Lori Thomas Zubeck was raised in Northern Utah and Littleton, Colorado, the eldest of seven children. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Utah State University where she met her amazing husband, and they began their family of four very active sons. She returned to USU to earn a master’s degree in Instructional Leadership and has been blessed to do what she loves for the past 32 years--teaching students 2nd-8th grades and coordinating district gifted/talented programs. Lori never imagined herself ending up in a small town with all boys, dogs, pheasants, cows, and working on their farm. She has always followed her mom’s best advice, “Bloom where you’re planted!” and life has been very good. She loves real people, kindness, anything summer, cooking, laughter, long walks, watching the cows, Delta sunsets, and hanging out with family and friends.

Amy Sackett grew up in Orem, Utah, USA. She attended college at Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations. In 2005, she served a mission in Utica New York, where she loved sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ every chance she got. She believes there is nothing more important in life than to love God and to love people. Amy and her husband, Alan, live in Holladay, Utah, USA, with their four wonderful children whom they adore. When she has a free minute you can find her enjoying some pebble ice, reading a book, or building a friendship.

Sara and Doug Christensen have been married for nearly 32 years. They went to Junior High and High school together, but only dated after Sara returned from a mission to Portugal. Sara spent several years at BYU, but completed a BA in History at the University of Utah. She runs a business called Jenibee Market with her sister Jeni Gochnour. Sara sells her scented Bluelily Candles and room sprays along with other seasonal crafts at their market and at various outlets along the wasatch front. Sara and Doug enjoy traveling, making food, watching shows, working in the yard, hiking, and playing pickleball together; they enjoy all of the above with their children: Hannah (Brandon), Adelide (Chase), Henry (Kaylie), & Lillie Jane. But above all, they delight in the company of their granddaughters Edith (2) and Posy (6 mo).

Kari Whisenant Howell is a native of Salt Lake City and currently resides in Draper, Utah, with her husband and three children. She holds a bachelor's degree in Human Development from Brigham Young University. She served a Latter-day Saint mission in The Netherlands and Belgium, studied abroad in Jerusalem and she and her family recently returned from living in Tokyo, Japan, for two years. She loves learning from peoples' stories and perspectives. In her free time, Kari loves boating, running, hiking, and hanging out with awesome people. She currently serves with the young women in her ward.

After nearly thirty years of marriage, Jill is a recent widow who spends most of her time “trying to figure things out.” She loves to read, try new foods, and travel (but hates packing!). She and her husband moved so often that home feels like everywhere and nowhere at the same time. She currently lives in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Sandy grew up in Virginia but has lived in six other states as an adult, making friends and memories all along the way. She currently calls the Midwest home, where she is a wife and mother who always has her hands in a project or two. She loves to travel with her family and friends and is currently teaching cooking classes, using her family history research degree, and teaching early morning Seminary with her husband, Greg. Her perfect day would include being surrounded by family and friends, playing games, eating great food, dancing in the kitchen, and trying to convince people to do things that would make her laugh.

Emy was born in Utah but spent most of her childhood in Arizona. She returned to Utah to attend BYU before transferring up to Salt Lake Community College to earn a degree in occupational therapy. It was while working as an occupational therapy assistant at the Utah State Hospital that she met her husband, Greg. They became good friends at work and even went on a couple group dates together (but not with each other). After about two years of friendship, Emy realized that Greg was the one she wanted to be with and invited him over for dinner and Simpsons where she took the plunge and told him how she felt. Luckily, he agreed and they were engaged a couple months later. They just celebrated the 21st anniversary of the day their family began and look forward to many more years together. Emy and Greg have two kids, a son that is getting ready for his first year in college and a daughter looking forward to her senior year of high school. Emy chose to be a full-time mom for most of her kids’ childhood. She recently returned to working, but this time as an elementary school librarian which she loved doing for the past four years. Emy is still at the same school but is now in the office as the assistant secretary. Working with young children has been such a joy and having a school schedule allows enough free time for her favorite things: cooking for her family, evening walks with her husband, girls nights, reading, and traveling.

Miyamoto Loretta Jensen, of Laie, Hawaii, is a professional genealogist that specializes in Polynesian family history work. She is of Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian), Samoan, Tongan, Japanese, Korean, English, Swedish, and French descent. Miya's various jobs include being a Pacific Area Content Strategist for FamilySearch, a freelancer for clients who want help with their genealogy work, podcast host for "Tala Mo Le Moe: Oceania Mythology and History told as Bedtime Stories," AND co-host with Michelle Franzoni Thorley on a new podcast show for Deseret Book coming summer of 2022. In her free time, she loves to eat out at different restaurants with her husband, teach herself how to paint, tend to her plants, play with her cats, learn how to make foods she never made before, swim at the pool with her son, lift weights because it makes her feel like a beast, listen/dance/sing to BTS, eat boba with her best friends, explore different makeup looks, surf when she's visiting home, and spend quality time with those she loves most. Miya currently resides in good ol' Provo, UT. You can follow her @ThePolynesianGenealogist on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.

Michelle Franzoni Thorley is a Mexican American visual artist, anti-racism consultant and plant lover. Her work and words are available on Instagram at @florafamiliar.