Hostess to the World – Irene E. Staples

In the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, few women have had such a profound effect upon the world around her as did Irene Staples. Yet, few people in the church today would even know her name. Irene Staples was the first official hostess for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As official Church hostess, Irene’s testimony was heard by thousands of people from countries around the world. And although she may not be well known by members of the Church today the effect for good she had upon the Church, and upon the people with whom she came in contact, literally change the world in which she lived.

Her main assignment as the official Church hostess was to serve as a guide to the many guests and VIPs that came to Salt Lake City. She would also be available to government officials, businessmen, and friends and acquaintances that would all call Irene to meet and greet visitors that came from around the country and the world to visit Utah. As Church hostess, Irene worked seven days a week, 12 to 14 hours a day, and was on call day and night. Irene often entertained visitors in our home, sharing home cooked meals and homespun wisdom. At the end of the evening, no one left empty-handed… everyone was given a copy of the Book of Mormon.
Irene’s home away from home was Temple Square. It was most often here in the shadow of the temple spires, with the power of the spirit of God surrounding her, that she would do her best work. After the common greetings and pleasantries were completed, she would begin at the Seagull Monument. It was here she would meet individuals and groups to begin a tour she had perfected, memorized, and filled with insights and moving stories about Mormon people.

The story of both of Irene’s grandparents begins with the last prophecy of Joseph Smith, given to one of his bodyguards, Dan Jones, the night before Joseph and Hiram were killed by a mob in Carthage jail. Elder Jones was with the prophet in Carthage jail. After the others had fallen asleep, Joseph asked Elder Jones, “are you afraid to die?” Dan Jones responded with courage fueled by his faith, “has that time come?” It was then that the prophet spoke his last words of prophecy in mortality when he said, “you will yet see Wales and fulfill the mission appointed you before you die.” At the request of the prophet, Elder Jones left Carthage the next day to deliver a letter from Joseph to Orvil H. Browning. He was called several months later to go on a mission to Wales with his wife Jane. Among the thousands of converts that Elder Jones brought into the church were two families of importance to Irene, the Edwards and Davis families. John Edwards, Jr. and Gwennie Davis were Irene’s grandparents. Irene was born in 1905 and died at the age of 92 in 1998.
From volumes of journals, notes, correspondence, interviews and from many other sources of other information, Irene’s grandson, Kevan Kingsley Clawson, with the help from other family members, published Irene Staples life’s experiences in 2008.

Perhaps her greatest accomplishment was her involvement in the opening of Israel to the Church, and helping to obtain the land for the Orson Hyde Memorial Park that sits on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Of particular interest to those familiar with the work at Beit Lehi, was Irene’s involvement with Joseph Ginat and her intimate knowledge of the relationship that Joseph and his wife had with leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The following is copied nearly verbatim from the book published by her grandson as it pertains to Israel, Joseph Ginat, and the discoveries Beit Lehi. The entire book is worth the read!

In February 1971, Irene Staples was contacted by Prof. Joseph Ginat of Israel. Joseph was one of the first exchange professors to teach several semesters at the University of Utah. Consul General Moshe Yegar told Joseph Ginat to connect with Irene Staples and that she would take good care of him when he got to Utah. Irene had hosted Consul General Yegar on several occasions and he knew that Irene would take good care of Joseph and his family. Irene’s gift of the Book of Mormon to Joseph would have a profound affect upon Joseph and would lay the foundation for a spectacular revelation related to an archaeological find in the land of Israel. On February 24, 1971, Irene sent the following letter to apostle Mark E Peterson:

Last week I entertained Professor and Mrs. Joseph Ginat from Jerusalem. He is a guest professor at the University of Utah. The Consul General of Israel, Moshe Yegar, whom I have hosted here and who I still correspond with, recommended that they should get in touch with me. We had a most interesting evening, discussing our church with its beliefs and closeness with the Jews. Professor Ginat said, “I am very interested in your church, is it possible that I can learn more? Little did he know that had just asked Golden Question. I am arranging for church discussion to be given to them by Sherman Young, Cleon Skousen, and others.

