Church History Tour

New

Church History Tour

9 Day Land Tour

06/07/2024 - 06/15/2024

Scott Esplin

Price

  • $2395 per person based on double occupancy for cash or check payments.
  • $2195 per person based on triple occupancy.
  • $2095 per person based on quad occupancy.
  • $3095 for single occupancy.
  • 3% fee if paying by credit card.

Tips

Several of you have asked about the tipping for the bus driver and guide. This is done at the end of each leg the tour (anytime during the last day per bus driver).
• Driver: A tip is required for the driver and we recommend the amount of $30 per person for the tour, split between 2 drivers.
• LDS Guide: This tip is not required; but it is appreciated. If you feel they did a good job and would like to thank them, this is the perfect way to do so.

Payment Schedule

  • $250 per person due at time of booking
  • Final Payment: Final payment is due three months before the tour departure date.

Cancellation Policy

  • If you cancel: Deposit is non-refundable; however, it is transferable to another guest on a new booking, traveling on the same tour date. After final payment, the full amount is non-refundable. If you cancel and you can find someone to take your spot, we will refund the deposit. If we have a waiting list, we will refund your deposit by placing someone in your spot.
  • If we cancel the tour for any reason: Deposit is non-refundable; however, it can be transferred to any other tour or kept as a future tour credit to be used at any time on one of our advertised tours (cannot be transferred to a cruise). The balance will be refunded or applied to a future tour as a credit.
  • The only way to avoid trip cancellation penalties is to buy trip cancellation insurance. If you are interested in the insurance, we can help you purchase it.

A minimum number of 29 passengers is needed for this tour to depart

Check Your Invoice Names: Please check to see that your names are spelled correctly. Your first and last names must appear as they appear on your passport for International travel and Driver’s License for domestic tours.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to the nature of this tour you must be able to climb stairs and walk unassisted at a moderate pace. 

Please note that minor changes to the itinerary may occur due to local conditions and to better accommodate our group.

New

Join Scott Esplin & Bountiful Travel on this unforgettable tour to Palmyra, Kirtland, Independence, and Nauvoo. The highlights of the tour are the Sacred Grove, Joseph Smith farm, historic Kirtland village, the Kirtland temple, Independence, Liberty Jail, Far West, historic Nauvoo, and the Nauvoo temple to name a few. You and your family will enjoy Scott  as he takes you to these historic places. We will stay in nice hotels all along the way, eating some of our meals at the hotels. We do meals at the hotels as we have found this to be a great way to allow for group interaction and better, quicker meals.

Itinerary

Day 1 : Fly to Rochester

June 7, 2024 (Friday)

You will depart this morning for Rochester, New York. Plan to arrive at the hotel before 7:00 pm as dinner is included at the hotel in the evening. Following dinner you will have a chance to get to know the group and tour director at our meet & greet. Meals : Dinner. Hotel: Hampton Inn and Suites Rochester/Victor You will depart this morning for Rochester, New York. Plan to arrive at the hotel before 7:00 pm as dinner is included at the hotel in the evening. Following dinner you will have a chance to get to know the group and tour director at our meet & greet. Meals : Dinner. Hotel: Hampton Inn and Suites Rochester/Victor

Day 2 : Palmyra - Sacred Grove - Hill Cumorah

June 8, 2024 (Saturday)

Today we will spend a full day seeing the sites in Palmyra. Our stops include the Sacred Grove, the Smith Family Farm, the rebuilt log home where Moroni’s visits took place, the Hill Cumorah, the Grandin Press (where the Book of Mormon was first published), and the Palmyra Cemetery. We will also visit Fayette where we will visit the Peter Whitmer farm. Here in Fayette, the Church was officially organized in the home of Peter Whitmer. It was also here the Three Witnesses saw and angel and the plates. Meals : Breakfast, Dinner at the hotel. Hotel: Hampton Inn and Suites Rochester/Victor

Day 3 : Harmony, Pennsylvania - Colesville - Susquehanna River

June 9, 2024 (Sunday)

After attending Sacrament meeting, we will travel to Harmony, PA and the Susquehanna River. Much of the translation of the Book of Mormon took place here. Also, this is where the Priesthood was restored and Joseph and Oliver were baptized. The sites include Joseph and Emma’s home, and the Isaac Hale home. On our way back to the hotel we will stop at Colesville, NY. Time permitting, we may visit the restored home of Joseph Knight. Hyrum Smith was the branch president of one of the church’s first branches here in Colesville. We will then return to hotel in the evening for dinner. Meals : Breakfast, Dinner at the hotel. Hotel: Hampton Inn and Suites Rochester/Victor

Day 4 : Niagara Falls

June 10, 2024 (Monday)

We check out and head toward Kirtland. On our way, we will stop at Niagara Falls, the oldest state park in the USA. We will board the Maid of the Mist boat which passes directly in front of the falls and enters Horseshoe Basin. This is a fun activity you don’t want to miss! After free time for lunch and shopping we travel to Kirtland, OH. Meals : Breakfast, Dinner at the hotel. Hotel : Holiday Inn Mentor

Day 5 : Kirtland

June 11, 2024 (Tuesday)

