Ben Diamond was born in Manchester, England. He served a mission in the Christchurch New Zealand Mission from 1986-1988. He has a Bachelors of Science degree in Family Science and a Masters in Education.
Ben is married to Andrea Diamond, a native of Colorado. They have five children and currently reside in Broomfield, Colorado. Ben has worked for the Church Educational System for 11 years.
John McLay earned a Bachelors degree in English from Brigham Young University (1998), and a Masters degree in Sociology from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (2003).
His teaching experience began as a full-time missionary serving in the Portugal Lisbon North Mission (1992-1994). After his mission, he worked as a teacher and supervisor in the Portuguese/Spanish department of the Missionary Training Center in Provo Utah (1995-1997). He is now employed by the Church Educational System and works as the Principal and teacher of the Colorado Springs Colorado Released-time Seminary (1998-Present) and as a part-time Institute teacher. During the summer months, he is a speaker and Session Director for Especially for Youth, a division of CES Youth and Family Programs. John is a captivating speaker and an excellent presenter.
John resides in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado with his wife, Brooke. They have four children (Andrew, Rebecca, Jacob, and Alyssa). He and his family have lived in Colorado Springs since 1998. He currently serves as a Stake High Councilor in the Colorado Springs Colorado East Stake.
Grateful for his association with Anderson Tours, John anxiously awaits the opportunity to make your acquaintance and experience together the great adventures offered through the unique, personalized, and affordable LDS tours.
Jerry Redd was raised in southern California and saw snow fall for the first time when he moved with his family to Utah at the age of 16. He served a mission in Peru, South America. He received his Master’s Degree in Ancient Near East Studies and recently completed a Ph.D. in Family Science and Human Development. Jerry has worked in the LDS Church Educational System for twenty years, has taught at BYU for five years, and at the Orem Institute of Religion for three years. He has a passion for family football excursions, his dating and courtship classes, and pina coladas. He has a great love for the geography, language, people, spirit, and scriptures of the ancient Near East and Central America. He and his wife Beverly are the parents of seven children.
Jerry Hansen was born in Munich, Germany and was raised in several places, the most formative years being in Nebraska, Iowa, and Flagstaff, Arizona. He served a mission in France and Switzerland from 1974 to 1976. He received his B.A. in English literature from Eastern Oregon State College and his M.A. in English literature from BYU.
Jerry taught released-time seminary for five years in Kuna, Idaho, then became the Institute director at Purdue University from 1984 to 1988. He joined the Religion Department at BYUI as a teacher in 1988. Besides teaching numerous scripture courses, Jerry established and taught the Christian History and World Religion courses for many years. He was head of Ricks College General Education Committee from 1990 to 1994. In addition, he was the director of the International Studies program at BYUI from 2002 to 2005.
In 2008, Jerry joined the History and Political Science department at BYUI. Among the courses that he teaches for that department is a class on Western European Peoples and Cultures.
Jerry has directed over a half-dozen tours to Europe for both students and adults. Married to Sharlene Wilkerson, he and his wife have eight children.
Mark Spencer has taught for the Church Educational System for 15 years. He has taught in Cache Valley, Utah; Evanston, Wyoming; and Ogden, Utah as a released time seminary teacher and seminary principal. He is currently assigned as the Colorado North Coordinator and teaches institute at the Fort Collins Institute of Religion. Mark also speaks for the CES Youth & Family Programs at EFY [Especially For Youth]. He loves to teach the gospel and believes that learning about the gospel should be a joyful experience.
Mark graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelors degree in Marketing and also received his MBA from Utah State University. Mark is married to Laura Nelson, and has four kids; Hayden 12, Jessica 9, Alyssa 6, and Corbin 4. He loves being with his family and coaching sports for his kids’ soccer and basketball teams. He loves to travel with his wife and family and misses them when they are not with him. He loves all sports but especially basketball. He also enjoys hunting, fishing, skiing, water sports, and working with computers.
The gospel is the most important thing in Mark’s life and he believes that everything he is, has and has ever done of any value is directly related to his membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Patrick A. Bishop is married to Elizabeth J. Contreras, and father of four children (Three boys and a girl). He received his Bachelors of Science degree from Montana State University in Health and Human Development with an emphasis in Family and Consumer Science Extension and Education. He then completed his Masters of Science in Human Devlopement from Utah State University. Bro. Bishop taught early morning Seminary for 3 years before being hired by the Church Educational System. He is currently the Coordinator for the Casper Stake in Wyoming. Patrick loves the out of doors and is very much at home in Wyoming. He and his family are often seen fishing the Platte river on holidays and evenings. He currently lives in the country and enjoys the country life style and riding his horses. Bro. Bishop’s most recent contribution to Church Studies is his recent identification of an orginal photograph of Oliver Cowdery, second elder of the Church.