It was due to one of these “coincidences” that God seems to put together, that a remarkable event came to light: the discovery of the cave of Lehi Southwest Jerusalem. The discovery of the cave and the revelation concerning its connection with the Book of Mormon, was a significant step forward in the relationship between the Church and Israel. Many Israeli visitors had come to Salt Lake City and felt the spirit that permeated Temple Square, but most seem to be waiting for something more — some sort of proof that what they had discovered in the Mormon church was really true. The proof was about to be revealed, and would send shockwaves throughout the Jewish community, especially since the connection between the cave of Lehi and the Book of Mormon was made by a Jew, Joseph Ginat. Irene described how her relationship with Joseph developed in her personal journal:

“Joseph Ginat, the Israeli Deputy advisor on Arab affairs to the Prime Minister of Israel, Golda Meir, has taken a two-year leave of absence to obtain his doctoral degree in archaeology of the Middle East. He is also an authority on ancient scripture in the Middle East and Middle East history.

Although well supplied with references to attend New York University including from many top government officials in Israel, including Golda Meir, Moshe Dayan, and others, he received an unexpected invitation from the University of Utah to both work on his doctorate and teach as well.

In 1970 the University of Utah had written to a University in Israel, and asked if there was a professor who would like to come in teach in the department of the anthropology and archaeology. Joseph Ginat was asked to fill this request, but he was not interested. He said that he had already made plans to go to New York University to not only teach but also to work on his doctorate. New York University had greater prestige and he had a cousin living in New York which would add interest to his being there. He added, “Where is Utah? I have never heard of the place. No, I am not interested. I have already made plans to go to New York.”

He awoke in the middle of the night when a voice spoke to him. Whether it was an actual voice, or the definite words in a dream, he does not know, but he was awakened by hearing a voice say: GO TO UTAH!” He became wide-awake and was quite overwhelmed and emotionally moved upon hearing this voice advising him to go to Utah. He knew he must go. He could hardly wait until morning, to go back to the University and tell them that regardless of where Utah was, he had changed his mind, he wanted to go to Utah!

He would later say, “Irene, I cannot say how this voice came to me, but I heard! It woke me up, and I knew I had to go to Utah. This is truly what happened—someone told me that I must go to Utah. I hope there is a purpose in my coming here.”

As Joseph Ginat began to read the Book of Mormon, he was touched by the spirit and almost immediately felt it was true. He expressed many times how it would be impossible for anyone to write the first seven chapters of the Book of Mormon had they not actually lived in the land of Palestine. These chapters describe the travels of Lehi and his family as they attempted to flee Jerusalem. In the process, they traveled back and forth to Jerusalem several times. Joseph was convinced that the descriptions of their travels were specific enough, and fit the terrain and profile of Israel so well, that it would be impossible for anyone to write these chapters without having a firm knowledge of the land of Israel.
After Joseph began to believe in the Book of Mormon both spiritually and intellectually, he happened to read an article that was about to change his life. He had recently purchased a new book concerning recent archaeological finds in Israel. One evening the wind coming in the window fluttered the papers and stopped at an article written by Frank Moore Cross, Jr. (an expert from Harvard on somatic cultures) concerning a recent discovery. While building a new road in the demilitarized zone between Israel and its southern neighbors, the Israeli military had discovered a cave with ancient writing on the walls. Cross interpreted the inscriptions as being written by a prophet fleeing from Jerusalem during the Babylonian invasion—the same period of time that the Book of Mormon claims the prophet Lehi and his family left Jerusalem.

This discovery started a chain of events established by Israeli law. If someone were digging the foundation for a new building or simply digging in the backyard garden, and happened across any ancient bones, pottery, graves, caves, etc., this meant that all work had to stop until archaeologists could be assigned to complete an excavation to determine its importance. Once the work of the archaeologists had been completed, the land or project would be returned to the owner. Because of these laws, as soon as the military discovered a cave with writing on the wall all work on the road was halted until research should be done on the cave.

