BOOK
OF MORMON LANDS TOUR
(Nephi to Zarahemla)
Hosts: TOM & JENNIFER FERGUSON, McCall, ID
Administered by Allens’ Book of Mormon Tours
November 8 – 19, 2025 (12 days)
$3,295 per person
double occupancy with 20—29 travelers
$3,095 per person
double occupancy with 30 + travelers
Includes all internal
air flights.
Does not include flights
from the U.S. to Guatemala City or from Mexico City back to the U.S.
Those costs vary among
travelers who leave from and return to different U.S. airports.
On this tour, you will follow Book of
Mormon
history from the City Nephi in the land of Nephi to the land of Zarahemla,
concluding in Mexico City, which is the Book of Mormon’s land northward. Over 80%
of Book of Mormon history is proposed as having taken place in
the areas visited on this deluxe tour.
You will visit five LDS temples, nine archaeological sites and museums,
and twelve locations associated with the Book of Mormon.
“Proposed” in this itinerary means the
collective conclusions among highly regarded Latter-day Saint scholars over
decades of study including Wells Jakeman, PhD, BYU’s first Department of
Archaeology chairman, Bruce Warren, PhD in archaeology, BYU professor, John
Sorenson, PhD in anthropology, BYU professor, Garth Norman, MA from BYU in
archaeology and anthropology, and Joseph Allen, PhD from BYU in ancient and
modern scripture.
DAY by DAY ITINERARY
Day 1: Saturday, November 8, Guatemala City
Our
flights from the USA take us to Guatemala City, the land of eternal spring.
Upon arrival we will transfer to our hotel. Reading: Moroni chapters 1-10. (No
meals included today)
Day 2: Sunday, November 9, Guatemala City
After
attending sacrament meeting with the local saints, we will visit the Guatemala and
Miraflores LDS temples. There is no overland travel today. As an option after
church, tour members may visit and explore the archaeological zone Kaminaljuyu,
proposed as the City Nephi, established in the 6th century BC after
Nephi left his family's coastal land of first inheritance along with his
followers.
Those
who visit Kaminaljuyu will then visit the large outdoor Guatemala relief map in
order to orient ourselves with the geographical overview of the country’s relationship
to the Book of Mormon. We are in the same hotel all day so visits
to Kaminaljuyu and the outdoor relief map are optional. We conclude our day
with a delicious Argentine steak dinner. Reading: Mosiah chapters 9-22.
(Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 3: Monday, November 10, Guatemala City
Our
air flight will take us to the awe-inspiring, Maya archaeological zone of
Tikal, occupied from 600 BC to AD 750. This dense rain forest is considered by
most LDS scholars/writers to be the East Wilderness where the Nephites, under
Captain Moroni’s leadership, built many fortified cities during the 1st century
BC (see Alma 50:7-15). New evidence shows a strong relationship between
Teotihuacan near Mexico City and Tikal at the Book of Mormon
history’s close, which resulted in the Nephite nation’s downfall. In the early evening,
we will take a return flight to Guatemala City. Alma chapters 43-52. (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 4: Tuesday, November 11, Antigua
This
morning, we will visit the National Museum of Archaeology where we will discuss
Kaminaljuyu’s Alter 10, an altar that dates to 147 BC and probably represents a
transfer of kingship from King Noah to his son Limhi at the City Nephi (see
Mosiah 18 & 19). We will then bus to Antigua, Guatemala's original Spanish
capitol. You will enjoy this quaint colonial city with cobble stone streets and
Spanish architecture. We will see several buildings that date to the 16th
and 17th centuries.
We
will visit the jade factory and learn how jade, the most precious stone to the
Maya, was found and made into beautiful jewelry and other items. We will spend
the night in a 500-year-old convent, restored to the first-class Casa Santo
Domingo Hotel with an amazing atmosphere of history, plants and beauty. Reading:
2 Nephi chapter 5 and Alma chapter 22. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 5: Wednesday, November 12, Lake Atitlan
Today
we depart Antigua continuing by bus to Lake Atitlan. En route, we will pass by
the Cakchiquel Maya village of Patzicia, almost destroyed by a 1976 earthquake.
