Ultimate Church History Tour
September 1 – 11, 2025
Embark on a profound journey of discovery and spiritual enrichment on our Ultimate Church History Tour with Tom Pettit. Walk in the footsteps of early Church pioneers across sacred sites from Palmyra, New York, to the historic streets of Nauvoo, Illinois. Experience the serene beauty of the Sacred Grove, feel the echoes of the past in Kirtland, and explore the pivotal places of Missouri, culminating in the rich heritage of Nauvoo. With each step, immerse yourself in the stories and revelations that shaped a faith, guided by the insights of experienced tour guide Tom Pettit.
Register Here
September 1
Today you will fly into Syracuse, New York. There are no group activities today so you can fly anytime that is most convenient for you.
September 2
We will spend a full day seeing the sites in Palmyra. Our stops will include the Sacred Grove, the Smith Family Farm, the rebuilt log home where the Moroni visits took place, the Hill Cumorah, the Grandin Press (where the Book of Mormon was first published), the Martin Harris Farm, the Palmyra Cemetery, and the exterior of the Palmyra Temple. There will be time to attend the Palmyra Temple this evening for those interested. (Breakfast and Lunch provided)
September 3
Today we travel to Harmony, PA and the Susquehanna River. It was here that the Priesthood was restored and where most of the Book of Mormon was translated. The new Priesthood Restoration Site was dedicated in September 2016. The site now includes the Joseph and Emma Smith Home, the Isaac Hale Home, statues, historical markers, and a new Visitors’ Center. We will keep to our chronological order of Church history by then traveling to Fayette, NY where we will visit the Peter Whitmer Farm. This is where the Church was officially organized. It was also in Fayette that the Three Witnesses saw the angel and the plates. Some of the Book of Mormon was also translated at the Whitmer Farm. (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner provided)
September 4
We will spend several hours at Niagara Falls today. There are many attractions to participate in, including the Maid of the Mist boat ride which will give us an up-close view of the Falls. Later, we will make our way to Kirtland. (Breakfast, and Dinner provided)
September 5
The day will start with a tour of the interior of the Kirtland Temple. It was here that the Savior appeared to Joseph and Oliver. Moses, Elias, and Elijah also appeared and restored Keys of the Priesthood. We will visit the Visitors’ Center, the Newell K. Whitney home (where Joseph and Emma lived) and the Newell K. Whitney store (which included the School of the Prophets and where many revelations, including the Word of Wisdom, were received). We will also visit the John Johnson Inn (where the Church periodical The Evening and Morning Star was published), the reconstructed Kirtland Schoolhouse, and the Kirtland Ashery along with a reconstructed water-powered sawmill. We will visit the Morley Farm where General Conference was held, the Father and the Son appeared, where missionaries were first sent from, and where the first High Priests of this dispensation were ordained. We will also see the exterior of homes belonging to Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, and Sidney Rigdon. We will have a catered lunch at the Chaplin Forest Stone Quarry where much of the stone for the Kirtland Temple was obtained. (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner provided)
September 6
Our day begins in Hiram, Ohio at the John Johnson Farm. It was here that Section 76 was received. Joseph and Sidney saw the Celestial Kingdom, the Father and the Savior, and many other things in the upper room of this home. This is a very sacred place. In the afternoon, we will fly from Cleveland, Ohio to Kansas City, Missouri. We fly to Kansas City to avoid a 10 hour bus ride, plus it keeps the sites we visit in chronological order. This flight is INCLUDED in the price of the tour. (Breakfast and Dinner provided)
September 7
We will join a local ward for Sacrament Meeting this morning before we start the Missouri portion of our Church History Tour. It will be a full day of sightseeing. We will visit the Visitors’ Center in Independence, the reconstructed Liberty Jail, and the cornerstones of the future temple in Far West. We will also visit Adam-ondi-Ahman and discuss the great future Sacrament meeting which will be held there. As we travel between these sites, we will listen on the bus about the Missouri Experience, Mormon Battalion, Zion’s Camp, and the Pioneers. (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner provided)
