Shining Light in Gaza

A Prayer for Latter-day Saints and Palestinian Christians

This essay is part of our Lent series posted under our Holy Days section. During Lent, we recognize our own inadequacies and our need for a Savior. We consider how our own acts of reconciliation with others can prepare us to be reconciled with God through Jesus on the cross. To receive more essays like this during the Easter season, please manage your subscription under your account and turn on notifications for Holy Days.

I am a Palestinian Christian living in the West Bank—and I have long had a strong affinity for my LDS brothers and sisters. This is my prayer. In Gaza, amidst the shadows of despair and genocide, the light of faith and compassion shines brighter than ever. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are well positioned to offer prayers in addition to tangible support, rooted in our deep commitment to peace, justice, mercy, and caring for the needy. As we labor in the long dark of winter, between the birth of Christ and His resurrection at Easter, we—Palestinian Latter-day Saints, Christian siblings, and peacemakers everywhere—encounter a resounding call to action, urging people of faith to take courageous steps to alleviate the suffering of all. 

The situation in Gaza is heartbreaking. Countless lives have been lost, families torn apart, and communities devastated by war and crushing occupation. Displacement, starvation, and poverty further compound the suffering. In the broader Palestinian context, especially in the West Bank, Palestinians endure severe restrictions on movement, military checkpoints, the denial of basic human and national rights, arbitrary detentions, home demolitions, land confiscations, settlement expansions, an apartheid system, and a persistent threat of violence, particularly from Israeli settlers. These harsh realities starkly contrast with the vision offered by President Spencer W. Kimball of a world where "love prevails" and all of God’s children live in harmony. How do we build such a world? 

Championing Palestinian Latter-day Saints, Christians, and Peacemakers Everywhere

Palestinian Christians, including the small yet steadfast community of Palestinian Latter-day Saints, are heirs to a rich heritage that traces its roots back to the time of Jesus Christ. They have maintained their faith through centuries of historical upheavals—from Roman rule, Byzantine rule, Islamic caliphates, Crusader kingdoms, Mamluk Sultanate, Ottoman rule, to British mandate, and now Israeli occupation. Deep historical and spiritual connections to the land and the teachings of Jesus Christ enrich their identity, making their resilience and struggle poignant.

May the resilient faith of Palestinian Christians in the face of adversity inspire Latter-day Saints to stand in solidarity and provide steadfast support across spiritual, moral, financial, humanitarian, economic, and political dimensions. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s reminder that our love for God must encompass love for our neighbors resonates as Palestinian Christians face targeted attacks on their churches, homes, lands, and families. Given that Bethlehem today remains a strong but shrinking Palestinian Christian minority, the unwavering faith of not just Palestinian Christians but all people who seek peace serves as a source of inspiration for the evergreen Christmas spirit. 

For example, Sahar Qumsiyeh, a Palestinian Latter-day Saint from Bethlehem, beautifully reflects on how Christ’s teachings sustain her amidst turmoil, guiding her toward love and forgiveness even as so many of her loved ones suffer without cause. Her testimony underscores the transformative power of faith, encouraging Latter-day Saints to embody Christ’s compassion in our response to their plight. She (and her brother Mazin who was recently nominated for a Noble Peace Prize) is a latter-day pioneer in so many enduring ways. 

The BYU Jerusalem Center, a proverbial shining light on the hill, also stands as a testament to the LDS Church's enduring connection to the Holy Land and its commitment to fostering mutual understanding and peace amid conflict. This institution, alongside the lives of all of its international students, staff, and members, reminds us of our duty to advocate for justice and reconciliation.

Answering the Call as Believers

Our mandate is to “erect Zion”—a bastion of peace, justice, and righteousness for all (Doctrine and Covenants 58:27). This requires more than mere prayers; it demands resolute actions steeped in unwavering faith and bold compassion. In the midst of conflict, every act of empathy and reconciliation and every prayer for peace becomes a beacon of hope in the darkness. Let us transcend barriers as Latter-day Saints and other Christians, Muslims, Jews, and peacemakers everywhere that we may cultivate understanding, live higher teachings, and nurture enduring peace.

As we reflect on the past Christmas seasons and Easter season to come, we remember the birth and life of the Prince of Peace, whose love and light came into the world to guide us through the darkest of times. “Perfect love casts out all fear” (Moroni 8:16), compelling us to bridge divides and establish a world where justice and compassion reign supreme, echoing Elder Holland’s words, “Our quest for peace begins within the sanctity of our own souls and hearts.” Such a quest resonates in Gaza, where each act of kindness and all expressions of solidarity heal wounds and ignite hope amid adversity, standing shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters of all stripes who live in historic Palestine, remembering that Christ’s love knows no bounds.

Can Latter-day Saints Serve as a Guiding Light for Gaza and the Middle East?

Such questions challenge us to live our faith boldly, to act with conviction, and to shine as beacons of Christ’s love in a world desperately in need of healing and hope. Gaza holds one of the oldest churches in the world, where prayers have endured through centuries of turmoil. It is also home to numerous Christian churches, schools, hospitals, and centers—a testament to the enduring faith and resilience of Palestinian Christianity. Could this land, with its rich heritage of faith, one day also welcome a new LDS temple? The Come Follow Me readings in the Doctrine & Covenants this year remind us that “the land of Zion will not be obtained but by purchase or by blood” (D&C 63:29), with the second option clearly ruled out by the previous verse that “Satan putteth... into their hearts...the shedding of blood” (D&C 63:28). As we contemplate the ways forward, let Saints everywhere continue to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Palestine, united in our pursuit of peace, justice, and compassion for all.

As we move through dark seasons, let us remember that Christ’s light and love can shine through the darkest of times, and we, as His followers, are called to be His hands in the world. Our actions, prayers, and compassion have the power to bring His peace into the hearts of all.

Jack Nassar is from Ramallah, Palestine, with a Master’s in Political Communications. He writes on the Palestine-Israel conflict and its impact. His work has appeared in The Baptist Standard, HK01, China Christian Daily, Baptist News Global, Christian Courier, and Christianity Magazine.

Art by Palestinian Christian and watercolorist Sophie Halaby (1906-1997). Learn more at https://dafbeirut.org/en/sophie-halaby.