Mount Tabor

This is the tel where Gideon led his army to the spring. He determined who would continue with him by the way the soldiers drank from the spring. Loved it :)

Today was a beautiful, wonderful, BUSY day! But I loved every site we were able to visit.

First stop: Mount Tabor (Traditional site of Mt. of Transfiguration)

The bus ride up was suuuuper steep and I got really car sick but the view at the top was so worth it. :)

This is a Fransiscan Catholic Church that was built in the early 1900's to dedicate to the scripture in Mathew 17 (talking about tabernacles) dedicated to Peter, James, John, and Jesus but specifically Mosas and Elijah.

There is a lot of controversary of whether Mt. Tabor or Mt. Hermon is the site where Christ was transfigured. President Kimball came in 1979 and said Mt. Tabor was "the place", but it makes more sense in the scriptures for Mt. Hermon to be the place. We will visit Mt. Hermon on Wednesday. I've pretty much learned by now that every site we visit I just have to imagine the events taking place there. Too much controversy in this world and I'm content waiting to find out the final say for when I can ask Him personally.

There are two rooms on the side of the church. One dedicated to Mosas and one to Elijah.

After visiting and singing hymns in the chruch, we went outside to have a devotional overlooking the valleys and hills. Brother Anderson gave a wonderful devotional where I learned 3 really important things that happened on the Mount of Transfiguration:

1) Keys were restored

2) They saw the Earth as a transfigured state

3) This was probably a "temple experience" for Peter, James, and John. They also received the more sure word of prophesy that Christ would be crucified in 6 months.

I really thought about how Peter denied Christ and always questioned why God would keep an apostle who would later deny Him. I had some time alone after the devotional, so I searched the scriptures for an answer to my question. Christ repeatidly said for Peter to do so out of safety and continually said, "You will deny me." After reading this, I have realized it was all in the plan before the Earth was created. Somehow, death had to happen for Christ to atone for the world. The apostles doubted He would die, even after the mount of Transfiguration experience. They struggled with this idea and they couldn't believe or accept it until after it happened. They struggled because they were mortal, they still had temptation, and they had an infinate love for their friend, Jesus Christ. Brother Anderson told us there is not a lot written about the Mount of Transfiguration because of the sacredness of events that took place. It is one of the 4 times in the scriptures that Heavenly Father speaks to his children. So super special place for me to ponder, think, write in my journal, read scriptures and save the gorgeous view in my head to remember forever. I just couldn't get over the fact that I was at THE mount of transfiguration. It was a wonderful experience.

Next stop: Tel Mageddo

"The capturing of Megiddo is the capturing of a 1,000 cities!" -Tutmosas III

Then becuase we were such a great group and on time for everything, we were able to visit Tel Jezerel, which is the site where Jezebel was eaten up by the dog in fulfilling the prophesy of Elijah. (2 Kings 9:30-37) Such a beautiful site!

XOXO, alyson :)