Netanya College

This is a college in Israel that is very interesting for the LDS types. Why you may ask? Of course I'll tell you but I may take my time to do that. First you need to know that is is a college that has a student body that includes Jews, Muslims, Christians and Druze. It's good for all those groups to work together for mutal respect and understanding.

Ok this is why this is of interest to the LDS type.  The entrance to Netanya College has the Orson Hyde Square. It is a garden that is dedicated to the the legacy of Orson Hyde and his followers, who dedicated the Land of Israel for the return of the Jewish people to Israel.  The square has 8 palm trees, each one dedicated to Orson Hyde and his followers. Also, there are 15 olive trees, each one dedicated to the Presidents of the LDS Church, from President Joseph Smith Jr to Thomas S Monson.  Each olive tree was taken from the part of Israel where the tribe of Ephriam settled.(the Megiddo region)

Interesting how missionary work is being done without missionaires in the traditional sense of the word. All who enter the campus, students, faculty, and all international delegations walk by a plaque with the name of a modern day prophet. Ummm?

I'm sure on occassion there may be questions asked about who so-and -so is? What did they do? And in the computer age, even if they don't ask a person the question, they may go home and google one or all of the names in the square. Who knows where that kind of thing may lead. ( oh those Mormons, they work all the angles.)

Joseph Smith Jr Ordained to what? See isn't that a good question for someone to "google"?  Jospeh's name in a college garden entrance, this is the same man who had to ask Emma if Jerusalem had walls around the city. So cool that his name is here for all to see and wonder about!

Ok guys hang on we are almost to our hotel in Jerusalem. Oh there is some good stuff coming up. The actual city of Jerusalem!! I can't wait! I hope you all stay with me!  The best is yet to be!