Morris Murdock Escorted Tours

Alexander L. Baugh is a professor and former chair of the Department of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University, where he has been a full-time faculty member since 1995. He received his BS from Utah State University and his MA and PhD degrees from Brigham Young University.

He specializes in researching and writing about the Missouri period of early Church history (1831–39). He is the author, editor, or co-editor of twelve books, including three volumes of the Document series of The Joseph Smith Papers (Documents, volumes 4, 5, and 6).

Allan completed a bachelor’s degree in cultural geography and international relations at the University of Utah, and a master’s degree and a doctorate degree in college and university administration at Brigham Young University.

Dr. Alonzo L. Gaskill was reared in Independence, Missouri (as a practicing member of the Greek Orthodox Church). His grandparents came to the United States (from Greece) at the turn of the 20th century, and he was reared in a traditional Greek home in the heart of what early members of the Church called “Zion.”

Converting to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during his college years, Alonzo served a full-time mission to Great Britain one year after his baptism. Upon returning from his mission, he decided to change his career path—dropping his longtime dream of being a mortician (no kidding) for a career teaching religion. He earned degrees in Philosophy, Theology/World Religions, and Biblical Studies, and has taught Seminary and Institute, but has spent the majority of his career as a professor of World Religions at Brigham Young University.

Anthony Sweat is a Latter-day Saint religion professor. He is the author of several books such as The Holy Invitation and The Holy Covenants, Repicturing the Restoration, and Seekers Wanted. He received his PhD in education from Utah State University and is a regular speaker at various church conferences. He and his lovely wife Cindy are the parents of seven children.

Blair G. Van Dyke is a full-time instructor at the Orem Institute of Religion adjacent to Utah Valley University. He earned his BA in English literature from BYU in 1989. At that time he was hired to teach in the Church Educational System (CES) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Van Dyke took a Masters of Education degree in 1992, and a Doctor of Educational Philosophy in 1997, both from BYU. His dissertation, "Education in an Autonomous Palestine: Palestinian Perspectives," explores the emergence of an independent Palestinian educational system after centuries of colonialism.

Brad Wilcox is a professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Brigham Young University where he also enjoys working with such programs as Especially for Youth, Women's Conference, Campus Education Week and Time Out for Woman. He is the author of the books, The Continuous Atonement and The Continuous Conversion, and the BYU devotional, "His Grace is Sufficient."

I grew up in a family that had the opportunity to travel quite often. My father worked in the airline industry so we were able to take family trips every year to Hawaii, Mexico, or other great destinations. When I was 16 my father and I had the opportunity to travel to Kenya, Africa on a wildlife safari. I was so amazed to see all of the different animals in their natural setting and surroundings. I think at this point in my life I was hooked on travel! I started working at Beehive Travel in 1988 delivering airline tickets while attending college. After graduating from BYU with a B.S. in marketing, I decided to stay in the travel Industry with Morris Murdock. I have been blessed to be able to travel to so many different areas of the world and to experience different cultures, different life styles, and remarkable scenery.

Bruce Newbold has been many things throughout this career including an actor, writer, film director, media producer, husband, father, and now grandfather. His favorite is “grandfather!”

While working in Hollywood, he has guest or co-starred in television programs such as Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, Touched by an Angel, Highway to Heaven, Tour of Duty, Major Dad, Everwood, and Father Dowling Mysteries.

Chad S. Hawkins began his series of temple artwork in 1989, at the age of seventeen to support his two-year mission in Frankfurt, Germany, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon his return in 1993, he continued with his artwork while pursuing his education of becoming a dentist. Just prior to his application to dental school, Chad realized that he would be sacrificing his art career to the discipline required in dental school. It was at that time that he made the adjustment from being a zoology and chemistry major to an art major, graduating from Weber State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Dr. Craig James Ostler and his wife, Sandy, have a special love for sharing sacred and meaningful sites with fellow travelers. They help others to feel the power of being on site as they read, study, and ponder the scriptures on their tours. Participants return home with increased appreciation and understanding of the lives of the Savior, prophets, apostles, and every-day people, ancient and modern. Dr. Ostler has been a religious educator for more than 40 years, teaching with the Seminaries and Institutes for 15 years and as a Professor at Brigham Young University for 28 years. He has authored over 30 books and articles, produced more than 50 videos, as well as taught Adult Religion classes and at BYU Education Week. He was co-director of the BYU Church History Travel Study program before retiring from BYU in 2020. He has served on a General Church Writing Committee, as a Bishop, and on three High Councils.

