Your Value LDS Israel Tour

Itinerary of the Day

One of the "greatest experiences of your life" commences with your flight connecting into Tel-Aviv (Israel).

Itinerary of the Day

Arrival is usually at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV). After passport control, you will be met by a 'SMILE' representative who will assist you in claiming your luggage and escort you to your transfer 'Up to Jerusalem'. (For those arriving over the Jordan River, from one of the Optional Additional Programs, clear security, go through passport control, collect your luggage and exit the arrivals hall. Upon exiting the arrivals hall look for your driver, with your name placard, and proceed 'Up to Jerusalem')

Life, Death, and Resurrection

Sites of the Day:

Massada - Qumran (the Dead Sea Scrolls) - Dead Sea (Float) - The Jordan River Valley

Did “Good” Samaritan mean “Bad” Jew? Where do Dead Sea Scrolls come alive?

Insights of the Day

• Zealots at Masada ultimately sacrificed their lives in vain with real hope of redemption. (Ezekiel 37 was the only full chapter surviving Masada’s ruins contain a promise of the hope of redemption.)
• Learning of temples where the sacrifice of a lamb symbolizes the sacrifice of One bringing new life.
• With hope of higher life, the Essenes, consecrating their wealth, migrated to the Dead Sea wilderness.
• Today, as the land is being redeemed, ethnic identities and country-border lines are being extended in hope of peace.

Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit

(Becoming more inspired as the very air, water and earth reflect the Lord’s healing miracles).

Sites of the Day:

Capernaum - Sea of Galilee Boat Ride (availability depending on no sudden storms & group size) - Mt. of Beatitudes.

What does it take to “walk on water?” More about Jesus in Galilee.

Insights of the Day

• In Capernaum, where He performed most of his miracles, we learn of Jesus relieving the millstone of death, healing a family as “Talitha” arose.
• The Sea of Galilee, continuing to provide Israel with water, maintains life in the land.
• On the same water, the sinking Peter (Rock), crying “Lord save me,” learns that the “Rock of Salvation” came to save.
• On the Mount of Beatitudes, opening eyes, ears and heart, the Savior taught “Come unto me,” promising the Healing Spirit.

Teach Me To Walk in the Light

(Receive a new appreciation of how the Gospel became available to all people.)

Sites of the Day:

Caesarea (Crusader City, Port & Theater) - Ancient Jaffa - The Judean Hillsides and ‘up to Jerusalem’

How to “get stoned?” The real story of Nazareth and Caesarea.

Insights of the Day

• Almost” was not enough as Paul, teaching Herod Agrippa in Caesarea, challenges listeners to become like “I Am.”
• Jonah, avoiding the call to teach Gentiles, by escaping to Jaffa, sinks to new heights as the Lord brings him up from the depths of the sea.
• Terraces, olive trees and unfinished watchtowers used to maintain peace, remind us that all roads lead “Up to Jerusalem,” beckoning us to gather to the Mountain of the Lord to find “Shalom” - peace.

Symbols of the Past, Pattern the Future

(Appreciating the meaning, power, and symbolism of biblical temples.)

Sites of the Day:

The Temple Mount (Dome of the Rock & Al-Aksa) - The Model City (2nd Temple Period) - Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls) - The Israel Museum (Archeology) - Bethlehem (Manger Square & Church)

Was it "Temple Square" or a building? Moslem claims to the Temple Mount?

Insights of the Day

• The Savior’s House, located on the Temple Mount (where Moslem worship patterns are witnessed today), causes one to ask, “Will He suddenly return home to the same place?”
• In the Israel Museum, ancient temple artifacts reflect the timeless eternity of worship practices.
• The Essenes’ Dead Sea Scrolls reveal a redesigned temple that includes the entire city of Jerusalem. Although they had an understanding of the signs of the seasons, they failed to recognize the Lord and the signs of his times.
• A view of a miniature city of 2000-years ago, revealing Jerusalem’s major impact on the world, also reminds us that from the City of Peace (Shalom) came His peace.

Rebuilding and Restoring

(Discovering echoes of ancient temple customs to increase understanding of modern temples.)

Sites of the Day:

Old City & Cardo (Christian & Jewish Quarters) - The Western (‘Wailing’) Wall - Temple Mount Archeological Park - The Hillsides of Bethlehem

How would it feel to "Walk Today Where Jesus Walked?"

Insights of the Day

• The Savior’s atonement (obscured by arguments over ownership of a Sepulcher) manifests itself in the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
• Destroyed by fire in the first century, the preserved & rebuilt ruins of the Holy City remind us of promised redemption.
• One discovers temple-like clothing and ritual celebration at the Western (Wailing) Wall.
• Ancient money changers, who assisted people with temple worship, are remembered as one steps where Jesus walked.
• Bethlehem hillsides with sheep and shepherds overshadow churches’ disputations of ownership of Jesus’ traditional birthplace. The loneliness, obscurity and difficulty of His birth are sweetly replaced with songs of Herald Angels.
• Israel, the diamond capital of the world, reveals its knowhow & “brilliant” skills. (Precious gem stones, including a diamond, were used in the ancient Temple.)

I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked

(Recognizing your soul’s response to the very earth and stones testifying of the atonement.)

Sites of the Day:

An Upper Room - Mt. of Olives (account of Gethsemane) & Church of all Nations - Caiaphas’ Palace & Antonia Fortress (accounts of trial before Caiaphas & Pilate) - Place of a Skull - The Garden Tomb (Death, Burial & Resurrection)

Where are the "Three Days and Three Nights" in the scriptures?

Insights of the Day

• The symbolism of Passover rituals set the stage for understanding the Last Supper and the sacrament.
• The Mount of Olives, place of the Red heifer sacrifices, is where the Savior’s blood-stained atoning sacrifice occurred. He will return to this mount in red clothing.
• Walking ancient steps to Caiphas’ and Pontius Pilate’s palaces, reminds us of the mocking trials He endured.
• Remembering the reason He came, visualizing along the roadway, a visible place of execution. Close by, a Jewish Garden Tomb of the first century is empty, quietly reminding us that He lives. He suffered, died, and came alive again, preparing the way for us to be together with Him and our Father in Heaven.

The Peaceful Sabbath Day

“The Sabbath of the LORD thy God.”

Sites of the Day:

BYU Jerusalem Center - Sabbath Services with the Jerusalem Branch - Afternoon at Leisure (for rest & worship)

How did the LDS Sabbath come to be on Saturday in Israel?

Insights of the Day

• With the re-establishment of the Jerusalem Branch in the Latter-days, the Brethren established Church approval for Saturday observance of the Sabbath in Israel.
• With respect for the “cultural and religious identity of the people of Israel,” LDS church members are welcome to attend LDS Sabbath Services with the Jerusalem Branch.
• The afternoon is at leisure, perhaps for venturing on one’s own into the Old City & walking atop its walls!

Depart Israel

Return: Late this evening we say Shalom. Your airport shuttle transfers you to TLV airport for your scheduled Flight (around midnight tonight). Again SHALOM . . . & “May peace be with you,” & your family & friends always!

Optional Additional Programs, transfer to a Jordan River Crossing.