Mitt Romney may be the highest-profile Mormon to visit Israel but he is far from alone. Christians have traditionally dominated tourism to Israel and make up nearly two-thirds of visitors to the country, according to the Israel Ministry of Tourism, a figure that includes members of the Church of Latter Day Saints, or Mormons.
Although the Mormon church strongly encourages all of its 7.5 million members to complete a mission trip (a two-year, church-planned journey to spread their faith) in a foreign country, the many Mormon students, tourists and even politicians who visit Israel have sworn not to preach, or even pray. Rather, they’re there to learn about biblical history, the Jewish faith and Israeli culture.
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