My Time in Jerusalem and The Blind Man- ME

Boker Tov and Marhaba Brother and Sisters.

I would like to start off my talk by sharing my favorite miracle that Christ performed. It is at the beginning of John 9:

1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 

2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 

3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 

6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 

7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

As many of you know, I studied abroad where I lived in Jerusalem for 4 months and it is an experience that has changed my life. I saw and met so many people that lived in the city where all of Christ’s miracles occurred but yet they did not have the full truth. One of the hardest things for me was not being allowed to talk about our faith. All I could say when asked questions was that I was Mormon and if they asked what that was I would say, “I am a Christian.” That was it; all further questions I had to refuse to answer. The church had signed an agreement saying there would be no proselyting in Israel in order to obtain the building permit required to build the Jerusalem Center. After the lease had been signed, one of the Israelis remarked, “We know that you are not going to proselytebut what are you going to do about the light in their eyes?” He was referring to our students who were studying in Israel. We may not be allowed to do active missionary work but that does not mean Mormons have not left a mark in the Holy Land.

My first full day in Jerusalem, I am walking in a small group of 10 students with one of the professors. There is so much to take in but we keep a fast pace as our professors try to tell us the main landmarks so we will be able to at least find our way back to the center when we are allowed to explore this city. All the store keepers come out greeting us students and the professors that they apparently know quite well saying, “Mormons, mormons, welcome! Here is my card, come visit my shop. I give good prices to the Mormons.” I keep thinking how do they know I am Mormon? I came to find out that this was a normal greeting for us. Throughout my stay in Israel we were consistently recognized as the Mormons, people knew who we were.

Later on I had the chance to sit down with the money exchanger and ask him, “How do you recognize the Mormons? Is it the backpacks, our dorky/frumpy clothes, or the fact that we are always in groups of 3 or more?” Aladdin’s response caught me off guard, “When I see you walk down the streets, I see the faces of angels.” It was then that I finally believed that this “light in our eyes” that I have been told about my whole life became real. There is a visible difference that others can see.

Many of you know Tal Segal, born Jewish and raised in Galilee who became Mormon when he moved to California at the age of 12. He happened to be visiting family while I was there. We ended up meeting at church in Galilee and after he filled me in on what was happening at home he told me that he missed being around Mormons. Then it was so easy, I told him to come to Jerusalem and visit us. One of the times he came he brought a friend, Eyal. Eyal is of Jewish nationality, atheist, and plays the piano very well, but that is a scarce talent in Israel because he took a 3 hour bus ride once a week to attend lessons in Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Center houses the nicest piano in all of Israel and holds weekly concerts open free to the public. So Eyal wanted so badly to see that piano; Tal and him came into the center and ate with all the Mormons kids, went to the concert, talked after, and then I wished them on their way... nothing too special in my eyes.

On a later visit with Tal he told me that Eyal had such a wonderful time. Eyal noted that all the students he met were so nice, accepting, and had something different about them. Eyal told Tal that he planned on coming to the states to see and asked him if Tal would take him to see Salt Lake, to see the beautiful temple and to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He loved listening to their music.

People ask me if I was ever scared for my safety while I was there. I never was, though the tension between the Jewish and the Palestinians was pliable. It reminds me of the division between the Nephites and the Lamanites; both had good righteous people and both had wicked people. I came to love both people, though most of my time was spent with the Palestinians because they were the people right outside our gate. These families were kind and generous welcoming us into their homes, making us dinners, handing their kids a few shekels to go buy soda to treat their guests, and never allowing us to leave without giving us something. These were my friends my family that I came to love.

