Today marks 9 years since September 11...amazing that it's been almost a decade! Today we had a good experience at the Garden Tomb. We all got up and went to church at 10 (i really enjoyed accompanying in primary during 3rd hour today--it was a lot of fun), then at 1:30pm we headed to the City to visit the Savior's burial site. It was a lot bigger than I thought; they have a garden there, an overlook to view Golgotha, and of course the tomb itself. A tour guide introduced us to the area and talked a bit as we looked at Golgotha (it does actually look like a skull in some places), then went and filed quietly into the Tomb itself. There were two chambers: one for anointing, and then the actual burial chamber. There was a track for a huge rock out in front, and the tomb itself was barely big enough to stand up in. Afterwards we went back a little ways and sang in the garden (there were lots of groups singing there in multiple languages--it was cool). We sang "Christ the Lord is Ris'n Today," "I Believe in Christ," "I Know that My Redeemer Lives," and "He Is Ris'n" (probably my favorite part). I think the experience was best summed up by the guide we had there: it's not what we would see, but rather what we WOULDN'T see that makes the place important. :)
This program is turning out so differently than I thought it would. I really thought visiting all these sites would help me feel closer to the Savior; in a way I do, but it's because I know the places better and better understand the stories (not because there's an overwhelming presence of deity in these areas). Jerusalem brings me closer to God as I reflect on the Savior's life: EVENTS themselves and what they mean to me instead of just the places that they occurred (though I do understand them much better now). I thought I would feel something very special around the tomb of the Savior's Resurrection, and there was a presence there but it still didn't even begin to rival the feeling of peace I get in the temple. I was talking with a buddy on the way back, and he ironically pointed out that he felt the Spirit stronger talking about the temple than he did at the tomb itself. It's neat to see these places, don't get me wrong; but one doesn't have to come to Jerusalem to feel the Savior's presence in his/her life and the change that He can bring about. Thank goodness for the Restoration!
Other than that, we came back, had dinner, and just chilled for the remainder of the evening. Movies have become quite a big hit around here lol. We're all planning on going to Tel Aviv tomorrow to hang out at the beach, it should be fun. That's about it, goodnight!
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