Beauty in High Places

While in Israel, we saw time and again diverse and incredible views from high places.  I’m at a loss to try to decribe the vistas we beheld.  Even with pictures attached, I can't do them justice; but they need to be mentioned.  Ten of the most remarkable ones were:

• Mount Tabor looking out over the Jezreel Valley in one direction and looking out toward the City of Nazareth in another

• Mount Hermon in the northern most part of Israel 

This is from high up at the ski resort looking toward the crest.  On the other side of the crest is Lebanon.

• The Mount of the Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee

• Even higher and more impressive was the view from the lookout outside Tiberias  (Arbel) overlooking the Sea of Galilee

• Mount of Olives looking back toward Old Jerusalem and the Dome of the Rock

• The Old City looking toward the Mount of Olives across the Valley of Kidron

This picture is taken from a lookout off the highway between the Mount of Olives and the Old City.  

The BYU Jerusalem Center is on the far left outside the picture.

• In the Old City looking out over the City of David and beyond to Bethlehem

• The Judean Wilderness, barren and sterile rolling hills but beautiful in its uniqueness

Notice the contrast in these pictures.  The north was fertile and green; the south was dry and barren.  

• Masada which looks out over the Dead Sea

• Meggido (Armageddon) looking over the lush, fertile, open valley below where a great and final battle will occur

I grew up in the mountains and have experienced beautiful vistas, but never have I seen any like the ones in Israel.  It is a beautiful land, and according to prophecy will become even more beautiful in the future.

The Prophet Joseph Smith said in the Church’s general conference on April 6, 1843: “Judah must return, Jerusalem must be rebuilt, and the temple, and water come out from under the temple, and the waters of the Dead Sea be healed. It will take some time to rebuild the walls of the city and the temple, &c.; and all this must be done before the Son of Man will make His appearance.”