Palmyra & Kirtland - Church History Tour

Dates

Palmyra five-day, four-night tour: July 15-19, 2008

Overview

This five-day, four-night trip will trace the steps of the early LDS church. The tour will fly into Rochester and will depart from Cleveland. We will visit Fayette, New York, followed by the sites in Palmyra (Sacred Grove, Hill Cumorah, Smith Farm houses, Grandin Building, Alvin's grave and Martin Harris farm). We will also witness the famed Hill Cumorah pageant. Following the tour of the New York church history sites, we will stop at Niagara Falls for a boat ride aboard the Maid of the Mist and continue the journey to the Ohio church history sites. We will visit the John Johnson farm, the Morley farm, the Kirtland temple, the stone quarry, and Historic Kirtland (including the Newell K. Whitney store). For more information email alumni_tours@byu.edu

Itinerary

Days One & Two: We will fly into the Rochester airport and drive to the Palmyra area where we will see the Peter Whitmer farm, where the Church was organized April 6, 1830 and where 20 revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants were received. We will visit the Smith homes, the Hill Cumorah, where Joseph Smith received the golden plates, and we will enjoy the new visitors center there. One evening we will watch the acclaimed Hill Cumorah Pageant. We will tour the Grandin Press, where the first edition of the Book of Mormon was published. We will visit the grave of Alvin Smith (the older brother of Joseph), and drive by the farm of Martin Harris (no tours will be given as it is private property), who was influential in the first printing of the Book of Mormon. There will be free time to visit and ponder at the location of the First Vision in the Sacred Grove, and enjoy a tour of the visitors center. We overnight near Palmyra for two nights.

Days Three & Four: On the way to Kirtland we will visit Niagara Falls, where we will explore the breathtaking beauty of this natural wonder. We will enjoy a boat tour below the Falls aboard the Maid of the Mist. After Niagara Falls we travel south to Kirtland, Ohio. We will visit the Isaac Morley farm, where Joseph and Emma were living when they lost their twin babies and adopted the Murdock twins. The prophet received several sections of the Doctrine and Covenants at the Morley farm. We will visit the John Johnson farm, which has been recently restored, and is where Joseph and Emma lived for a year. During their stay at the Johnson farm, Joseph was attacked by a mob one winter night, dragged from the house, beaten, tarred and feathered. We will tour the Kirtland Temple, now owned by the Community of Christ (formerly the RLDS Church), where Jesus Christ, Moses, Elias and Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith and restored priesthood keys. While in Kirtland we will visit the visitors center and Historic Kirtland (including the sawmill and ashery). We will also tour the Newel K. Whitney Store where Joseph and Emma lived for a time, and where the School of the Prophets met. We will also have the privilege of spending time with Karl Ricks Anderson, author and Kirtland expert. We overnight near Kirtland for two nights.

Day Five: Our morning will allow time to visit the stone quary (from which stones were extracted for the Kirtland Temple). Our tour ends in Cleveland, departing from the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

Costs and Fees

Price includes: deluxe motor coach, four nights hotel, daily breakfast, gratuities, Maid of the Mist passage, exclusive Church history tour booklet, entrance fees as listed, during travel insurance, trained guide and much more. All taxes and fees are included.
**Price does not include airfare

Please send your deposit of $200 per person ($150 is non-refundable) along with your booking form to secure your space. Click here to download the official booking and reservation form.

Should you have any questions, please call group coordinator Marcie at 801-446-8068 (SLC). Make your check to Boomerang Tours: attn: Marcie: PO Box 1344, Riverton, UT 84065.
**Please note. Schedule is subject to change.