This three-day journey invites you to walk the sacred streets where prophets and apostles once bore testimony. You will explore meaningful landmarks through the perspective of Latter-day Saint faith and biblical heritage. Each itinerary can be customized to your interests and adapted to create a deeply personal experience.
Your day begins on the Mount of Olives, offering breathtaking views of Jerusalem’s Old City. Here you can also enjoy a short camel ride, reminiscent of ancient ways of travel. Next, descend to the peaceful Orson Hyde Memorial Garden, dedicated by the LDS apostle who prayed for the gathering of Israel. You then continue to the Garden of Gethsemane with its ancient olive trees, and nearby the Grotto of Gethsemane, a cave traditionally linked with the disciples’ night of watchfulness. Crossing the Kidron valley, you will also visit the Room of the Last Supper, recalling the Savior’s final teachings and the institution of the sacrament.
Your tour then moves into the Jewish Quarter, where layers of history connect directly with scripture. You will see the remains of the Broad Wall, built in the days of King Hezekiah, and learn of its role in defending the city. Some suggest a hidden passage here may be connected to the story of Nephi’s secret gate, linking LDS scripture with the archaeology of Jerusalem. You will also tour the Herodian Quarter, a lavish priestly neighborhood where some suggest Jesus may have been interrogated.
In the afternoon, you will experience some of Jerusalem’s most sacred Christian sites. At the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest prayer site, you can feel the living devotion of generations. From here you follow the Via Dolorosa, the traditional route of Christ’s passion, leading to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where many believe Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected.
Start the day at the Temple Mount, once home to Solomon’s Temple and later Herod’s magnificent sanctuary. Though entry to the mosques is restricted, the platform itself provides deep insights into biblical temple worship and its parallels in Latter-day Saint theology. Nearby are the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a paralyzed man, a miracle that revealed His divine power and compassion. Next, passing through the imposing Damascus Gate, you feel the vibrant pulse of Jerusalem’s Old City and the enduring energy of its people.
A short walk away lies the Garden Tomb, a serene setting many Latter-day Saints feel reflects the environment of Christ’s burial and resurrection. The nearby cliff face, which appears to resemble a skull, has led some to suggest this was Golgotha. Here you can pause for prayer, reflection, or even a short devotional.
In the afternoon, visit the Israel Museum, beginning in the Archaeological Wing, where countless finds illustrate the world of the Bible and bring scripture to life. Continue to the Dead Sea Scrolls display, connecting to the earliest biblical manuscripts ever found. Finally, you end at the Second Temple Model, an expansive reconstruction of Jerusalem at the time of Christ, providing an invaluable perspective on the sacred city as He knew it.
The morning begins at the Southern Wall Archaeological Park, where you walk the very steps pilgrims once ascended to reach the Temple Mount. Here, you also visit the Davidson Center, which presents in striking detail the history and archaeology of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount through multimedia, models, and ancient finds.
Continue to the City of David, the original heart of Jerusalem. Highlights include the area some identify as the altar of Melchizedek, the Gihon Spring, and walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel, the remarkable water channel carved to protect Jerusalem. You will emerge at the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus healed a blind man, symbolizing His power to give both physical and spiritual sight.
For a special lunch experience, head to the bustling Mahane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem’s most colorful marketplace, where fresh produce, spices, and local treats capture the city’s modern heartbeat. The tour will conclude in Ein Karem, a picturesque village set among hills and springs, celebrated as the traditional birthplace of John the Baptist. Here you can reflect on the prophetic voices that prepared the way for the Savior and close your journey with a sense of peace and renewal.
