Ron Anderson has a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Studies/Biblical Hebrew from the University of Utah. He has Bachelors and Masters degrees from Brigham Young University as well. His Masters degree is in Ancient Near Eastern Studies. He has taught in the Church Educational System for 24 years, including two years at BYU and Utah Valley State College. He is currently teaching at BYU Idaho as a member of the Religion faculty. Ron has had many rare and unique teaching opportunities during his career, including spending the summer term of 1998 as an Instructor at the BYU Jerusalem Center in Israel.

Ron has extensive knowledge and experience in touring and travel. He has directed several Church History/American Heritage Tours with BYU Travel Study and has spent considerable time researching the Mormon Trail.

Ron has also had the opportunity to direct many tours to Israel, Sinai, and Egypt. He has done so with BYU Travel Study, BYU Semester Abroad Program, Shalom Tours, and Murdock Travel. In 1995 Ron, his wife Jill, and their five children had the opportunity to live in Israel for a year and a half while Ron enrolled in the Ulpan where he studied the Hebrew language extensively. His touring experience combined with his teaching experience is a tremendous resource to us all as we visit and discover these rich sites together.

Clark served his mission in the Netherlands/Belgium Mission. He received Bachelors and Masters degrees from BYU. He is currently working on a PhD. He has taught in the Church Educational System for 15 years now and is currently the Institute Director at the Laramie Institute. Clark is a speaker and Session Director for the CES Youth & Family Programs at EFY [Especially For Youth]. He and his wife Sheri are the happy parents of six children.

Clark has over twenty years of travel experience and expertise. He has spent the majority of his life traveling to the Holy Land and Church History sites. He has extensive experience in the Holy Land. He has been to Israel on eleven different occasions, including three with BYU Travel Study–one as a student and seven as a Director and host of Shalom Tours and Anderson Tours. Clark spent the summer of 2000 in Israel as a student at an Ulpan learning Hebrew.

Clark has extensive experience with Church History sites and Tours as well. On two occasions Clark has been an ‘Assistant Director’ for the Church History/American Heritage Tours for BYU Travel Study. In the past eight years he has organized and been involved in eleven Church History/American Heritage Tours. The last nine he organized, hosted and directed. On top of teaching and touring experience Clark adds a unique touch of music and fun to the Tour that helps make the experience both personal and memorable.

John served a mission to London England from 1987-89. While there, he participated in the sesquicentennial celebration of the church in the British Isles, spear-headed by his mission president, Wendell Ashton. This experience combined with his service in Britain has given John a unique and profound appreciation for church history in this part of the world. After returning from his mission, John married his lovely wife Ruth who was born and raised in England. They are the parents of six children, including two sets of twins!

John has been teaching in the Church Educational System now for 13 years and is currently an instructor at the Laramie Institute where he is also working on a PhD. He has participated in American church history tours with his family and church and loves visiting these sacred sites. Because of his mission experiences and his visits to England with his family, John wanted to tour the church history sites in Great Britain as well. Consequently, he has planned, organized and directed two tours to this ancestral country so rich in heritage and tradition. His knowledge of the people, culture, language (yes they do speak a wee bit differently!) and church history helps him provide a meaningful and unforgettable tour to this awe-inspiring land.

Brent Poulsen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah where he lived until he was 10 years old. He then moved with his family to Highland, Utah. There he attended American Fork High School and graduated in 1986. He served in the England Coventry Mission from 1987-1989. He received Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Brigham Young University in Sociology and Math Education respectively. However, do not expect him to solve any complicated math problems—see Clark Anderson for those! He married Molly Despain in 1991 and they are the parents of six children.

Brent has been employed in the Church Educational System since 1994 and has been and is currently teaching Seminary in Richfield, Utah. He has been involved in organizing and conducting two church history tours to The British Isles over the past several years and enjoys studying and teaching church history. He will be happy to carry your bag and umbrella as he has done for his fellow tour guide Johnny Williams these past several years!

Kristy is originally from Simi Valley, CA, but recently purchased a new home in Provo, Utah. Kristy has a Masters Degree from the University of Phoenix in Education and a Bachelors Degree from Brigham Young University in Marriage, Family, Human Development. She is in her seventh year with the Church Educational System teaching seminary and is currently teaching in Orem, Utah.

Kristy’s hobbies and interests include: decorating her new house, reading, cooking, camping, hiking, running, all sports, photography, video editing, teaching, and hanging out with her two favorite people, her best friend Erica and her niece, Vanessa. Kristy loves the youth and traveling! And the youth love traveling with Kristy! She makes every moment fun and memorable. She puts her heart and soul into every trip and strives to make each trip the best trip ever!

Kristy has led youth and families on trips to Europe for 3 summers in a row and has taken a group to Central America as well. She has loved every minute of it and has helped make it possible for hundreds of people to see more of this beautiful world we live in. She is especially thrilled to lead the Patriots and Pioneers trip for a second time this summer!

Erica was born and raised in Utah Valley. She attended Snow College, and graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelors degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences and Business. She has a Masters of Education degree from the University of Phoenix, and currently teaches full time seminary in Pleasant Grove, Utah. She served in the Norway, Oslo mission from 1998-2000.

Erica enjoys traveling and has had many opportunities to visit fascinating places around the world. She loves working with the youth of the church, and has recently combined both loves by helping direct tours for the youth to Europe, Central America and the American & Church History sites. She is excited for her second summer with the Patriots and Pioneers tour.

Hiking, camping, running, and laughing with her family and friends are at the top of Erica’s list of hobbies. She’s hilarious (or at least thinks she is) and is fun to have along on any trip! Erica is involved in much of the behind-the-scenes clerical work with Anderson Tours, and she’s grateful to be included as a tour director.

A former Episcopalian and having grown up in Fairfax, Virginia, Brother Purse converted to the Church 29 years ago. His interest was sparked by a visit to the Washington, D.C. Temple Visitor’s Center. After his baptism in Northern Virginia, he transferred from VA Tech to BYU, and then went on a Spanish-speaking mission to New York City. He then returned to BYU where he met his wife, Martha Campbell, in the Sunday School class Brother Purse was teaching. Sister Purse is from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and she also is a convert to the Church. They have 5 children–a son and four daughters. Brother Purse has served in many Church callings and currently serves as a Bishop of his home ward in Rexburg, Idaho.

Brother Purse has a B.A. and M.A. from BYU, and a Ph.D. from Ohio University. During his 23-year CES career he has taught Early Morning and Home Study Seminary, Institute on university campuses in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, and has been responsible for training hundreds of Seminary and Institute teachers in 4 states, 5 stakes, and 2 mission districts. For the past 10 years, Bro. Purse has taught in the Religion Department at BYU-Idaho, teaching such courses as the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the New Testament, and World Religions. He has also been a regular Education Week presenter, has spoken at a BYU-Idaho devotional, and has been the speaker at many firesides. In May of 2006 he directed a Religious History tour to Europe, and he has co-directed 3 other Europe tours since 2000.

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.