Chad Hawkins
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.
Patrick Degn
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.
He loves the Holy Land and enjoys the history, culture, and scripture of the Mediterranean world. He is an Anglophile, Hellenophile, Tolkien-geek, and all things Rome. His favorite way to spend time is laughing and working with his wife and four children through adventure, service, and learning experiences.
Tyler Griffin
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.
Ken Alford
Dr. Kenneth L. Alford is a professor of Church history and doctrine and Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired).
After serving almost thirty years on active duty in the United States Army, he retired as a colonel in 2008. While on active military duty, Ken served in numerous assignments, including the Pentagon, eight years teaching computer science and information systems engineering at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and four years as a professor of behavioral science and department chair at the National Defense University in Washington, DC. After serving in the England Bristol Mission, he earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Brigham Young University, a master of arts in international relations from the University of Southern California, a master of computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a Ph.D. in computer science from George Mason University. He has published and presented on a wide variety of American and Church history, scriptural, pedagogical, computer science, information systems engineering, military science, organizational behavior, and strategic leadership subjects during his career. Ken and his late wife, Sherilee, have four wonderful children and twenty delightful grandchildren.
Jonathan Brinley
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.
Craig Manscill
Dr. Craig K. Manscill is an Associate Professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University. He has served as a religious educator for forty years—twenty-two years with Seminaries and Institutes (S&I) and eighteen years with BYU. In 2009-10 he served on the faculty of the BYU Jerusalem Near Eastern Studies Program where he directed students in their studies and travels throughout Israel, Egypt, and Jordan. While living in Israel he served in the Israel District Presidency interacting with members and leaders of other churches. He and his wife Jana have traveled to and directed tours to Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, the South Pacific, and LDS Church historical sites. At BYU he has researched and published numerous articles and books in nineteenth-century Church history including a brief history of the LDS Church in Illinois, 1830-1839. With S&I he served as an instructor, coordinator, curriculum writer, and manager of the Institute curriculum.
Blair Van Dyke
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.
Abby Bonell
Abby Bonell is an experienced media professional based in Salt Lake City, Utah, known for her engaging on-air presence and connection to the community. With years of experience in broadcasting and public affairs programming, Abby has built a reputation for thoughtful storytelling, clear communication, and bringing warmth and authenticity to every conversation. Her approachable style and genuine interest in people have made her a trusted and familiar voice to many.
Scot & Maurine Proctor
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.
In his youth, Scot Facer Proctor was given the extraordinary opportunity to live in Ankara, Turkey for two different years. During that time he traveled extensively, studying and following closely the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. These experiences led to a lifetime of immersion in the ancient world and the scriptures. He continues to spend a great deal of time in the Middle East and the Holy Land.
Roger & Julie Manning
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.
Mark Ogletree
Mark D. Ogletree was raised in Texas and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age 18. He served an LDS mission from 1982-1984 in Seattle, Washington. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1987 from Brigham Young University; Master of Arts in Educational Psychology from Northern Arizona University, 1990; Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling in 1994 from Northern Arizona University; and a Ph.D. in Family and Human Development from Utah State University in May 2000.
Mark worked for 20 years in the seminary and institute program. He taught both seminary and institute in Mesa, Arizona, Logan, Utah, and later became the institute director in Dallas, Texas.
In 2010, Mark accepted a position at Brigham Young University as an Associate Professor in the Department of Church History and Doctrine. At BYU, he teaches courses on the Eternal Family and Living Prophets. Mark is now a full professor in the Department of Church History and Doctrine.
Joel Judd
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.
Joel, now retired, taught in the L. D. S. Church Education System for 37 years, in Seminary in Ogden, Utah and in Institute in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and at the Orem Institute of Religion at Utah Valley State College. He has taught at the BYU Jerusalem Center in Israel on three different occasions as a religion instructor and field trip director and has directed many tours to Egypt and Israel.
Jim Gee
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.
Howard & Shari Lyon
Howard and Shari Lyon are a dynamic and artistic duo! 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!
Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat
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.
Prior to his work at the Church History Department, he served as the senior assistant editor of Diplomatic History from 2003 to 2009. He currently serves as Editor of the academic journal Mormon Historical Studies, published by the Mormon Historic Sites Foundation, as the Co-Research Director for the Religious Studies Center, on the Executive Council for the Brigham Young Center, and on the Church History editorial board for BYU Studies.
Dann Hone
Dann W Hone has nearly 55 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.
Craig Ostler
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.
Sandy received a degree in Early Childhood Education from BYU and, while her children were young, taught preschool in her home for several years. She loves gardening, knows nearly every flower and decorative plant on sight, and shares that love with others. She belongs to a private national group known as Growing Kindness that personally delivers happiness to others by sharing flowers, especially, varieties of dahlias. Her warm and uplifting welcome each morning will make your tour experiences begin with sunshine in your soul!
Brad Wilcox
Brad Wilcox is an associate professor in the Department of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University. He received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from BYU and taught sixth grade in Provo School District before returning to BYU for a master’s degree in teaching and learning. He received his PhD in curriculum and instruction with a focus in literacy from the University of Wyoming. He joined the faculty at BYU and spent many years in the Teacher Education Department. He moved to Ancient Scripture in 2016.
He is the author of the book The Continuous Atonement and the BYU devotional “His Grace Is Sufficient.” Brad grew up in Provo, Utah, except for childhood years spent in Ethiopia. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile and later returned to that country to preside over the Chile Santiago East Mission from 2003 to 2006. He and his family have also lived for a time in New Zealand and Spain where he directed study abroad programs for Brigham Young University.
Anthony Sweat
Anthony R. Sweat received a BFA in painting and drawing from the University of Utah and his MEd and PhD in curriculum and instruction from Utah State University. Before joining the religion faculty at BYU, he worked for thirteen years with Seminaries and Institutes of Religion.
Dr. Sweat is the author of several books and articles related to the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His research centers on factors that influence effective religious education. As a practicing artist, his paintings center on previously underrepresented, important aspects of Church history to promote visual learning. Anthony and his wife, Cindy, are the parents of seven children and reside in Springville, Utah.
Wendy Fracchia
Wendy Fracchia has spent close to 40 years in the travel industry, turning her love for exploring the world into a rewarding career. From the moment she entered the industry right out of school, Wendy discovered her passion for helping others experience unforgettable journeys — whether fulfilling lifelong “bucket list” dreams, growing in faith, or simply enjoying the adventure of travel.
Reid Robison
Reid 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.
Kay Godfrey
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.
Larry Gelwix
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.
Tim Taggart
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.
Steven Kapp Perry
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.