The Garden Tomb

This Shabbat I went with a few of my friends to the Garden Tomb where it is believed Jesus was crucified and buried. I live pretty close by it and have been there before, but it is just so amazing to me that I can spend my Sabbath afternoons at such a special place! What better thing could I do with my afternoon than read my scriptures at a place where the Savior may have been and where he suffered so much for all of us. By the tomb there is a place called Skull Hill (see the picture) that fits the meaning of Golgotha which is the place of a skull. Golgotha, or Calvary, is where Jesus Christ was crucified and hung on the cross. The traditional site of the tomb Jesus was buried and then resurrected in is at the Church of the Hol Sepulchre, which I havn't been to yet. But as most of the sites we see are not definite locations, just guesses based on facts found in the scriptures and other sources, it is not important whether this was the place it occured, what really matters is that it happened and that we believe it happened. I know that Jesus suffered and atoned for our sins and I know that if we repent we can return to live with him one day. The atonement is a wonderful gift, and I am so excited to study it with my class while I am here. We have been studying the Old Testament since I got here which has been really good because there are a lot of things about the Old Testament that I didn't understand. Now after learning about it and seeing many of the sites where battles and other events occured I definitely understand it a lot better and see how the gathering and everything fits into place with the New Testament and Book of Mormon. I am so excited to start the New Testament in two weeks to study about Christ's life and be able to see various places he was while here on earth.