As fate would have it, Joseph Ginat happened to read this archaeological paper shortly after reading the first few chapters of the Book of Mormon. It did not take long for him to put the pieces of the puzzle together. The paper said that it had been determined that the writing on the cave was dated back to 600 B.C. . . . the very same time the Book of Mormon claims Lehi and his family left Jerusalem! Irene describes Joseph and his feelings of revelation and discovery as follows:

During this time a most unusual experience happened. Joseph obtained a new book on archaeology for use in writing his thesis. After finding the chapter pertaining to the subject, he began to read when, all of a sudden, the papers turned over to a different chapter. This startled him and he wondered what it happened – but he began to read this new chapter.

As he read, it became so fascinating that he could not put it down. It told of a new archaeological discovery of a cave almost 23 miles south of Jerusalem. Archaeologists could read and interpret the drawings and inscriptions on the walls, but so far they were at a loss to know who or what people put them there! However, there were five things they had definitely established:

1. The drawings and inscriptions dated back to the time of Jeremiah, around 600 B.C.

2. They were not burial tombs but were temporary shelters, or places of refuge.

3. The drawings are of people and ships.

4. The name given by archaeologists to the cave site is “Ancient Dwelling of Lehi.”

5. There are three human figures with the inscriptions—one stands out from the other two.

The more Joseph read, the more excited he became. He stayed up all night reading and comparing the Bible, the archaeological books, and the Book of Mormon. He had come to the conclusion that this was the cave where Lehi’s sons escaped as described in I Nephi 3:27. “. . . and the servants of Laban did not overtake us, as we hid ourselves in the cavity of a rock.”

Later, Joseph called me at 5 o’clock in the morning and said, “Irene, I have to talk to you. I have discovered something. I have to talk to you immediately!”

Joseph, an archaeologist himself, discovered a connection between the story of Lehi in the Book of Mormon and the land of Lehi in Israel. While building a military road along the hill they broke into a cave. In this cave they found writings on the wall dating back to 600 B. C. They found sketches of sailing ships and wondered who in this mountainous area would be drawing ships. The writings were asking Jehovah to forgive them and to deliver them. The sketches were of three men – one man with his arms raised in the attitude of prayer. This cave is in the land of Lehi, about 20 miles southwest from Jerusalem.

Joseph said, Irene can you see the connection? You remember when Lehi sent his sons to get the records and Laban refused to give the records to them? How Nephi suggested that they go back to the land of their inheritance to get the gold and silver and precious things which had been left there when they had started on their journey? Nephi records that they took these precious things to Laban to buy the records, and when Laban saw these things he took them and sent his servants to kill Nephi and his brothers.

Joseph knows this area of Israel very well; it is in a direct line down to the Red Sea – to a place where the Bible indicates they built ships. The cave is south of Jerusalem and the Book of Mormon tells of them “going down” to the wilderness and up and down the notes north and south according to the customs of the Israeli speech. This, too, coincides with the area of the caves from Jerusalem.

According to Joseph, no one in this area or at this time would be drawing ships. They were too far inland and knew nothing or very little about ships, but would have drawn objects more familiar to them such as houses, animals, trees, etc.

In that time the people took their names from the places where they lived thus Lehi came from the land of Lehi. His sons knew this area, and when escaping to save their lives they naturally went to a hiding place with which they were familiar. It is interesting that Joseph says that Mormonism is the religion for the Jews, for the beginning of Mormonism was in Jerusalem itself! Commencing with father Lehi!
At the same time, discoveries were being made in South America that touched on a connection with Israel. One was the discovery of the tree of life Stela, the other a carving showing a Mayan King with the “Star of David” as an earring. This engraving was found in Mexico, proving that the Jews came to America. Joseph commented to me on this last discovery as follows:

Joseph has a different interpretation of the enclosed clipping from Desert News showing the figure of a man with the Star of David as an earring. The article states the design on the head of the man is a ship, showing that they came to this country in ships. However, Joseph says this is wrong. The design is a bird not a ship and denotes that this person is from the tribe of Joseph. As evidence, Joseph cites Genesis 40:17, a scripture telling of the interpretation Joseph made of the dream of birds eating from the baskets on the head. Since then, the “bird” is the symbol of Joseph, and any Israeli would say the same without question.’

