Awesome Israel

Posted price includes: round-trip SLC air (as quoted today with all fees and taxes--not including any additional rare fuel surcharges), all meals (except one lunch and any at the airports), deluxe charter bus, very nice lodging, scheduled group events, and MHA guide services. Generous credit if you don't need our air transportation--call for details. Call for pricing for single, triple, quad occupancies. Additional tips expected for bus driver & Israel licensed guide. MHA reserves the right to make changes as necessary.
Register online or by telephone 801-272-5601, 866-335-5601.

$100 per person secures your reservation on a first-come, first-served basis. Balance due 6 weeks before departure.
Mail checks to: Mormon Heritage Association, 1840 Moormont Dr, SLC UT 84117

Passport required (valid thru June 2009). Application process can take 6-8 weeks, please apply right away! Notify Mormon Heritage Association upon signup if you are NOT a US Citizen (for airline regulations).

“It’s hard to let a day pass without thinking of our time in the Holy Land. Thank you!”
Eric Danielson

"We had a great experience on our tour of the Holy Land. Thanks for all your planning and thoughtful execution for that made this trip very rewarding. We are now able to place a mental image with those mentioned in the scriptures. We gained many friends and strengthened some previous ones. We experienced times of inspiration and many times contemplation. We return home much more thoughtful about our personal heritage as members of the House of Israel. " Bruce & Suzanne Sorensen

"As I sat in the BYU Center partaking of the sacrament and looking out over Jerusalem, tears of love and gratitude streamed down my face in appreciation for our Savior’s sacrifice in my behalf. This was truly an experience that I will always cherish!" Janet Forbush

“The participants were fabulous, the sites were unbelievable, and I am still in awe of the Holy Land, its people, and the spirit of that place. It is something I will never forget and has provided me with images that will remain with me for the rest of my life.” Sam Fowers

"I never want this memory to fade, I want it to live with me forever. One cannot visit the Holy Land without gaining a desire to live closer to their Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Everything about the tour was just wonderful, our guides were SUPER, SUPER GREAT, the food superb, hotels were the finest, traveling very comfortable, our Israeli guides could not have been better. I learned to love and greatly respect the people in such a short time. All in all, the “Awesome Israel Tour” was just that, “Awesome,”
and I loved every minute of it. Jane Beagley

MORMON HERITAGE ASSOCIATION - 801-272-5601, 866-335-5601
1840 Moormont Dr, SLC UT 84117

Depart November 2008	Perfect time to go! Low season means no crowds and bargain prices at fine hotels. Also, temperatures are usually moderate - 60’s daytime, 50’s night.
BYU Center is open now!	And well it should be! It is safer now than it has been for many years. Likely safer than staying home! Both sides paid a high price and gained nothing in the-34-day conflict begun July 11, 2006. Neither side wants to do it again! Obviously our Church leadership agrees or they would not send hundreds of our choice young people there to study and travel the country on field trips.
Superb tour at modest cost	Our expert guides have years of experience hosting thousands of delighted tour members at sacred places and they especially love Israel. All are returned missionaries with years of church service since. They include church institute and gospel doctrine teachers, former bishops, stake presidents, etc. They understand why you come and present the right things in the right ways, to assure the experience you hope for. In addition to two expert MHA guides on each bus, there will also be on board a hand-picked, licensed, Israeli guide who is familiar with the various languages and local customs. See comments from former tour members below...
Accommodations & Food	Our groups have unanimously praised the food and the hotels. All hotels are clean, comfortable, and convenient. The food is exceptionally good too and so is the variety! Breakfasts and dinners are elaborate buffets at the hotels. Lunches are unique, regional delights. And you will be amazed at the quality and size of the fresh produce grown there. People everywhere show a warm, sincere appreciation that we would come at a time when so many are still afraid and choose to stay home.

Tour ID	Dates, Days	Price each, 2 per room	Guides
IS09	Nov 15-26, 2008 - 12 days	$2631	Clinton Day, Briant Stringham
IS08	Nov 19-29 2008 - 11 days Thanksgiving in Jerusalem!	$2606	Joe Staker, Jordan Finley

