Friday, November 19, 2021

The LDS Church's relationship with the Jewish Officials

First of all, we need to look at what the current proselytizing laws are in Israel.

Additionally, Covid19 has thrown a monkey wrench into everything, and now, no non-Israeli Citizen may enter Israel, without full vaccination, unless special permission is granted.  (As of Nov. 2021)

1.  ISRAELI LAWS RE: SHARING {NON-JUDAISM} BELIEFS


There are a couple of links below if you would like to read more about Israeli laws in regards to Missionary work in Israel. They do have limitations, but it's not illegal to share your beliefs as long as it is within certain parameters. There is also freedom of religion in Israel. Note that, the United States is not Israel. Thus, people or organizations which are independent of the LDS Church, theoretically could share the gospel with Jews or other people in Israel, within the parameters of what Israeli laws allow.  The LDS church has signed agreements in the past to not proselytize, and to restrict most Temple ordinance work for deceased Jews.  These LDS-BYU agreements last for years.

There are groups in Israel that "share" the Good News and gain interested Jewish and Arab people, more than 30,000 souls now have come to Yeshua - Christ. However, it is this ministry's hope that American Mormons will get prepared on their own, to share with their Jewish friends, wherever they may be, here or abroad.


 
 
2. WHAT IS THE LDS/BYU AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL?  TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE BYU CENTER IN JERUSALEM.
 
 

















https://jerusalemcenter.ce.byu.edu/sites/jerusalemcenter.ce.byu.edu/files/non-proselytizingagreement.pdf


Yes, it is a beautiful complex. Ultimately it is the Word and Spirit of God, which bring a soul to higher spirituality.  Not the building itself.


1988 + 49 years =2037 CE. Nothing in terms of the Mormon restored gospel via the LDS Church, officially shared, for another 16 years (as of 2021). If they renew the lease, then it will be even longer with no direct sharing of the message, ...or else the Israeli government needs to change their mind about proselytizing.  This would include other Jewish authorities too. 

If you wish to read about the BYU Center situation from a Jewish perspective (from the 1980s), read
 
The LDS Church used to have a not-well-known pilot missionary program in just a few areas in the USA-- it abruptly ended around the time that the BYU Center was built.  They also discontinued printing of a Hebrew Book of Mormon, likely sometime in the last 10 years.  The LDS Church does engage in some interfaith activities with Jews, such as inviting Jewish leaders to LDS temple open houses.  There is also some scholarly exchange, mainly BYU research, and things like that.
 
The facts speak for themselves.  Those are the agreements that the LDS leadership made in light of Media/Political/Religious Jewish response (or threats of lawsuits). 

Here's a link to the 1995 agreement made in terms of proxy baptisms for Jewish deceased.  

Do you think that the Lord wants us to wait until circumstances are perfect to share the fullness of the gospel with the Jews?  Regular Mormons can choose to share their beliefs.  Regular Jews can make their own decisions too.  Free choice is given to human beings.
 
 

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