In June 1971, Joseph Ginat spoke at BYU, giving a lecture concerning the connection of the Book of Mormon and the discovery of the Cave of Lehi in Jerusalem. On July 15, Joseph Ginat and I met again with President Harold B Lee. Joseph explained his belief that the cave near Jerusalem was the same came where Nephi and his two brothers hid when they fled from Laban’s servants. He also described the wall drawings of men and ships. President Lee was very impressed. Joseph suggested two things must be done: first, that a monument should be placed on the Mount of Olives in commemoration of Orson Hyde dedicating the land of Israel for the return of the Jews; and second, that a monument should be placed at the entrance of the cave, dedicating it to the Book of Mormon and the sons of Lehi.

In time, Irene would be instrumental in fulfilling the first suggestion. However, a monument was never placed at Lehi’s cave due to the location of the cave being in the demilitarized zone, but she would get the opportunity to see the cave herself several times.

Joseph Ginat was privileged to meet with President Lee several times. On one of these occasion, he was given a special blessing. Irene describes these visits, and the blessing Joseph received at the hands of the prophet:

When Joseph Ginat first came to Salt Lake and made the connection between the Book of Mormon and the newly discovered cave in Israel, I told President Lee about him. He asked me to bring him to his office, which I did. After the first brief meeting, we were asked to come back when there was more time. At the second meeting President. Lee asked, “Joseph, what do you think about Joseph Smith being a prophet?” Without hesitation, Dr. Ginat replied, “of course he was a prophet look at what he accomplished! He had to be a prophet!” Then President. Lee asked, “then what you think about the Book of Mormon being true?”

Dr. Ginat turned to him and said, “President. Lee, there are no words in the Hebrew or English language to fully express how I know the Book of Mormon is true! “Then President Lee asked, “well then, what do you think about Jesus Christ being the Messiah?” Joseph hesitated and then replied, “that is a little more difficult, but I am working on it!” I was there during the two meetings with President Lee. Many interesting scriptures were discussed relating to the Book of Mormon and the Jews.

At the invitation to meet with President Lee for third meeting, I told Dr. Ginat that I felt he should go alone, just he and President Lee to meet together. He hesitated, and then asked me if I would meet him right after the meeting, which I did. When Dr. Ginat walked out of the meeting over two hours later, I could tell from the look on his face that he had had a special experience. We sat down and he told me all the things he had talked about, and then how President Lee had given him a special blessing. In the blessing he was told that the Lord had brought him here for a special purpose. He had been raised up as an instrument in the hands of the Lord to accomplish a great work for his own people and for the Lord. He was like Peter of old, called of God! This blessing is very sacred to Joseph, and he rarely speaks of it. When he came out of the meeting, the first thing he said to me was, “Irene, I will never be the same! This day is a memorable day which I shall never forget! I feel that today is the beginning of great things in my life!”

Some Mormons, especially at BYU, say, “Why is Joseph doing this? Why is he trying to promote Mormon – Israeli tours, trying to get Mormon professors to teach in Israel, trying to get a student exchange program with the universities if it isn’t for the money? He has to be connected with a travel agency and get a commission!”

It is a terrible accusation to make, and how far from the truth! It is important for us to make friends with the Jewish people so that they may come to know about the restored gospel, and in the Lord’s own due time he will be able to fulfill our great work with the Jewish people!

When Joseph Ginat finally returned to Israel, the revelations concerning the connection between the cave of Lehi and the Mormon Church continue to expand. One of the most astounding stories told by Joseph about his connection occurred when he traveled to the cave of Lehi to inspect it for himself. While visiting the site Joseph spoke to a wandering Arab Bedouin who was very familiar with the area around the cave and relayed his understanding of the ancestral home of a prophet he called Lehi. Irene writes in her journal:

Last May, I was invited by the state of Israel to be their guest for a two-week visit to Israel. I had the privilege of being the first person from Utah to be taken to the land of Lehi and to see the remnants of this cave. I was also taken by Joseph Ginat to the top of the hill and shown the ruins of an ancient city. He pointed to an area and said, now look over there. Only last week I came up here. In fact, I can’t stay away from this area. And while here I met a Bedouin Shepherd who asked, “Why do you come here? No one comes out here! What is here that you are looking for?” I told him that I was interested in the people that lived in this area and asked him if he knew anything about them. “Oh, yes, of course,” the Shepherd replied, and then his sheep started to go over to an area surrounded by a stone wall. Immediately he shouted to his son to get the sheep away from there; that the animals should not graze in that sacred place.

