“[I have] safely arrived in this place to dedicate and consecrate this land unto Thee, for the gathering together of Judah’s scattered remnants, according to the predictions of the holy prophets.” — Orson Hyde¹

Orson Hyde embarked on a historic mission to the Holy Land from 1840 to 1842 to dedicate the land for the gathering of the Jews, as prophesied in the Bible.² Despite originally being accompanied by John Page, Hyde made the journey alone after Page returned to the United States.^3,4 Traveling through Europe, Hyde finally reached Jerusalem, where he was deeply moved by the city's sacred history. On October 24, 1841, he ascended the Mount of Olives, which overlooked the former site of the Jerusalem temple, and offered a prayer dedicating the land for the return of the children of Abraham. Hyde then placed stones as a monument to mark the completion of his mission before beginning his journey back home.⁴

1. “Interesting News from Alexandria and Jerusalem,” Times and Seasons April 1, 1842

2. “Hyde, Orson,” josephsmithpapers.org

3. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 35, 425

4. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 36, 439-441