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Nicole Christensen Fernley is a writer, editor, and photographer who currently serves as a senior editor for the Church Historian’s Press, which publishes the Joseph Smith Papers.

Rhea Maynes

Rhea Maynes was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. She holds a degree in neuroscience from Brigham Young University and is the director of BYU’s Black Alumni Association.

Ashli Elizabeth Carnicelli

Ashli Carnicelli is a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from her Catholic upbringing in Boston. Ashli enjoys writing and sharing her testimony of Christ. She and her husband, Tony, are the parents of four daughters and reside in Charleston, South Carolina.

Debby Barney

Debby Barney is a mom to her three beautiful kids, two boys and one girl. She has been happily married to her childhood sweetheart for 20 years and there is no one else in the world that she loves to adventure with more than her husband Jake. They enjoy doing just about everything and nothing together all at the same time. Debby and Tammy met and became good friends while serving together in the Young Women’s program in their ward. Debby has been serving in her wards Young Women for over 7 years and absolutely loves it. She feels as though it is the perfect combination of learning for her own spiritual growth and opportunity to teach and serve others. Debby has had a deep love for the scriptures since she was young and loves any opportunity she has to discuss and learn from them.

JeaNette Smith

Bret and JeaNette Smith served as mission president and companion of the Santo Domingo East Mission in the Dominican Republic from 2017 to 2020. They spent 32 months witnessing miracles that had nothing to do with the COVID-19 virus. They retired from their careers—Bret as a general manager at United Technologies and JeaNette as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist—to serve their mission. Bret is currently serving as a bishop of the San Jose Spanish-speaking ward in Jacksonville, Florida. Jeanette is the author of Side by Side: Supporting a Spouse in Church Service, which she wrote the first time Bret served as a bishop. She is currently working on a novel about missionaries in the Dominican Republic. Bret and JeaNette are the parents of four married children and 12 grandchildren.

Sherry Dial

Northern born and southern raised, Sherry married her longtime college friend, Brent, and together they live in Knoxville with Team Dial: Peyton (12), Mia (10), and Christian (6). She is a Marketing and DEI Advisor through her own company Dial Services, LLC, which focuses on improving processes that spurs growth within organizations including her first clients, Alexis and Chantè of Let’s Talk Sis. She loves to read books, eat ice cream and walk outdoors in her neighborhood.

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Heather James

Heather James was raised (mostly) in California, met her husband, Harvey, at BYU, and has two adult children. After 35 years (and with much trepidation), she recently applied to BYU to finish her bachelor’s degree. Heather is a recent brain cancer survivor and gives thanks every day for her life, her faith, and her Savior who was by her side every step of the way. She loves history, puzzles, ice cream and playing the piano (not necessarily in that order). Heather and her husband live in Columbia, Missouri.

Larrie Christensen

Larrie Woolf Christensen was born in Idaho Falls Idaho but spent most of her growing up years in Salt Lake City Utah. Her family moved to Anaheim California when she graduated from high school and it was there that she met her late husband, O. Brent Christensen. They were married in 1964 in the Salt Lake Temple. She continues to mourn his loss and misses his steadying influence, his wonderful smile and his loyal and faithful companionship. They have four children and Larrie currently lives in Columbia Missouri near their two oldest daughters.