They would have tried and executed him in Jerusalem but Paul was a Roman citizen and was able to insist on being tried in Rome, thus saving his life.  Cornelius lived here too as did Phillip, one of the apostles. Caesarea’s incredible harbor was reportedly one of the most modern in its day, but the entire place had the misfortune of being built atop two geological fault lines.  An earthquake sank the entire structure some time before the 3rd century AD.  After centuries of being sacked by various invaders, Caesarea was left abandoned until the mid 1940s when archaeologists moved in and began digging.  The results are a magnificent collection of preserved ruins from both the Crusader and early Roman eras. For more Israel Sites – See our Israel Tour...

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Glimpse of the Past – LDS Church History Nov 11-17

Posted by on Nov 15, 2010 in Glimpse of the Past - LDS Church History |

November 13, 1833 (Wednesday) – A grand meteoric shower or “falling of the stars” was witnessed throughout the land, which cheered the Saints and alarmed their enemies. November 14, 1842 Mayor Joseph Smith presided at a city council meeting where an “Ordinance regulating the proceeding on writs and habeas corpus” was approved giving the Courts of the City of Nauvoo the right to protect the citizens of Nauvoo from unlawful arrest by outside parties. November 11, 1851 (Tuesday) – The “University of the State of Deseret” was opened in G.S.L. City. November 11, 1854 (Saturday) – Professor Orson Pratt discovered “a new and easy method of solution of the cubic and biquadratic equations.” November 14, 1907 Howard W. Hunter, 14th President of the Church, is born in Boise,...

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Magdala – Israel Tour

Posted by on Nov 4, 2010 in Site of the Week - LDS Church History Tour |

MAGDALA (Tower of Greatness) Located 4 miles north of Tiberias, Magdala was one of the sites which Josephus fortified when he was governor of Galilee – before his defection to the Romans.  When the city fell to Titus in the struggle of the Jews against the Romans, 6,700 Jews were killed; thousands of the strongest were sent to Nero to dig the Corinthian canal (which was not actually accomplished until the 19th century) and 30,400 were auctioned off as slaves. •    This was the home of Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2; Mark 16:9) •    Jesus came here after feeding the 4,000 (Matt 15:39, Mark 8:10) •    The Pharisees and Sadducees sought a sign and Jesus told them of the sign of the prophet Jonas (Matt. 15:39-16:4, Mark 8:11-21) For more Israel Sites – See our Israel Tour...

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