Today we will visit sites in the Kirtland area. The morning will begin with a visit to the Kirtland temple. It was here that the Savior appeared to Joseph and Oliver. Moses, Elias, and Elijah also appeared and restored the Keys of the Priesthood associated with the temple ordinances. We will visit the historic village of Kirtland, where we will see the LDS Visitor’s Center, the Newell K. Whitney home (where Joseph and Emma lived) and the Newell K. Whitney store (which included the School of the Prophets and where many revelations, including the Word of Wisdom were received). We will also see the reconstructed Kirtland Schoolhouse, the Kirtland Ashery, and a reconstructed water-powered sawmill. Following some free time for lunch, we will visit the Morley Farm where a home was built for Joseph when he moved to Ohio. In the late afternoon, we will also visit the Johnson Farm, where much opposition came to Joseph and where the Church periodical The Evening and Morning Star was published. Meals : Breakfast, Dinner, Mary Yoder’s Amish Kitchen. Hotel: Holiday Inn Mentor

Day 6 : Kansas City - Independence

June 12, 2024 (Wednesday)

This morning we will transfer to the Cleveland airport for a flight to Kansas City. Upon arrival, we will have a bus waiting for us to take us to Independence, where we will visit the LDS Visitors Center near the temple site in Jackson County. we will also visit the Liberty Jail where the Prophet Joseph spent several months while the Saints suffered severe persecution in Missouri. Meals : Breakfast, lunch. Hotel : Comfort Suites Independence

Day 7 : Adam-Ondi-Ahman - Far West - Nauvoo

June 13, 2024 (Thursday)

As we travel to Nauvoo we will visit the historic site of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and Far West where the name of the church was revealed. After arriving in Nauvoo we will visit the Joseph Smith homestead; the grave sites of Joseph, Emma, and Hyrum; the Mansion House; and the Red Brick Store. Meals : Breakfast, Dinner. Picnic in Nauvoo Hotel: TBA As we travel to Nauvoo we will visit the historic site of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and Farr West where the name of the church was revealed. After arriving in Nauvoo we will visit the Joseph Smith homestead; the grave sites of Joseph, Emma, and Hyrum; the Mansion House; and the Red Brick Store. Meals : Breakfast, Dinner, Picnic in Nauvoo. Hotel: Hampton Inn Keokuk

Day 8 : Nauvoo - Carthage

June 14, 2024 (Friday)

Our day begins with free time to browse through the many restored homes and buildings in Old Nauvoo, including the homes of Brigham Young, John Taylor, Heber C Kimball, Lucy Mack Smith and the Jonathan Browning Gun Shop. This afternoon we will travel the old road to Carthage to view a production of the Life of the Prophet Joseph Smith at the Visitor’s Center. Next, we will tour the jail itself where the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum were martyred. Meals : Breakfast, Dinner at Hotel Nauvoo. Hotel: Hampton Inn Keokuk.

Day 10 : St. Louis Airport - Home

June 15, 2024 (Saturday)

We will check out of our hotels this morning and have a farewell lunch before we depart for the airport. Meals : Breakfast, Lunch

Information

 

 

INCLUDED
8 nights hotel accommodations
Meals as specified in itinerary
Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach transportation
Taxes on included services
Internal flight from Cleveland to Kansas City (group flight)
Meal gratuities

 

NOT INCLUDED
Airfare to Rochester and home from St. Louis
Transportation from the Rochester airport to the Hotel
Meals not specified in itinerary
Items of personal nature
Trip cancellation and baggage insurance
Checked baggage fees
Bus Driver gratuities
Tips for the LDS tour director are appreciated but not required

Pricing

Price

  • $2395 per person based on double occupancy for cash or check payments.
  • $2195 per person based on triple occupancy.
  • $2095 per person based on quad occupancy.
  • $3095 for single occupancy.
  • 3% fee if paying by credit card.

Tips

Several of you have asked about the tipping for the bus driver and guide. This is done at the end of each leg the tour (anytime during the last day per bus driver).
• Driver: A tip is required for the driver and we recommend the amount of $30 per person for the tour, split between 2 drivers.
• LDS Guide: This tip is not required; but it is appreciated. If you feel they did a good job and would like to thank them, this is the perfect way to do so.

Payment Schedule

  • $250 per person due at time of booking
  • Final Payment: Final payment is due three months before the tour departure date.

Cancellation Policy

  • If you cancel: Deposit is non-refundable; however, it is transferable to another guest on a new booking, traveling on the same tour date. After final payment, the full amount is non-refundable. If you cancel and you can find someone to take your spot, we will refund the deposit. If we have a waiting list, we will refund your deposit by placing someone in your spot.
  • If we cancel the tour for any reason: Deposit is non-refundable; however, it can be transferred to any other tour or kept as a future tour credit to be used at any time on one of our advertised tours (cannot be transferred to a cruise). The balance will be refunded or applied to a future tour as a credit.
  • The only way to avoid trip cancellation penalties is to buy trip cancellation insurance. If you are interested in the insurance, we can help you purchase it.

A minimum number of 29 passengers is needed for this tour to depart

Check Your Invoice Names: Please check to see that your names are spelled correctly. Your first and last names must appear as they appear on your passport for International travel and Driver’s License for domestic tours.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to the nature of this tour you must be able to climb stairs and walk unassisted at a moderate pace. 

Please note that minor changes to the itinerary may occur due to local conditions and to better accommodate our group.

Headliners

New
Scott C. Esplin is a professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University, where he has taught since 2006. A native of southern Utah, he taught seminary for six years before completing masters and doctoral degrees at BYU and joining the faculty of Religious Education. He is the author of numerous books and articles on the Doctrine and Covenants and Church history, including an award-winning book on the restoration of Nauvoo. He specializes in religious tourism, pilgrimage, and twentieth century Church history. Dr. Esplin taught for a year at the BYU Jerusalem Center and has also led study abroad groups to Latter-day Saint historic sites. In addition to teaching, he currently serves as the publications director for BYU’s Religious Studies Center. He and his wife Janice are the parents of four children.
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Church History Tour - 9 Day Land Tour

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