We will recount the courage and faith of the missionaries and members of the
Patzicia Stake. We will continue our trek to Panajachel Village on Lake
Atitlan’s shore. Flanked by three dramatic volcanoes, Lake Atitlan has been a
scenic retreat for over 2000 years. It is proposed as the Waters of Mormon
where Alma organized the church of Christ in the first century BC after Abinadi
was burned to death by King Noah at the City Nephi (see Mosiah chapters 18 and
19).
We
cruise on Lake Atitlan and see the area where three Book of Mormon-time-period
cities were covered by water during the destruction when the Savior was crucified.
Two of these three cities, Jerusalem, Onihah, or Mocum, are probably those discovered
by archaeologists underwater at Lake Atitlan.
See 3 Nephi 9:7 “….and waters have I caused to come up in the stead
thereof….” We will have time for shopping or relaxing. Blake Allen will
present a fireside this evening. Reading: Mosiah chapter 18 & Alma chapters
17-21. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 6: Thursday, November 13, Quetzaltenango
After
breakfast, we will depart for Chichicastenango. Today is market day in the town
where the native Mayan Popol Vuh document was
discovered. Like the Book of
Mormon, the Popol Vuh was written in ancient Hebrew parallelism style, also
known as chiasmas, and it chronicles events relating to the creation of the
world, the fall of man, Satan, and a Garden of Eden, much like the Old
Testament’s Genesis account.
We
will continue as we pick up Alma’s trail and make our way through the
wilderness to the Valley of Alma. Our journey will take us to Quetzaltenango,
Guatemala’s second largest city, and the location of Guatemala's second temple,
which we see before checking into our hotel that overlooks the city
square. Reading: Mosiah chapters 19-24.
(Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 7: Friday, November 14, Tapachula, Mexico
After
checking out of our hotel, we will visit Almolonga, a village renowned for its
pure water and lush year-round vegetable produce. This is probably the valley
of Helam occupied by Alma and his followers for about 25 years (Mosiah chapters
23 & 24), and for good reason. Almolonga is called the “Vegetable Basket
of the Americas,” because its growing season is year-round, unlike most of
Mesoamerica, which has wet (growing) and dry seasons. It is also referred to as
“Tierra de las Verduras Gigantes” (Land of the Giant Vegetables.)
We
will then travel down from Guatemala’s highlands to the Pacific coast where we
will cross the border into Mexico and check into our hotel in Tapachula, the
area of Lehi’s land of first inheritance. Reading: 1 Nephi 8-11. (Breakfast,
Dinner)
Day 8: Saturday, November 15, Tuxtla Gutierrez
Today
we will visit the archaeological site Izapa. While visiting Izapa, we will see
Stela 5, the “Tree of Life Stone.” This 15-ton engraved stone was carved about 300
BC and most LDS scholars have a high confidence level that it depicts Lehi’s
dream as recorded in 1st Nephi. Following our Izapa visit we will bus along the
Pacific coast passing by the area of the “day and a half’s journey,” which we
will discuss, as well as the area of Ammonihah as we travel to the Chiapas
valley, the likely Land of Zarahemla where the Nephites had their headquarters
for 550 years (Omni 1:13-15 and Mormon 2:28-29). Reading: Omni, Alma chapters 1-5.
(Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 9: Sunday, November 16, Tuxtla Gutierrez
After
sacrament meeting with the local saints, we will visit Tuxtla’s LDS temple.
There is no overland travel today, and we are in the same hotel all day. After
church, those who want to will visit the Tuxtla Gutierrez Regional Museum.