Dann W Hone has nearly 50 years of travel to the Near East and is one of the founding members of the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies. He held virtually every position at the Jerusalem Center, including Academic Coordinator where he was responsible for training and teaching all Jerusalem Center faculty in history, archaeology, geography, and scriptures. His studies include 13 modern and ancient languages and scripts. Dann lived in Israel for many years and received his graduate degree in Biblical History/Historical Geography from the Jerusalem University College.

Dean Garner's educational experiences reflect a great love of learning and of ancient history. He earned a bachelor’s degree in art, with an emphasis in education and photography, from Weber State University in 1987. He received a master’s degree from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focusing on curriculum development in education. His graduate work was performed at the University of Arizona in Near Eastern studies, with an emphasis in archaeology. His experience with the Holy Land has been a lifetime pursuit in and out of formal settings, developing into a great interest in Holy Land peoples and other ancient cultures.

Dr. L. Dean Marriott has taught the Life of Jesus from Holy Scripture to thousands of students at BYU, Univ. of Utah and other colleges for over 30 years. His love of the scriptures and knowledge of biblical locations enables him to present a powerful and unique holy land experience for the many travelers on the tours he directs.

His well-planned itinerary is not a typical drive-by tour of the holy lands. It attempts to provide interactive scriptural experiences by (1) placing participants at the actual scriptural settings of events in the sequence they were experienced by Jesus, (2) staying at on-site guesthouses (in Galilee at water's edge, and inside old Jerusalem adjacent to the wailing wall, etc.), (3) walking in the very pathways of Jesus (down the Mt. of Olives into the Old City, then following his footsteps from the pavement stones where he was scourged to the crucifixion site at Golgatha then to the Garden Tomb, etc.), (4) experiencing special settings (including a twilight devotional at Bethlehem's shepherd's field, a Passover style meal in an upper room inside the old city, followed by evening reflection in the Garden of Gethsemane). Other Bible events shared at appropriate times.

Dennis Leavitt married Nykele Gagon in 1985. They are the parents of 4 children and 4 grandchildren. Dennis was employed by the LDS Church Educational System from 1985 – 2011. His assignments included the MTC, various seminaries and institutes of religion, EFY, and adult religion. He was also part of the S&I Curriculum and Training Team from 1995-2000.

The Leavitt’s have been directing tours for the past 25 years to the sacred sites of the Restoration and the Holy Land. His knowledge, focus, and comfortable teaching style help make each trip a meaningful adventure for every participant.

With a professional background distinguished by public service and community involvement, Doug Wright has long been recognized as a rational, dependable voice on a myriad of local and national topics. Most of his over 40 years in the broadcast industry have been spent at KSL Radio in Salt Lake City where listeners depend on his knowledge of worldwide political and current events to keep them informed. Each Friday morning Doug hosts the ever-popular KSL Movie Show, featuring movie reviews and entertainment topics.

Dr. Brady Allred is Artistic Director and Conductor of the Salt Lake Choral Artists, an organization of seven choral ensembles. Honored as “one of Utah’s Top 25 Cultural Power Brokers,” he has guest conducted, adjudicated, and given master classes throughout Europe, Asia, South America and the Middle East. He is a winner of the European Grand Prix, two First Prizes and the Conductors Prize at the Marktoberdorf International Chamber Choir Competition, and holds MM and DMA degrees in conducting from the Eastman School of Music. Prior to his full-time appointment as Artistic Director of SLCA, Dr. Allred was a Professor at the University of Utah and Duquesne University, Conductor of the Butler Symphony Orchestra, the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh, and a singer with the Robert Shaw Festival Singers and Oregon Bach Festival Chorus.

Gerrit J. Dirkmaat is an assistant professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University. He received his PhD in American History from the University of Colorado in 2010 where he studied nineteenth-century American expansionism and foreign relations. His dissertation was titled “Enemies Foreign and Domestic: US Relations with Mormons in the US Empire in North America, 1844–1854.”

He worked as a historian and writer for the Church History Department from 2010 to 2014 with the Joseph Smith Papers Project and served as a volume editor/historian for Documents Volume 1, the lead historian/volume editor on Documents Volume 3, and as a historian/editor on Administrative Volume 1, Council of Fifty, Minutes. He continues to work on the Joseph Smith Papers on the forthcoming Documents Volume 8.