Sites Visited	What is or what was there
Joppa Port	Jonah departed for encounter with the whale. Crucial ancient sea port. Beginning of Jewish rebellion against the Romans. Immense crusader fortresses & battles, Peter’s vision regarding great sheet and unclean animals to be eaten, Cornelius, etc.
Netanya	On the beautiful Mediterranean Sea, 40 miles north of Joppa.
Caesarea	Huge, elaborate, exciting ruins of an ancient city. Peter lived here as did Cornelius. Paul was prisoner for at least a year. Built by King Herod. Roman theatre, chariot racing hippodrome, Crusader fortress, moat, good shopping.
Haifa German Cemetery	Graves of two early Mormon Missionaries, proving the LDS Church was already there when Israel became a country in 1948. If it were not for these graves, the LDS Church would not have been allowed to stay and operate in Israel.
Baha’i Temple park and grounds	Beautiful. High on a hill overlooking Haifa.
Mt. Carmel	Where Elijah had his duel with the Priests of Baal. Overlooks the Valley of Armageddon. Complete account read from the bible. Armageddon prophecies too.
Megiddo	Most famous battlefield in the world. Future battlefield, too.
Nazareth	Home of Joseph and Mary and for most of 30 years the scene of the Savior's life. Jesus' followers were called Nazarenes.
Tiberias	On the west side of Sea of Galilee.
Galilee Boat Ride	Jesus walks on the water, calms the sea.
Magdala	Home of Mary Magdalene. Jesus came here after feeding the 4000.
Mount of the Beatitudes	Each of the nine beatitudes will be read by a tour member, from this site, overlooking the Sea of Galilee.
Capernaum	Jesus performed more miracles here than any other place. Peter the fisherman lived here. Jesus lived with him much of the time he was in Galilee. Ruins of Synagogue built over ancient synagogue where the Lord preached and did miracles.
Caesarea Phillippi	“Who do men say that I am?” etc.
Mt. Hermon	Likely transfigurations site.
Ruins of City of Dan	Marked the northern limit of the land of Israel. The largest of all the springs that make up the sources of the Jordan River.
Hazor	Immense ruins. 21 levels of building over previous civilizations. Powerful Canaanite city destroyed by Joshua.
Beit-Shean	Excavated ancient city--impressive recently uncovered Roman-period ruins. Saul's and his son's bodies were hung from the walls of this city by the Philistines; valiant Israelites gave the bodies a proper burial.
Jericho	City of Palm Trees. Walled city ruled by a king. Joshua's spies went to Jericho, walls fell, captured and cursed by Joshua.
Qumran	Greco-Roman name of the former biblical City of Salt (or "Salt Lake City"). Dead Sea Scrolls discovered here (scrolls of the Essenes).
Masada	Walled "winter palace" fortress of Herod the Great. Captured by Jewish patriots from a Roman garrison. One of the last strongholds to resist the Romans. See the remains of this palace and the ramp built by the Roman soldiers to re-capture it (only to find Eleazar and his followers had killed themselves in a mass murder-suicide).
Arad	King Solomon had a fortress here. Oasis town.
Hebron	Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob dwelt here. Many others were here as well: Ishmael, Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, etc. Where Anak and the giants lived.
Bethlehem	Birthplace of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Shepherds' fields. Original home of Elimelech and Naomi. Ruth and Naomi returned here after the famine. Here Ruth married Boaz and became the great-grandmother of David, king of Israel. Thus, Bethlehem is the original home of the Davidic family, and for this reason Joseph and Mary came here.
Jerusalem – Old walled city	The most sacred city in the world, and the most important one in biblical history. Sacred to Christian, Muslim, and Jew. Walk the streets of this ancient city. Shops, cathedrals,
Pool of Bethesda	Where Jesus met and healed an invalid man on the Sabbath day.
Mount of Olives	Separated from Old Jerusalem by the Kidron Valley. Overlooks Jerusalem. Where Jesus addressed the disciples, suffered at Gethsemane, and ascended to heaven.
Wailing Wall	A portion of the western wall Herod built around the temple area. Holiest shrine of the Jewish world.
BYU Jerusalem Center	Unforgettable Sacrament meeting while enjoying a spectacular view of the Old City of Jerusalem. Stirring organ recital. Beautiful, peaceful grounds. Has re-opened to BYU students!
Orson Hyde Memorial Park	Dedicated by Spencer W. Kimball in 1979. 5-1/2 acre park, amphitheater, olive trees.
Dome of the Rock, Temple Mound	Muslim mosque (built on the temple mound) held sacred by the Muslims. Where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac.
Antonia Fortress	Built by Herod the Great, overlooks the holy temple site.
King David’s Citadel	Also Built by Herod the Great. The only part of the walls of Jerusalem to remain standing after Titus and the Roman army destroyed the cit in A.D. 70.
Rockefeller Museum	Free day activity, for those who wish. Contains many relics excavated from the many ancient ruin sites throughout the region.
Garden Tomb Park	Site of the actual tomb where the Lord was buried after the crucifixion and resurrected three days later. A few hundred feet from the cross site. Peaceful setting amidst a bustling city.
Gethsemane	Relive the Lord’s last week from the small, private amphitheatre at edge of Garden of Gethsemane.
Bethany	Home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Probable site of Lazarus’ tomb.

BYU Center is open now!