Do you know his name? Joseph asked, “of course,” the Bedouin replied, “his name was the prophet Lehi!”

In October, Irene arranged a meeting between President Lee and a group of Jewish government officials, which included Joseph Ginat. The relationship between the LDS church and the state of Israel was maturing quickly. Soon it would be formalized, and the state of Israel would permit the Church to enter Israel and establish an official branch of the Church! And that would be just the beginning. Soon the Church would be permitted to lease land in Israel – something absolutely forbidden by Israeli law for any Christian religion – and permit them not only to build the BYU Jerusalem center on the Mount of Olives but create a state park dedicated to a Mormon apostle: The Orson Hyde Memorial Gardens!

In 1972, Irene had the pleasure of taking several Israeli government officials, including the Consul General, on her standard tour of Temple Square, lunch at the University of Utah, then to the granite mountain genealogical storage vaults. They were very excited and talked freely. They said that it was unbelievable, overwhelming and that they had something in mind. It was not long after this visit that the Church was allowed to make copies of the names of all who had been killed in the Holocaust.

The main reason the Consul General came to Utah was to extend a special invitation to the First Presidency to come to Israel, and officially open communications between the state of Israel and the Mormon church! This privilege had never been given to any Christian church before, as there are laws in Israel forbidding any religion to proselyte or lease or own any property in Israel.

As hoped, on April 12, 1972, three Israeli government officials met with the First Presidency of the Church and extended a formal invitation for the Church to come to Israel. Irene was present when they met in the General Authority reception room with the President of the Church, Harold B. Lee, and Elders Eldon N. Tanner, Gordon B. Hinckley, and Mark E. Peterson.

In May, Irene had a dinner party for the Ginat’s as they were leaving for their home in Israel. Those who attended included President and Sister Harold B. Lee, Elder and Sister Gordon B. Hinckley, President Ernest Wilkinson, Dr. Truman and Ann Madsen, Sherman and Harriet Young, Brother and Sister Green, and Brent and Helen Goates. They discussed the progress in the relationship between the Mormon church in Israel, and showed the film Ancient America Speaks just released by BYU.
In a letter written to Irene dated June 8, 1972, the current Consul General of Israel, Benjamin Abileah, wrote to express his thanks for what both the Mormon church and the state of Utah had done for the Jewish people, and to express his optimism for the future.

It seemed as though all of Irene’s Jewish friends were leaving for Israel. The Ginat’s had already left and now Moshe Yegar, Irene’s first and perhaps most significant contact with Israel, was going home after living for six years in the United States. He wrote Irene a letter on July 13, 1972 to express his gratitude for her friendship.
All of this activity with Israel was to culminate in the state of Israel inviting President Harold B. Lee to come to Israel and be permitted to organize the first branch of the Church in the holy land. On September 12, 1972, Pres. Harold B. Lee, Gordon B. Hinckley, and their wives honored the invitation given them by the Consul General of Israel to visit their land. Upon their arrival they were met by Consul General Moshe Yegar and many other government officials that Irene had hosted when the Consul General had visited Salt Lake City.

On September 20, 1972, the first branch of the church was established by President Lee and Elder Hinckley in Israel with David Culbreth as branch president. Irene made this note in her journal about the event:

President Lee assured the minister of religion that our Church would not come to Israel and proselyte underhandedly, and that we would not interfere with them and their religion. He later told the LDS group that proselyting in Israel would be different than ever before, but the time would come when we would be able to do so.

Future events stemming from this momentous beginning included the organization of the Israel district in 1977, the dedication of the Orson Hyde Memorial Garden on the Mount of Olives in 1979, and the dedication of the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies on Mount Scopus in 1989.

Because of Irene’s close relationship with Israeli diplomats, diplomats continued to use Irene as their contact, even after the Church had officially been recognized by Israel. This was criticized by many within the Church community as they felt that Israeli diplomats were not working through proper Church channels and complained that that Irene was the only person they would deal with. Irene found this humorous as did the Brethren.