Travel in the Footsteps of Lehi & Sariah

Travel in the Footsteps of Lehi & Sariah
By Maurine and Scot Proctor

As journalists, we have been privileged to travel the world, but no journey has ever lingered with us and transformed our imaginations as the trip we took years ago following part of Lehi’s trail. We felt like part Indiana Jones, part Nephite as we donned our dungarees, rolled up our sleeves and went into an Arabian desert looking for clues for Bountiful where the ship was built.

Here is a land, ancient and compelling, where you can almost touch the people we know so well from the Book of Mormon. Here scriptures spring to life and you find yourselves saying, “Aha, now I see. Now it all falls into place.”

When we came home from our first trip following Lehi’s trail, Scot dreamed about it every night because it was so exotic and compelling, so spiritual and unforgettable. We took pictures of ancient writing on a rock that even Hugh Nibley couldn’t recognize. We saw camels and talked to dark-clad Bedouins, bought three-hundred year-old antiques in a Middle Eastern market.

We marveled at Petra in Jordan, where a city is carved out of rock. And, of course, we wept at the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem where we remembered why the Book of Mormon was written.

For anyone who loves the Book of Mormon, for whom Nephi is a familiar friend; for anyone who has traveled that journey a hundred times in his or her mind, this is a never-to-be-forgotten travel opportunity. When Warren Aston, who first found this candidate for Bountiful after long searching, called us and asked if we’d like to come and lead a tour with him, we jumped for it.

There is no way we would want to miss the experience of returning to Jerusalem, Jordan and Oman or travel by boat to that forgotten seashore so surprisingly green in the midst of the Arabian sands where Nephi may have built the ship.

Over the years as we’ve shared our experiences on this journey, we’ve had so many people say, “I wish I could have come, too.” Now you can and here are the details of the most unforgettable journey you’ve probably ever been offered. Space is limited.

To see these sites and read an article about the journey we took, click here. www.latterdaysaintmag.com/gospeldoctrine/080116nephi.html

Only a few members of the Church have ever gone on this most incredible journey to the stark wilderness and wilds of Lehi’s Trail – from Jerusalem to Bountiful, where Nephi built the ship. Three of those people, Warren Aston, Scot and Maurine Proctor, will be on your tour.

The following includes some basic information on this extraordinary tour.

IN LEHI & SARIAH’S FOOTSTEPS

Day 1 – Sun, 12 OctLate evening departure from New York JFK nonstop to Amman, Jordan.Day 2 – Mon, 13 OctEarly evening arrival and transfer to our hotel for a welcome dinner.Day 3 – Tues, 14 OctThis morning we cross the River Jordan to Jerusalem for two nights. Our afternoon visit to the Garden of Gethsemane, Golgotha and the Garden Tomb sets the spiritual tone for the days that follow. Day 4 – Wed, 15 Oct A full day “Focus on Lehi” tour of Old Jerusalem including the BYU Center, the Mount of Olives, the temple mount and Hezekiah’s tunnel. Day 5 – Thu, 16 OctToday we retrace the most likely route Lehi and his family followed, passing the Ein Gedi oasis, the Dead Sea and the ancient copper mines of Timna until we reach the Red Sea. We then explore a candidate for the Valley of Lemuel at the coast of the Red Sea. Overnight in Aqaba.Day 6 – Fri, 17 Oct We tour the spectacular stone city of Petra in Jordan before continuing to the shores of the Dead Sea with the opportunity for a sunset swim before dinner. Late evening we transfer to the airport our overnight flight to Oman.Day 7 – Sat, 18 Oct Early morning arrival in Muscat and transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit to the great mosque and the ship Sohar, built locally and sailed to China.Day 8 – Sun, 19 Oct Morning flight to Salalah and transfer to hotel. Afternoon orientation of the area including the new Salalah museum to see artifacts from 600 BC. Day 9 – Mon, 20 Oct Full day exploration of the Salalah area including possible Bountiful site at Khor Rori where excavations continue. Day 10 – Tue, 21 Oct Today we travel west to Mughsayl, examine a Frankincense tree and then go into our desert camp for a taste of the life Lehi’s family had for 8 years.Day 11 – Wed, 22 Oct We leave the desert and travel to the most lush location in Arabia. We see large timber trees, freshwater and all the features Nephi described, finally departing by sea as the Lehites did. Overnight Salalah.Day 12 – Thu, 23 Oct A free morning to relax or shop at local markets. This afternoon a final testimony meeting to reflect on our experiences, then an early evening flight back to Muscat for our final night in Oman and a buffet dinner.Day 13 – Fri, 24 Oct Early morning departure to New York JFK, arriving mid afternoon in time for connections to our home.

Travel and Cost Details

From Jordan and Israel we travel to beautiful, modern Oman. Oman is safe! There has never been any terrorism or other threat to tourists in Oman. Oman is also wealthy and elegant, an Epcot version of Arabia. Westerners are very welcome. We will visit both possible “Bountiful” sites while there.

Tour cost is $ 3770.00 per person, twin share. This includes deluxe accommodation throughout, breakfast and dinner daily, two picnic lunches, a one night desert camp, airfares within Oman, all transfers and sightseeing by deluxe coach, baggage handling, all entrance fees and all visa costs. If you require a single (sole-use) room the supplement is $ 894.00.

Not included are other lunches, drinks, purely personal expenses, insurance and tips.

We have negotiated a special group airfare from New York (JFK) of $ 1198.00 per person which includes all taxes and fuel surcharges. This is subject to change by the airlines without notice until paid in full. Alternatively you may make your own flight arrangements.

Travel insurance is compulsory, and you will be given full details of your options at the time your tour deposit is received. Insurance rates vary according to age. You will also receive flight details so you have plenty of time to plan your travel from your home city to meet the group flight in New York.

A deposit of $550 per person secures your place on the tour and is nonrefundable. The balance is due 60 days prior to departure. Costs are subject to change until fully paid.

If You Would Like to Join This Tour

Please mail a check for the deposit ($550) payable to: Bountiful Tours

Mail checks to:

Bountiful Tours
760 Bounty Drive, APT 6001
Foster City, CA 94404-2690
USA

Please include full names as per passport, birthdates and all contact details, including email address, telephone number and mailing address. We encourage members from other countries around the world to join in this most extraordinary tour.

A written confirmation and other tour information including insurance options will be sent to you. We won’t, however, actually bank any of the checks until we reach the minimum number of 15. Any other questions can be e-mailed to bo*************@*****il.com. You may also go https://www.bountifultours.com for further information.

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