the similarities and the common bonds of brotherhood.

Both the Jews and Arabs are children of our Father. They are both children of promise, and as a church we do not take sides. We have love for and an interest in each. The purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to bring about love, unity, and brotherhood of the highest order (Howard W. Hunter, “All Are Alike Unto God,” Ensign, June, 1979, pp. 72–74).

I grew up in a U.S. and Mormon culture that strongly identified with the house of Israel, of which Latter-day Saints (LDS) consider themselves a part, and the Jewish settlement of the land of Palestine. The part of LDS theology that classifies us as part of the tribes of Israel seemed to be very importantside of Hebrew University, I turned left to drive around the east side, adjacent to a small Palestinian village. A group of boys appeared on the side of the road and started to throw rocks at my car. A big rock came through the driver’s side window and hit me on the shoulder. Broken glass hit the side of my face and arm.

After driving out of this frightening and aggravating situation, spending time at the hospital having glass cut out of my face and arm, and a day of recovery, I decided I needed to get more information from my assailants. I visited the mukhtar (village chief) and told him of my experience. He knew I had been doing training programs for the East Jerusalem Community Center and