Tuxtla is Mexico's Chiapas state capitol, which has many pre-Classic (Book
of Mormon) sites and artifacts, including an engraved stone that
manifests the early long count date, December 9, 36 B.C. If time permits, those
who want to will visit Tuxtla's zoo and see the majestic Quetzal bird,
Guatemala's national bird that became symbolic of the white god Quetzalcoatl
and is believed by LDS Mesoamerican scholars to be Jesus Christ. (See Helaman
chapter 4). Reading: Alma chapters 6-10. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 10: Monday, November 17, Mexico City
We
begin our day with a visit to the archaeological zone Chiapa de Corzo, a good
candidate for the Book of Mormon’s City Sidom (See Alma 15:1-8).
As a teenager in 1958, Tom visited Chiapa de Corzo with his father, Thomas
Stuart Ferguson, president, and founder of the New World Archaeological
Foundation (NWAF), which in 1961 became the BYU NWAF. In 1958, NWAF was
excavating Chiapa de Corzo.
We
will then take a boat ride through the majestic Sumidero Canyon on the Grijalva
River, with walls towering 3000 feet above us. The Grijalva is proposed as the Book
of Mormon's River Sidon. Afterwards, we will transfer to the airport
for a flight to Mexico City. Readings: Alma chapters 11-15. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 11: Tuesday, November 18, Mexico City
Our
final day begins with a visit to the world-famous archaeological site
Teotihuacan. Occupied from about 200 BC to AD 900, Teotihuacan was one of the
largest populated cities in the world during its peak. The inspiring pyramids
of the Sun and Moon attract millions of visitors to this, Mexico's most popular
archaeological zone, an ideal candidate for the great city built by King Jacob
of the Gadianton Robbers (See 3 Nephi 7). Teotihuacan probably had a strong
political connection to Tikal, which we visit on Day 3, during the Book
of Mormon history.
After
lunch at the pyramids, we will return to Mexico City to visit the National
Museum of Anthropology, one of the most spectacular archaeological museums in
the world. Touring the museum will provide us with an excellent review of our
tour and expose us to many beautiful exhibits ranging from ancient pottery to
gold and jade jewelry. (Breakfast,
Lunch)
Day 12: Wednesday, November 19, Flights Home
Transferring
to the airport, we will check in for our flights home. Our journey to the Book
of Mormon lands has come to an end, but we will take with us memories
that will last a lifetime. (No meals provided today)
Included in the Tour:
● 11
nights of accommodation at 4-star or best available hotels in the area.
● Three
internal air flights (a $480 value).
● Two
or more meals daily except on the first and last days.
● First-class
bus transportation.
● Entrance
fees and guide service to places listed on the itinerary.
● Taxes
and tips on group items (bell boys, guides, drivers, waiters, etc.)
● A
copy of Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon by Dr. Joseph
L. Allen and Blake Joseph Allen.
● Literature
and maps pertaining to your tour.
● Escorted
by professional tour director Blake Joseph Allen.
A $500
tour deposit per person is due in order to reserve your space on the tour. A
second payment of $1,000 per person is due 6 months prior to departure with the
final payment due 60 days prior to departure. The deposit amount is
non-refundable; however, it may be transferred to another tour if taken within
12 months of the original scheduled tour departure. See terms and conditions
for details.
Not included in the Tour:
● Airfare
from the U.S. to Guatemala City and from Mexico City back to the U.S.—travelers
depart from and return to different
airports
●
Third meal when not included in the itinerary
●
Additional beverages at group meals
●
All personal expenses, travel, and health insurance
●
Airport and country departure taxes
●
Anything not mentioned in the above “Included” section
Additional Information:
●
$715 extra cost for single occupancy in hotels
●
3% fee will be added to bookings paid with a credit card
●
Provided meals are noted at the end of each day.
●
Time will be given for optional third meals or snacks during the day.
● Prices
and itineraries are subject to change.
Call today to book your space on this deluxe Book of
Mormon experience. 1.801.226.5200 or email us at [email protected].
Let
the Book of Mormon change your life…. Again! ®
Allens’ Book of Mormon Tours
PO Box 938
Richfield, UT 84701
Telephone: (801) 226-5200
[email protected]
www.BookOfMormonTours.com
