Tag: Morris Murdock Escorted Tours

What Utahans (and Most) Americans Need to Know Before Ordering Swiss Fondue

You’ve arrived in Switzerland. Snow-capped mountains surround you. Cowbells echo in the distance. You sit down in a cozy alpine restaurant and confidently announce, “I’ll have the fondue!” Excellent choice.But before you imagine little cubes of steak, chocolate fountains, or a giant pot of melted Velveeta with tortilla chips, let’s have an important cultural conversation. Swiss fondue is not “American fondue.”

From Hesitation to Heartfelt: Falling in Love with Asia

Asia has always felt a little “exotic” to me. I’m not exactly sure why, maybe it was the language, the different & deep history, the unfamiliar flavors of the food, or the richness of the culture. While it always sounded exciting, and I love to explore, it also felt just a bit intimidating and even overwhelming at times. Because of that, it never quite made it to the top of my ever-growing bucket list.

So when the opportunity came to travel with Larry Gelwix, “The Getaway Guru” and experience these incredible countries for the very first time on an Asia cruise itinerary I knew it was one I couldn’t pass up.  Sometimes the best adventures are the ones that push us just a little outside our comfort zone… and this felt like exactly that kind of journey.

Iceland Spotlight: Where Fire, Ice & Wonder Come to Life: Explore by Land… or Sail Along the Edge of the Arctic

Iceland remains one of the top 5 travel destinations for 2026 and there’s a big reason why.  There are only a few places on earth that feel as otherworldly and yet so welcoming as Iceland. This small island nation packs an astonishing variety of landscapes into one unforgettable destination: cascading waterfalls, volcanic fields, black sand beaches, massive glaciers, and skies that dance with the # 1 attraction and reason people are still flocking to Iceland – The Northern Lights.

Amanda Dickson

Amanda Dickson KSL Radio Show Host

Amanda Dickson is the co-host of Utah’s Morning News and the host of the award-winning program A Woman’s View on KSL NewsRadio. In addition to her work on the air, Amanda is an adjunct associate professor in the University of Utah’s Department of Communication, where she teaches courses including Media and Society, Public Speaking, Argumentation, and Media Law. A former attorney, published author, and sought-after speaker, Amanda is known for bringing thoughtful perspective, warmth, and real-world insight to conversations about news, media, and everyday life.

A Conversation Across Time: Sitting Down with George Washington

There are moments in a historian’s life when the past feels especially close—when the voices we’ve studied for years seem almost within reach. Today, I invite you into one of those moments. Imagine, if you will, a quiet room, a simple wooden chair, and across from me sits the man so often called the Father of Our Country: General George Washington.

A Fresh New Way to Explore the World: Introducing Our New Website

We are so excited to officially introduce our brand-new website for Morris Murdock Escorted Tours! This has truly been a labor of love. Countless hours of planning, refining, and collaboration have gone into creating a better, more user-friendly experience for you. Our goal from the very beginning was simple: to build a tool that makes it easier, more inspiring, and more enjoyable for you to find your next escorted tour.

Carlos Fida

Carlos Fida is a veteran, award-winning travel industry professional with over 40 years of experience specializing in South American travel. 

Currently, while retired as the Director of the Latin American Division at Morris Columbus Travel, he still councils and supports sales and escort groups for Morris Murdock Escorted Tours. 

Carlos previously founded and led PanAmerican Tours & Travel and served in leadership roles for decades in the Salt Lake City area

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.

Candace Magleby

Candace Magleby Tour Specialist  (801) 483-6318 Email Candace  M, T, W, Th, F 9:00am–5:00pm 563 W 500 S #180Bountiful, UT 84010 Candace Magleby is a tour manager for Morris Murdock Escorted Tours. Her journey in the travel industry began in 2024 when she joined Morris Columbus Travel. Candace LOVES travel and exploring the world around her. Travel […]

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.

Rich Robins

Rich Robins loves Church History – and especially loves teaching about the miraculous events of the glorious Restoration in the holy places and at the sacred sites in which they occurred! His love for the Prophet Joseph Smith and Church History was first kindled while serving as a young missionary at the Hill Cumorah Pageant over 50 years ago! His forty-year teaching career, thirty of which was in the Seminary and Institute programs of the Church, have only sweetened and deepened that love for the Savior’s Orchestration of the glorious and grand latter-day Restoration.

Immediately following his retirement Rich, and his wife Robyn, served as full-time missionaries in the New York/Pennsylvania Historical Sites Mission. Rich has also directed Church History tours for LDS youth groups, for LDS Seminary/Institute Faculty Summer Workshops, and during the past five years for Morris Murdock Escorted Travel.

Mick & Diane Smith

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. 

Michael Phillips

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. 

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. 

Egypt Is Calling: Answer the Ancient Whisper Within

Few places on Earth stir the imagination quite like Egypt.  Long before we knew the names of world capitals or could point to continents on a map, we knew **the pyramids**. We saw them in books, movies, and classrooms. They stood as symbols of mystery—timeless, powerful, and impossible. And somewhere along the way, many of us quietly promised ourselves, *Someday… I’ll see them in person.

Tour Review: Come & See European Temples Tour with Reid Robison

Just wanted to let you know how much the Lunts LOVED our recent temple trip. Thank you for all you did to make our trip so memorable! We especially appreciated your getting a guide for us in London when we landed in a different terminal than the rest of the group.

Exploring Switzerland by Train: A Magical Alpine Summer Adventure

This summer, I was lucky enough to return to one of the most enchanting destinations in the world—Switzerland—and once again, it delivered pure Alpine magic. We traveled with a fantastic group of adventurers who were ready to explore the breathtaking Swiss Alps the way the locals do: by train. And in Switzerland, traveling by rail is part of the experience. It’s more than transportation, it’s serene, scenic, efficient, and an unforgettable way to appreciate the beauty of this remarkable country.

France: Food, Romance, History and Faith

France—the country of food, romance, and history. It’s easy to understand why the world is captivated by its cities and countrysides that offer all three. Even mentioning Les Misérables brings its cobblestone streets, soaring ideals, and the heartbeat of Paris alive.

How To Keep Your Holiday Travel On Track

The holidays are one of the most joyful — and most hectic — times to travel. Between crowded airports, unpredictable weather, and packed schedules, even the best-laid plans can get derailed. This is also true of group travel. With a little foresight and flexibility, you can make your holiday journey smoother and maybe even stress-free.

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.

Looking for Family or Private Tours

Whether you choose to join one of our expertly designed group tours or start a private tour of your own (yes — that’s absolutely possible!), here are just a few reasons why that choice might become your best trip yet!