A Temple for Jerusalem

     As quoted by Givens, devout Jews of today express this yearning for the temple three times a day with this prayer: “Find favor, O Lord our God, in our people Israel and in their prayer, and restore the Temple service to the innermost chamber of our House.  May you accept Israel’s burnt offerings and prayer with love and grace, and may the service of your people Israel be ever pleasing to you.  May our eyes see your return to Zion in mercy.  Blessed are you, O Lord, who restores your presence to Zion.” (Jon Levenson, Sinai and Zion: an Entry into the Jewish Bible, San Francisco, Harpers, 1985, 181.  Cited by Terryl Givens, 2nd Nephi, a Brief Theological Introduction, Provo, Maxwell Institute, 2020, 33)\
    After nearly two millennia of absence and wandering and persecution, the Jews were restored in 1948 to at least a portion of the land of their father Abraham’s inheritance, including the capital city of their ancient homeland. Now, some 74 years later, their prayers still petition God for the second critical feature of their promised land of Zion– the temple.  We would say to them, “Listen to the next conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ, and pay particular attention to the announcements by the Prophet Russell M. Nelson.  Your day may soon come.”  May I add, "along with Elko, Nevada, Casper, Wyoming, and Bentonville, Arkansas."