26/06/2023
From 1976 - 1978 Randy Hayes served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lima, Peru. He worked for CES teaching Seminary prior to his move with his wife, Laura, and 5 small children to Rexburg, Idaho where he subsequently taught 30 years in the Church Education System as a religion professor at Ricks College/ BYU-Idaho. His teaching included the Doctrine and Covenants, The Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price, The Old and New Testaments, and History of Christianity. In 1995-96 Randy and Laura, along with their 8 children, moved to Jerusalem, Israel where Randy taught at the BYU Jerusalem Center. In 2004 Randy moved from Rexburg with his family to upstate New York and oversaw the building of the Palmyra Inn located adjacent to the Sacred Grove and Palmyra Temple. In addition to running the Palmyra Inn, Randy began a student program headquartered in Palmyra in affiliation with Utah State. In 2014 Randy and Laura again moved from Rexburg to Costa Rica where they served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints until 2018.
Randy Hayes has acted as a Tour Director for Universities as well as a guide for independent touring agencies since 1991. He has led professors, student groups, families, and commercial tours to the Holy Land, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Greece, Rome, Kenya, Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru. Additionally, he has led multiple church history tours to the sacred historical sites of New York, Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois.
In 2019 Randy guided a tour following the travels of the ancient Apostles of the New Testament to Turkey, Greece, and Rome. Shortly thereafter he and his wife returned with another group to the Holy Land. In 2021 Randy and Laura es**rted a group to Peru to explore and experience the rich history and culture of that incredible place.
Randy and Laura embarked on an American & Church History Tour from Vermont to Kirtland in the spring of 2022, and an African Safari and Nile Cruise/ Egypt Tour in the fall. In 2023 they will es**rt 3 family tours to the Holy Land.
In 2024 they are looking forward to guiding other groups to Israel, Turkey, Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Kenya.
Randy and Laura have 9 children and 39 grandchildren with 2 more on the way. They keep busy visiting their children and grandchildren in Utah, Oklahoma, Idaho, Boston, Mississippi, Oregon and Texas.
The following link is a webcast entitled "Jerusalem to Cumorah in 60 minutes" taught by Randy Hayes at BYU-Idaho. This webcast gives insight into Brother Hayes's vast knowledge and passion, and his talent for teaching and sharing his knowledge with others. It is a historical and scriptural outline of exactly that - Jerusalem to Cumorah in 60 minutes.
Randy Hayes’s knowledge of ancient and modern European and Middle Eastern History as well as American and Latter-Day Church History, inspires all whom he teaches gain a love and understanding of these storied people, places, and events. He instills in each person a connection to the past and the part they play in its on-going story.
https://video.byui.edu/media/Lehi+to+MoroniA+Alumni+Webcast/0_m31n495f?fbclid=IwAR0-ykMCiJqDkVrodJlZZwl1hR5LeM4NH0fmBAVJmSvrxtsHTqnnCtJXRlM
Brother Hayes takes you from Lehi to Moroni and Jerusalem to Cumorah in just 60 minutes. This energetic and entertaining explanation of the Book of Mormon is sure to help build your testimony of the book and of Christ.