Dr. Henry "Hank" Smith grew up the son of a golf professional in sunny St. George, Utah. After earning a Bachelor's Degree from Dixie State University, he earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Utah State University. Most recently, Hank completed his PhD at Brigham Young University where he now works as an instructor.

In addition to his work corporate training and education consulting, Hank enjoys speaking at assemblies for elementary, junior high, and high schools around the country.

Hany Tawfik has been escorting groups in Egypt since 1987. He holds a Master’s degree in Egyptology and is an international lecturer in his field. He was awarded the title of Egyptian Ambassador of Tourism in 2007 and was the President of the Tourist Guides Union of Alexandria from 2007 until 2014. He is THE top guide in Egypt and has led a large variety of distinguished visitors including President Barak Obama, Prince Henereck (Prince of Denmark), and many other presidents, royalties, ministers, and prime ministers. Hany is a cherished friend as well as being fun, charming, and incredibly intelligent with his descriptions of the sites visited makes all his tours unforgettable.

They met while attending high school in Mesa, Arizona. They married and began their creative lives together while raising 3 kids in Arizona. They currently live and create art together in their shared Utah studio. They are passionate about creating community and traveling together. They have planned and hosted various workshops, and artist retreats and have led tours for universities, artists, and other private groups. They have a passion for Europe and are excited to share their love of art and travel with you!

Jared and Margaret Ludlow love to travel together and experience new places, foods, cultures, and sacred sites. They both love the scriptures and try to appreciate not only their teachings, but the people and places in them.

They have spent two years in the Holy Land with Jared teaching study abroad groups there. They have loved sharing the Holy Land and many other travel experiences with their five children.

After a 16-year career in the exciting winter sport of bobsled, author, speaker and historian Jeremy C. Holm now finds himself traveling the world to share the experiences of America's World War II-era soldiers, sailors and airmen.

"After spending so many years telling my own bobsled story and showing my gold medals, it is an honor and a pleasure to get to share their stories and display their medals," Jeremy says. "We owe so much to The Greatest Generation and while it was a privilege to wear a uniform with 'United States' on it, it was nothing compared to what they did on the islands in the Pacific, on the beaches of Normandy, in the sands of Africa and on oceans around the world and the skies above."

Jeremy is the author of three books on the 11th Airborne Division in World War II, frequently lectures at military museums across the nation, and serves in the 11th Airborne Division Association. His YouTube videos have brought a deeper understanding of the airborne arm of America's military during World War II, especially for his grandfather's 11th Airborne Division. Before his passing at age 99, Jeremy had promised his grandfather, 1LT Andrew Carrico, that he would do all he could to tell the story of the 11th Airborne. After over a decade of interviewing the last living Paratroopers and troopers of this division, Jeremy has expanded his knowledge and understanding of World War II to include the European Theater, especially D-Day, as well as the entire Pacific Theater and the North Africa Campaign.

Jim grew up in Utah where he learned to love nature and the outdoors. After realizing his true passion is travel, Jim left a successful career to become and International tour guide and photographer; he hasn’t looked back. Though his tours span the world, he finds the wildlife and sense of adventure offers to be unparalleled, featuring much of it in his photography. When he isn’t abroad Jim lives in Salt Lake City with his wife Carol. He also enjoys spending time with his seven grandchildren.

Joel Judd was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and grew up in West Point, Utah before graduating from Davis High School. He served an LDS mission to New England under President Truman G. Madsen.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History, Sociology and Psychology at Weber State College in 1970, and received a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology from BYU in 1975. Since that time he has been a student of Biblical Hebrew, ancient Near East History, and Geography of the Holy Land.

John August Valletta has served as associate director of the Weber Institute of Religion. He and his wife, Melodee Ann Prows Valletta, live in Utah.

Jonathan Brinley is a professional religious educator with over 25 years of teaching experience and has been a regular speaker for Especially for Youth. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Near-Eastern Studies including a semester in Israel and later received a master’s degree in education. He and his wife, Denise, are the parents of seven children.

Kay Godfrey is a period historian of the life of the prophet Joseph Smith.  

He is a graduate of Brigham Young University.  He holds degrees in Historic Archaeology and Anthropology as well as Law Enforcement and Justice Administration.

He has studied and researched the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith for over 45 years.  He has done extensive “on-site” research in New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri.  He has spoken to the issue of the “Trials of the Prophet Joseph” at numerous symposiums in Nauvoo, Il. and Independence, Mo. He has edited books and videos for various authors on the historical accuracy of materials pertaining to Joseph Smith.  Kay serves on numerous boards and foundations such as Ancient American Archaeology, Missouri Mormon Frontier Foundation, the Foundation for Indigenous Research and Mormonism and the Nauvoo, Illinois, and Topsfield, Massachusetts Historical Societies.

