I went there again today. It was a peaceful, spiritual experience. It was one of those experiences where the spirit was almost palpable. The first time I went it was super crowded and busy, with people all over. This time, I went with a group right before it closed on a Thursday evening, so the crowds weren't nearly as large, and it was very peaceful.
We attached ourselves onto a tour group that was going through, and it was really interesting to hear things from a non-LDS perspective. One of my favorite things that the tour guide spoke about was actually the story of Abraham and Isaac. When Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac, the Lord commanded him to go to Mount Moriah, which is traditionally the Temple Mount, where the Dome of the Rock stands today. But what I learned in my tour today is that the Dome of the Rock is just the south end of Mount Moriah. The whole of what Mount Moriah once was actually extends all the way to Golgotha, which is on the North end. The guide told us that sacrifices were typically completed in the North, meaning that when Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac, it was more likely to have happened near Golgotha and the Garden Tomb than at the Dome of the Rock. This was neat to me, because not only is Isaac a type for Christ, but he was a type for Christ in the very place where Christ Himself completed the sacrifice and rose again. It was just a neat gospel insight for me to make.
Anyways, I'll leave you this video of Gordon B. Hinckley bearing testimony of Christ. I love President Hinckley. And I love Christ. So this video is just all-around good. :)
We attached ourselves onto a tour group that was going through, and it was really interesting to hear things from a non-LDS perspective. One of my favorite things that the tour guide spoke about was actually the story of Abraham and Isaac. When Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac, the Lord commanded him to go to Mount Moriah, which is traditionally the Temple Mount, where the Dome of the Rock stands today. But what I learned in my tour today is that the Dome of the Rock is just the south end of Mount Moriah. The whole of what Mount Moriah once was actually extends all the way to Golgotha, which is on the North end. The guide told us that sacrifices were typically completed in the North, meaning that when Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac, it was more likely to have happened near Golgotha and the Garden Tomb than at the Dome of the Rock. This was neat to me, because not only is Isaac a type for Christ, but he was a type for Christ in the very place where Christ Himself completed the sacrifice and rose again. It was just a neat gospel insight for me to make.
Anyways, I'll leave you this video of Gordon B. Hinckley bearing testimony of Christ. I love President Hinckley. And I love Christ. So this video is just all-around good. :)
The text from the video:
"Just outside the walls of Jerusalem, in this place or somewhere nearby, was the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea where the body of the Lord was interred. On the third day following His burial 'came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
'And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it…
'And the angel … said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
'He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay' (Matt. 28:1–2, 5–6).
These are the most reassuring words in all of human history. Death—universal and final—had now been conquered. 'O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?' (1 Cor. 15:55).
To Mary, the Risen Lord first appeared. He spoke to her, and she replied. He was real. He was alive, He whose body had been laid in death. Small wonder that when Thomas later saw Him with His wounded hands and side, he exclaimed in wonder, 'My Lord and my God' (John 20:28).
Never had this occurred before. There had been only death without hope. Now there was life eternal. Only a God could have done this. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was the great crowning event of His life and mission. It was the capstone of the Atonement. The sacrifice of His life for all mankind was not complete without His coming forth from the grave, with the certainty of the Resurrection for all who have walked the earth.
Of all the victories in the chronicles of humanity, none is so great, none so universal in its effects, none so everlasting in its consequences as the victory of the crucified Lord, who came forth from the tomb that first Easter morning.
Those who were witnesses of that event, all who saw and heard and spoke with the Risen Lord, testified of the reality of this greatest of all miracles. His followers through the centuries lived and died in proclamation of the truth of this supernal act.
To all of these we add our testimony that He who died on Calvary’s cross arose again in wondrous splendor as the Son of God, the Master of life and death."
-President Gordon B. Hinckley
"Just outside the walls of Jerusalem, in this place or somewhere nearby, was the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea where the body of the Lord was interred. On the third day following His burial 'came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
'And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it…
'And the angel … said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
'He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay' (Matt. 28:1–2, 5–6).
These are the most reassuring words in all of human history. Death—universal and final—had now been conquered. 'O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?' (1 Cor. 15:55).
To Mary, the Risen Lord first appeared. He spoke to her, and she replied. He was real. He was alive, He whose body had been laid in death. Small wonder that when Thomas later saw Him with His wounded hands and side, he exclaimed in wonder, 'My Lord and my God' (John 20:28).
Never had this occurred before. There had been only death without hope. Now there was life eternal. Only a God could have done this. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was the great crowning event of His life and mission. It was the capstone of the Atonement. The sacrifice of His life for all mankind was not complete without His coming forth from the grave, with the certainty of the Resurrection for all who have walked the earth.
Of all the victories in the chronicles of humanity, none is so great, none so universal in its effects, none so everlasting in its consequences as the victory of the crucified Lord, who came forth from the tomb that first Easter morning.
Those who were witnesses of that event, all who saw and heard and spoke with the Risen Lord, testified of the reality of this greatest of all miracles. His followers through the centuries lived and died in proclamation of the truth of this supernal act.
To all of these we add our testimony that He who died on Calvary’s cross arose again in wondrous splendor as the Son of God, the Master of life and death."
-President Gordon B. Hinckley
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