October 19, 2007

Brandon Seegmiller
19 Oct 2007
Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, the same traditional site as the Garden Tomb where Christ was interred, feels like such a holy place. When I went there with a group, I didn’t expect so many crowds. It seemed like entire congregations had arrived at the site to partake communion, sing hymns and enjoin celebration for Christ’s resurrection. I enjoyed it actually. Some hymns were familiar, some not, but I knew that all the people were there for the same reason as I: to visit a tomb to see a tomb in which nobody has found anything at all. Of course we didn’t expect to find something because we already knew that it represents a Man who left His tomb millennia ago.
As much as I enjoyed Bro. Huntington’s teaching and perspectives on Palestine, I hope Dr. Musallam will be back to teach us soon. One of the biggest motivators for me to come here was the exposure I knew I would have to the Arabic side of this conflict in the Holy Land. We watched a short video parody of the conflict titled “West Bank Story.” There was much rejoicing.
I found interesting how Bro. Ludlow taught us to understand the counsel given to Isaiah in chapter 16:8-12. The Lord gives him an assignment to teach the people in such a way that they do not understand. Only a select few would have their eyes opened and ears enlightened, their hearts softened and minds converted. Christ’s simply parables were told so simply that only the humble would understand. Isaiah elected poetry as a language complex enough that anyone’s ability to understand is rendered inept unless they are converted and filled with the Spirit, which teaches all things.
What I learned from Bro. Ludlow about Isaiah is that three class periods in a single semester are not even remotely adequate to cover the symbolic poetry of that prolific prophet properly. I am definitely sold on the idea of enrolling in his class where I anticipate the Writings of Isaiah will be profoundly unfolded during an entire semester. I definitely appreciate having read every chapter of Isaiah in a matter of days. In any other circumstance, the book of Isaiah would have taken me weeks if not months. This leads into the significant experience I’ve had here.
The highlight of my experience here has definitely been reading the Old Testament in its entirety. Having never read the book cover to cover, as it ought to be read, I determined that I would read it while in the land where the events took place. The class demands far less than this, so a lot of free time has been well spent on this goal. It is not yet finished, but I am well on my way. It would seem like perusing so much material so quickly would be impractical at best, but this has given me a perspective on the stories I would have missed had if I studied them any other way. I’ve been recollecting what it was like to read the Book of Mormon in six days as a missionary under Pres. Pinegar’s direction. Personally, I almost doubted that it could be done, but I’m glad that I completed it. The repetition strikes me far more unmistakably when the scriptures are poured into my mind at that rate. Page 23 of Preach My Gospel also suggests, as it has been thus for me, that completing as much reading as possible in so short a time brings the big picture to light, so in my future in depth studies of the books the fruits of the old testament scriptures will be plain to see.