September 8
Today is our first day in Nauvoo! The day will be spent seeing the sites of Nauvoo which include Joseph Smith’s home and grave site, the Red Brick Store, the Visitors Center, the Relief Society Statue Gardens, Carriage & Wagon rides, the Seventies Hall, Brigham Young’s home, Wilford Woodruff’s home, Heber C. Kimball’s home, and many other historical sites. You may also want to visit the Land and Records Center to discover your personal Nauvoo heritage. (Breakfast and Dinner provided)
September 9
Our second full day in Nauvoo! Look through our detailed itinerary for a full listing of everything there is to do in Nauvoo. Our day will begin by visiting the sites we missed yesterday before taking a walk down the Trail of Hope. It was here that the Saints took their first steps toward the Salt Lake Valley. There will be time to attend the Nauvoo Temple before dinner. (Breakfast and Dinner provided)
September 10
We will start our day at Carthage Jail. It was here that Joseph and Hyrum sealed their testimonies as martyrs. The rest of the day will be spent enjoying Nauvoo. We will walk the Trail of Hope (or you can ride along in the bus). There will be time to attend the Nauvoo Temple again today. After dinner, we will travel to St. Louis, MO. (Breakfast and Dinner provided)
September 11
The free hotel shuttle will transfer you to the airport for your flight home from the St. Louis, MO airport. There are no group activities today so you can fly anytime that is most convenient for you. (Breakfast provided)
Pricing Information
Prices include: Deluxe chartered bus, all hotels, almost every meal, personal tour guide (Tom Pettit), on bus history lectures and stories, all fees, Maid of the Mist boat ride at Niagara Falls, and the mid-tour flight from Cleveland, OH to Kansas City, MO. Price does not include airfare to Syracuse, NY or home from St. Louis, MO. Please see below for additional airfare information. Listed prices are per person and based on room occupancy.
$2,399
Quad Occupancy
$2,599
Triple Occupancy
$2,799
Double Occupancy
$3,399
Single Occupancy
Frequently Asked Questions
Click on the arrows below to find out more details about this tour.
Booking Requirements
Participants should anticipate walking unassisted at least 3 miles each day. An initial payment of $300, per person, is required to confirm your reservations. This payment is applied to your total amount due.
Terms and Conditions
All Rates are per person and based on hotel room occupancy. Prices listed are cash/check prices. If you wish to pay by credit card, the bank’s 2.9% transaction fee will be added to your final balance. There is no fee to use a card when registering.
Temples
If the temples are open when we are there, you will have the opportunity to attend the Palmyra Temple and the Nauvoo Temple during the tour.
Flights
You will need to purchase two one-way flights. The first flight on September 1, 2025 is from your home airport to Syracuse, NY (airport code SYR). The second flight is to your home airport on September 11, 2025 from St. Louis, MO (airport code STL). I am happy to help you locate the best price and the best itinerary for your flights, but you will ultimately book directly with the airline carrier.
Buses
Our deluxe chartered bus provides the best comfort available for our journey. We only charter the best buses and also the best professional drivers. We will only take one bus on this tour. Having one bus allows our guide to spend the whole day with you telling the history, doctrine, and stories. Plus, if you join a tour with more than one bus, you end up spending all of your time waiting in line for meals and the restroom!
A Word of Thanks
Thank you for considering the Ultimate Church History Tour with Living Heritage Tours. We are very excited to help those that participate have an incredible experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives!
Tom has become a student of the information taught on this and other Church history tours. He has been teaching the gospel to youth and adults continuously for the last 25 years by serving in various Church callings. Tom served his mission in Australia. He and his wife Lesa have five children and live in Lehi, UT.
Book Your Tour Today
Hear the stories and read the revelations at the actual sites where they took place.Be taught while traveling and while visiting sacred sites by historical guides, set apart missionaries, and each other. We won’t just talk about the history of these places, but how the stories of the past can help us draw closer to the Savior in our everyday lives!