Philip Abbott is a visiting assistant professor at Brigham Young University. He received a PhD in Ancient Christianity from Stanford University, an MA in Biblical Studies from Yale Divinity School, an MA in New Testament Studies from Pepperdine University, and a BM in Cello Performance from BYU, where he also minored in Classics. Prior to joining BYU’s faculty in 2023, Philip taught courses at Spelman College and Stanford University. When he isn’t teaching or writing, Philip enjoys traveling, reading, making music, and studying German.

Hilary Craner is a mom of four who is all about the simple joys in life. She’s a cookie dough and peanut butter chocolate ice cream aficionado, with a sandy beach or mountain trail as her dream escape. Laughter is her daily dose of happiness, and she’s a firm believer in Jesus Christ. By day, she’s a creative graphic designer who loves to sprinkle positivity and inspiration into her designs. In a nutshell, she’s a mom, an outdoor lover, a laughter guru, a faithful soul, and a designer on a mission to spread joy.

Holly Richardson is the editor of Utah Policy and a columnist for the Deseret News. A former Utah legislator, she holds a master’s degree in professional communication and a Ph.D. in political science. In addition to politics, Dr. Richardson has written on peace building, conflict resolution, refugees, faith, family and more. She and her husband, Greg, are the parents of a large and unique family.

Camey Andersen has seen the blessings of education change her own life and now works to provide educational opportunities for others as Lead Manager of Strategy and Research and Africa West Area Manager for the Succeed in School program for the Church. Several years ago, she returned to school to earn her Ph.D. in Instructional Psychology and Technology, and she teaches at Brigham Young University as an Adjunct Instructor. Many of her publications focus on mentoring, and she sees mentoring as key to gaining a vision for who you can become. She is the mother of four adult children and Cece to five wonderful grandchildren!

Hope was born and raised in Mesa, AZ where her ancestors pioneered the area. Family is her dearest possession, and she loves to travel. The Gospel has always been the most important principle in Hope's life. She loves gaining more light and knowledge while diving deeper into the scriptures.

Michelle is a Mum of 6 amazing people that she is lucky to call her best friends, she is a grandma to a heavenly granddaughter and two grandsons. She married her best friend 29 years ago, the best decision of her life. She currently serves as a Seminary teacher, and Bishop’s wife. She is a driving force behind the family business – the Latter-day Bookstore in Chorley, UK. She is an author and publisher, initially in the Arts & Crafts industry, latterly for an LDS audience. Her next book will be published in 2025 and it has been a labour of love. She is a games designer, check out ‘It’s a Fact: Temples’ a game she made for her children and now wants it to bless other families’ lives. Michelle has a ‘so what’ approach to the gospel and the scriptures – trying to always get to the ‘why?’ and what makes the messages relevant to her today. She is an advocate for those on the margins of the gospel, her greatest wish in the world is that people really understood that they are a child of a loving Father in Heaven, and that HE has a plan for them right here and right now. We are all precious to Him.

Lori grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah and met her husband at the University of Utah. For the past 33 years they have lived in nine different states and raised five amazing children. They currently reside in Missouri. Lori earned a BS degree in Elementary Education but spent most of her life being a mom. She was honored to be selected as the Young Mother of the Year for the state of Nevada in 2004. Her pride and joy are her children. This year she became a grammy of two darling little girls. She didn’t know her heart could love this much!

Tara Hall was born in California, and even though she currently lives in Utah, she considers herself a Texan. In 2010, she graduated from BYU-Idaho with a Bachelor of Science in English, with an emphasis on Editing. After graduation, she somehow ended up in the insurance world. In 2017, she decided to go back to school to get a degree in one of her favorite things: genealogy! She balanced working full time and going to school, and eventually graduated with an Associate of Applied Science in Family History Research, thanks to popcorn and Coke Zero. After taking a leap of faith, she left her job for a part time, temporary position at the Granite Mountain Record Vaults. She then was able to land her dream job at a large genealogy company and is loving every minute of it! In her “free time”, you will find her singing with Millennial Choirs and Orchestras, taking horseback riding lessons, spending time with her best friends (her family!), and cross stitching with her cat in her lap. She is currently accepting applications for travel companions so she can go to all the countries on her list! She loves England and Wales (Cymru am byth!) and is currently learning the Welsh language. She loves Jesus Christ and is so grateful for the gospel, especially temples and eternal families!

Jenet Jacob Erickson is an associate professor in Religious Education at Brigham Young University. The 5th of 11 children, she was raised on a small farm in Orem, Utah, where they did lots of music together. She received a PhD in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota, after completing a bachelor’s degree in Nursing, and master’s degree in Linguistics -TESOL at BYU. She is a research fellow of both the Wheatley Institution and the Institute for Family Studies and has been a columnist on family issues for the Deseret News since 2013. She and her husband, Michael, have been blessed with two children, LaDawn (age 13) and Peter (age 10), who provide them unending opportunities for learning and joy. When not studying about or writing about the family, she loves learning, traveling and doing music with her family.

Brandon has worked as a religious educator for 17 years. He currently teaches at the University of Utah Institute and as an adjunct instructor at BYU. He met and married Danielle Taylor 20 years ago while they were students at BYU, and they are the parents of 6 fantastic kids. Brandon earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from BYU, as well as a master's degree in family and human development and a PhD in education, both from Utah State University. His passions include dating Danielle, game nights with their kids, and rating hamburgers.