Ken served as a Mission President of the Cleveland Ohio Mission and has been a seminary and Institute teacher for 40 years. He will tell you that one of his passions is Church History and it is one of his favorite subjects to teach. He earned his Computer Science degree at the University of Utah and his MBA at the University of Phoenix.

They both enjoy the privilege of teaching the gospel at the location where sacred experiences occurred. They have conducted Church History and American History tours through the east and mid-west as well as directing pioneer trail workshops. They have enjoyed traveling throughout Europe and the Holy Lands.

They both love teaching and gardening. They currently love in the San Diego area and have seven children and 13 grandchildren.

I am probably best known as the “Getaway Guru®” and host of the “Travel Show” radio broadcast on several radio stations. The weekly two-hour radio show highlights the best travel deals, lowest airline and cruise fares, and takes call-in questions from listeners. I also provide a travel segment that is broadcast on several TV stations. All across the country and overseas, I address groups on the dynamics of the travel industry as a motivational speaker.

My professional travel career includes CEO of an airline, member of car rental, airline, and cruise line national advisory boards, co-owner and Executive Vice President of Morris Travel, and published travel writer of books and travel-related articles.

Matthew B. Christensen or Matt, as he is known to his friends, is passionate about the scriptures, the doctrines of the Restoration, history, and learning and teaching. “I am thrilled to be able to travel with like-minded individuals and share ways our lives intersect and are influenced by the sacred events and scriptures of the Holy Land,” he said.

Professionally he has spent the last decade working for LDS Philanthropies, working with great men and women helping to build the Kingdom. Before that, he taught Book of Mormon and Doctrine & Covenants courses at BYU in the College of Religious Education. His avocation is learning all he can and then finding ways to share that knowledge with others.

He assisted Joseph Fielding McConkie for many years on a dozen books and other research and writing topics. Matt’s first book, The First Vision: A Harmonization of 10 Accounts from the Sacred Grove, was published in 2014 to positive reviews, and was endorsed by Richard L. Bushman, Robert L. Millet, and Richard O. Cowan. His current writing projects include a documentary history of non-canonized revelations of early LDS leaders, a book on priesthood and Church government, a book on the Messiah Ben Joseph, and a new biography of the late LDS apostle, Elder Bruce R. McConkie.

A veteran traveler and tour guide, Michael has designed and led tours the world-over and is always excited to have his groups learn and experience something new and exciting. The world is a beautiful place and each time we travel we are exposed to the wonders that await around every corner.

Michael is Senior Principal Consultant with the RBL Group. He works globally and has taught, trained, and lectured throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Known for his dynamic teaching, lecturing, and group facilitation, Michael has designed and taught courses for every level of learner, from grade-schoolers through graduate students, working professionals and retirees. Prior to his consulting career, Michael was a professor at Brigham Young University. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Michael is the author or editor of more than 35 books, articles and reviews and has served on the boards of several associations and foundations. He is married to Rebecca Wright Phillips and they have three children.

Mick and Diane Smith recently returned as mission leaders from the Arizona Scottsdale/Flagstaff missions (Oct. 2020-June 2023). He retired from Seminary and Institutes after a 31-year career teaching in Idaho, Texas, Nebraska, and Utah. The last two years of his career were spent in the Ancient Scripture Department of Religion as a Visiting Teacher. He and Diane directed and spoke at EFYs for over 18 years, and he has spoken at Education Week, Know Your Religion, and the Sperry (Come Follow Me) Symposium. They previously led Church History tours for BYU Travel Study which developed an even deeper love for the Church History sites. They are currently serving in branch leadership at the MTC in Provo, Utah.

Mick and Diane love to travel. Diane especially loves the people, cultures, and history of the sites they visit, and as an avid genealogist, loves to find any family information as they travel across the country and world. They will have visited all 50 states once they visit Oregon within this coming year. They have greatly appreciated the beauty and grandeur of national parks and historic places across the United States. Mick is a passionate sports fan for anything BYU, and he loves to read, write, and teach. They love their family, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and visiting temples and historic sites, as all of those are so intertwined. They are the parents of 7 children and 33 grandchildren.

