Terra Sancta Monastary & Orson Hyde Door
September 29, 2009
“…At 10am I met Pres. & Sis. Okiishi just outside the New Gate. President had invited me to meet a Franciscan Monk from the Philippines who they met at some sort of service banquet. Just outside the Franciscan Monastery Father Angelo met us and toured us through the beautiful monastery which he called, “a city within a city,” and he was right. They have their own carpenters, cooks, cleaners, tailors, etc. He first took us to their chapelwhere someone was playing some amazing music on their new organ. To our surprise it was our very own organist Brother Walter Whipple (He’s friends with their ‘Master Organist’). Father Angelo comically asked him to play the, “dun, dun…dun dun dun dun” song (Phantom of the Opera) which he kindly did even with the few surprised worshippers inside. My very favorite part of the tour was visiting the tailor room where there is an old room guests had stayed the nigh for jundreds of years. Just inside is a very old door with a bunch of very old carvings of guests who carved their names. The oldest was from the 1600s but to my surprise, Father Angelo pointed out a special one from a documented guest – Orson Hyde – where he carved on the lower left his last name, “HYDE.” That was so cool to see and touch!! To think he was there all those years ago was amazing to a history guy like me.” “Another amazing thing was when he took us to a little hidden museum and let me handle very old and elaborate hymn books from the 1500s. I was able to turn the huge and thick canvas pages and touch the golden designs! Cool! He also took us to the roof which overlooked the Old City where you could see the dome of the Church of the Holy Sepluchre, the golden Dome of the Rock, and the Mount of Olives all in one shot. Needless to say, it was an amazing experience. Father Angelo is an amazing person (convert to the faith, forsook millions of dollars to dedicate his life to God, and speaks 5 languages fluently) who loves the Mormons…” For more on Orson Hyde click here. Church Organ (Played by Brother Whipple)Orson Hyde DoorOther Areas of the Monastary |