My stay in Israel is almost over, only a few days remaining and Tal comes back to visit, we walk through the old city and he is greeted with, “Mormon, Mormon.” I had to leave him a bit early because a few of us students were throwing a Goodbye party for the JC students and for the Palestinians to come say farewell. I invited Tal to come but he felt uncomfortable with the idea of him being Jewish and being surrounded by Palestinians even though I told him that they would think of him as a Mormon especially if he was seen with us. He still declined saying that he had a friend there in Jerusalem that he would go see and then he would meet me back at the center for dinner. The party started and everything was going great, more people than I expected came, even some kids that I had not even met yet showed up to play games and eat some candy. A little later we played an american football game, the rules had to be taught because many of them had never seen a football unless it was on tv. I look up to see Tal walking down the hill, somehow one of the JC students had convinced him to come along. Tal didn’t play but watched from the sidelines and after the game we all talked like we had been friend for years.

Later at dinner I asked Tal what had changed his mind, he said that it took some twisting of his arm but he finally gave it. I teased him a bit and said, “Tal you came back with no harm done.” He chuckled a bit and replied, “Ya no harm done. They didn’t even realize I was Jewish until I told them my name and even then they still talked to me.” He talked about how when I had left him he walked down the streets and was called, “Mormon”. I explained that it was because he was Mormon, I told him what Aladdin had told me about how we have faces of angles, we have a light in our eyes that people see and welcome. He told me that he could tell that the people really loved me. I nodded and said ya they do and I really love them. Being a Mormon we are supposed to love everyone. Christ loved the weak, the strong, the Samaritans, the Jews, and the Romans. One of His final phrases, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” He is not a respecter of people. He does not love nationalities, He loves people, all of them. As a disciple of Christ I too must love people, all of them. Tal somewhat followed, but pointed out that there are terrorists that are Palestinians. Ya well there are also gang members who could kill me just as easily who are white. There are good and bad people all around, I would rather die knowing I did my best to love everyone than live fearing people. I want to share an email that Tal wrote me the next day: Shalom Cassidy, I wanted to say thank you so much for such an amazing day in Jerusalem. I seriously see life in a whole better amazing way that I never have before. Being raised in Israel always being told to be aware of my surroundings and to be cautious and not trust anyone on the streets- well all of that just evaporated from my life in an instant just because you helped me see things I never have. I say that if you were on a Mission right now - you totally just converted me because I felt the spirit so strongly that on the bus I had tears running down my face. I dont know how to explain it - I really cant but I feel like a new person now knowing new things. I told my mom about my day and I told her what you told me about the “Light in your eyes” and she said she believes about that light deeply and she knows a Mormon when she sees one only because of the Light in their eyes.

I want to end where I started, with the blind man:

–He stopped for me. 

On the corner of the street I lie with no sight-– 

At His feet I plea.

“Who did sin?” ask the three 

When they see my eyes clouded by forever night. 

–He stopped for me.

Astounded that I was chosen when you didn’t leave; 

My hands search for Him in my delight. 

At His feet I plea.

Spittle made from clay, and I believe; 

His thumbs anoint mine eyes, my wretchedness despite. 

–He stopped for me.

“Go wash in the pool of Siloam,” directs He. 

As I washed, came colors to my vision bright: 

At His feet I plea

Through His love He has made me free 

Never will I forget the man in White who showed me light. 

–He stopped for me. 

At His feet I will plea.

We are all blind. Whether they are Palestinians who are firmly set in their Muslim beliefs and all they see is a glimmer of light in the angel faces they see walking down the street, or an atheist who feels the light warming their souls through MOTab meeting and meeting some happy Mormon kids, or a convert who learns to set aside some past beliefs and take another step closer to becoming like Christ, or a girl who has been a member all of her life and is just now understanding the difference she can make by letting the light shine through her. Jesus stops for us all no matter our circumstances, He helps us all and brings us closer to Him with one step at a time.

I lived in Jerusalem and learned so much about Jesus and the miracles He performed and all the places He could have walked but most importantly I learned how to walk like Jesus walked. I learned to see people the way Jesus sees them and to Come and follow Him and to feed His sheep, all of His sheep.

I want to close with my testimony the first part being in Hebrew: Elohiem Tov Tameed...