PATRICK DEGN has been an instructor in the Seminaries and Institutes of Religion for more than 25 years. He has traveled and taught in the Holy Land and loves the people and their culture. He holds degrees in classical history, Latin, and Military History specializing in ancient Greek and Roman warfare which makes him a great tour director for both the Holy Lands and Italy & Greece.

He teaches adult religion classes for BYU Continuing Education and regularly presents at BYU Campus Education Week where his passion for the scriptures and humor keep audiences engaged and enlightened. He has also taught at EFY and other youth and adult programs.

Reid Robison is a seasoned professional with a diverse background as a businessman and educator. He skillfully managed O. C. Tanner's Canadian operation for an impressive 16-year tenure, while also sharing his knowledge with students at BYU for 22 years, both within the Marriott School and the religion department. Equally qualified is his wife, Diane, who shares his passion for teaching and learning. Together they served as mission leaders in the Caribbean and in Africa, and love teaching together.

Since 1998, Reid’s passion for travel has taken him on an incredible journey of directing Church history tours and cruises, spanning destinations such as the Caribbean and Alaska. More recently, he has extended his expertise to lead tours in the British Isles, France, Spain, and Italy, all the while lecturing on cruises off the coasts of the British Isles and the United States. On many of these adventures, Diane has been by his side inspiring tour participants with her wisdom and insights.

Reid's travel experiences have spanned the globe, including Africa, numerous Caribbean islands, Tonga, Samoa, Asia, Israel, Jordan, and Europe. His enthusiasm for creating, managing, and hosting tours has left an indelible mark, highlighted by his significant role in orchestrating the BYU Alumni Tour Program, which brought over 5,000 individuals to the Nauvoo Temple Open House and other Church History Historical Sites. With the exception of Asia, Diane has shared in those travel experiences.

Residing in Provo, Utah, Reid and Diane, are the proud parents of five children, 18 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Both hold doctorates in education and share a deep love for teaching. Diane's expertise extends to Art History, where she has her master’s degree and has even participated in an archaeological dig in Petra, while imparting her knowledge in art history classes and harboring a passion for the world's great artists. While serving on the Young Women Board for the Church, she helped develop the Come Follow Me curriculum.

Rich Robins recently returned from serving with his wife, Robyn, in the New York/Pennsylvania Historical Sites Mission. This was preceded by a 40-year teaching career in the public schools and in the Seminary and Institute programs of the Church.

He was born and raised in Orem, Utah on a small family farm. After high school he served in the Ontario/Quebec Canada Mission. He received a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University and began teaching in the public-school system for 10 years. During the summer months, he also worked as a professional river guide on the Colorado River and as a backpacking guide in the Grand Canyon.

While visiting the lands of the Scriptures, it is a very special experience to open the scriptures and envision and relive the sights and events from the Scriptures. Each time we visit an archaeological site or view an ancient artifact that might have existed during the time of the Book of Mormon or Bible, our understanding, appreciation, and desire to study the Word of God increases.

Roger C. Manning currently works as a Representative for the Mexico and South America South Areas of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Missionary Department.  He received a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University, a master’s degree from Idaho State University, and a PhD from Utah State University. 

Roger worked many in the Church Educational System as a seminary and institute instructor in Idaho, Utah, and Florida and has supervised seminaries and institutes in Utah, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. He served as the Pre-Service Teacher Training Director for the Salt Lake City area and as the Area Director for Northern Utah, Southeast Idaho, and Western Wyoming.

Julie R. Manning graduated from Weber State University with a bachelor´s degree in Nursing. She has worked as an RN for 35 years in various areas of specialty and care. She has assisted in directing many tours to foreign countries. 

Scot and Maurine Proctor are the founders of Meridian Magazine and they have written several books together, including Witness of the Light, Source of the Light, Light from the Dust and The Gathering. They were formerly the editors of This People magazine.

After receiving her education from University of Utah and Harvard, Maurine Jensen Proctor, began her writing career with McGraw Hill Magazines and the Chicago Sun-Times. She has created award-winning television documentaries, has written a radio show for more than six years that played on 300 radio stations, and was a long-time writer of The Spoken Word for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Steve is an award-winning songwriter, playwright, and broadcaster who has written for National Geographic, Deseret Book, and many other companies.  After many years on the KSL Sunday radio show "Soft Sunday Sounds", Steven currently can be heard on BYU Classical 89.

His love of church history developed over the years while researching and writing stage musicals and albums on subjects ranging from the Utah Pioneers to the Book of Mormon and the New Testament.  Steve has been guiding LDS Church History tours and Holy Land tours for Morris Murdock for years, and those who tour with Steve and his wife Johanne (a noted singer and actress) always remark on their personal care and attention to each group member, their use of inspiring music, and the moments they take to open the scriptures and share the historical details and insights that make each stop more meaningful.

Steve and his wife Johanne love the gospel of Jesus Christ, church history, each other, and whichever of their four children has a current scholarship.

Although Stewart Glazier has directed Travel Study programs for over 20 years, he insists that his "next visit is always his first visit." It is this enthusiasm, coupled with a tremendous knowledge of the scriptures and a genuine concern for others that prompts those traveling with Brother Glazier to say things such as, "I am in awe of his store of knowledge and his patience, energy, and compassion."

Brother Glazier has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish education and general science from Arizona State University. He received his master’s degree in recreational education from BYU. He has also completed many hours in graduate scripture study with the Church Educational System. Brother Glazier has taught seminary and institute classes plus many Continuing Education classes.

Tim Taggart has been a pioneer in LDS travel pretty much from the beginning of the industry, traveling to the lands of the scriptures in the Middle East and Europe the first time in 1981 and conducting tours since 1983.

He was born and grew up in Cache Valley, Utah and served his first mission in Australia. He received a bachelor's degree in history and political science from Utah State University with a career goal to become a master teacher'. He began his teaching career in the LDS Church seminary program, completing a master's degree in instructional technology from USU at the same time. His teaching career changed course in 1982 when he and the family came to Salt Lake City to work for the Church producing media. The new focus was to teach through the technology of visual and audio media to a worldwide audience.

Tyler J. Griffin was born and raised in Providence, Utah in the beautiful Cache Valley. After serving a mission in Brazil Curitiba, he returned home and married an Angel named Kiplin Crook. They have 10 children (5 boys and 5 girls). He began his career by teaching seminary for 6 years in Brigham City, Utah. He spent the next seven years teaching at the Logan LDS Institute adjacent to Utah State University. One of his assignments there was working in the Seminary Preservice program (teaching and training potential seminary teachers). He also piloted and managed the launch of the online seminary program. In August, 2010, he transferred to the BYU Department of Ancient Scripture. He is a co-founder of BYU Virtual Scriptures Group which helped develop the Virtual New Testament App and other digital learning resources to enhance scriptural immersion and understanding of the Bible and Book of Mormon. 

From Ugo:

I was born in Milan, Italy and moved to the States when I was 21, first to serve as a full-time missionary in the California Sacramento Mission, and then to study at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

At BYU, I received first a BS (2000) and then a MS (2001) degree in Health Sciences together with a minor in Business Management and a graduate minor in Ancient Scriptures. In 2010, I received a PhD (2010) in Genetics and Biomolecular Sciences from the University of Pavia (Pavia, Italy) under the mentorship of Professor Antonio Torroni.

I worked as a senior researcher for the non-profit Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation from 1999 to 2012 and done some part-time teaching at the college level (both at Brigham Young University in Provo and at the Salt Lake Community College in Salt Lake City).

Dr. Victor L. Ludlow is a scholar of Isaiah and Judaism. He graduated with high honors from BYU and was a Danforth Fellow at Harvard and Brandeis Universities, where he received a Ph.D. in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. Professor Ludlow's scholarship explores the areas of Bible studies, the Middle East, Jewish history and theology, and comparative Latter-day Saint theology. He has authored numerous articles and the books: Unlocking the Old Testament; Isaiah: Prophet, Seer, and Poet; Principles and Practices of the Restored Gospel; and Unlocking Isaiah in the Book of Mormon. His most recent audio lecture is “Latter-day Insights: The Middle East.”

Wendy Fracchia is the Director of Group Sales and Operations Manager of the escorted travel division of Morris Columbus Travel.  Right out of school, she started in the travel industry which has led to over 30 years in travel.   She feels very blessed to help people travel the world.  Whether it's to fulfill their "bucket list" dreams, build and grow in their faith or just have fun.

Travel is her addiction and part of who she is.  Her experience includes leading groups in the USA, Africa, Thailand, Australia, and several European River & Mediterranean cruises.  She loves to share her tips and experiences with anyone who will listen and prays to live long enough to not only see it ALL but be able to tell the stories of the amazing people and places to her friends and family!

Wendy and her husband, Art have been married for over 30 years and he's been a great travel partner and group assistant to her over the years.  They have 2 grown boys who have blessed them with beautiful daughter-in-laws and now 2 grandchildren they can’t get enough of.