I was born in SLC but we like to joke about the fact that I grew up along the “I-15” corridor (Utah and Idaho) – I moved 18 times before I was 18 years old. I spent my highschool years in St. George, UT so that’s where “home” is.
When I was 10 years old my parents divorced, and I grew up mainly with a single mother and we were always on the move and going from place to place. My dad struggled with addiction for the majority of his adult life and I lost him to suicide when I was 17 years old. Because of this at a young age I was really forced to decide about what I believed within the gospel. I had to dig deep in order to understand the Lord’s Plan of Happiness.
I served a mission in Milano, Italy. As is the key phrase, it really was “the best two years of my life”. Not because of ease – but because of what it taught me. My mission cemented my love of my Savior Jesus Christ.
After returning home I started my professional career in hospitality and then finance. Andrea and I met when we were 29 and we were married when we were 30 (just in the knick of time according to Brigham Young). We had our four kids in our thirties, with our last child being our “40” baby. I love being a dad, my kids are my biggest teachers!
I have continued my career enjoying hospitality and finance, I thrive in systems, organization, helping people find joy and putting on events. As a family we have put together community service projects (helped found the Basket Brigade in St. George Utah) and we also love theater, music and sports… especially golf and BYU Football!
Throughout the years I’ve enjoyed many church callings, but my favorite is Gospel Doctrine Teacher, mainly because of the way it makes me study the scriptures in order to teach the doctrine of the Savior.
Andrea introduced me to the 12 thought habits of Jesus Christ through James Cox’s “Becoming Spiritually Centered” program soon after we met and they have been a constant study ever since. I can truly say I have learned to enjoy every day, rain or shine, tragedy or victory, every day is worthwhile in my striving to become more like my Savior.
Andrea Palmer:
I grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho. I was one of those people, very opposite from Brent, who grew up in the same house my whole life. The first person to challenge me about my testimony of the gospel was actually my grandfather (who had recently left the church). In my early teenage years I really had to decide where I wanted to have my testimony rooted, and looking back, I realize it is a very powerful thing for the youth of the church to feel the opposition so many are facing now in order to decide to cement their testimonies in the gospel.
As a result I decided to serve a mission, and I was called to St. Petersburg Russia. The gospel had been in that land for just a little while before I was called there. It was a highlight in my life and prepared me for motherhood and marriage better than anything else could have!
After getting home I dove into schooling and received a license in Bodywork Modalities, and finished my advanced degree in Organizational Behavior and Communication. I started working and had a great time enjoying the professional world.
I met Brent and we were married when we were 30 years old in the St. George Temple. We had our four children, and I was so excited for motherhood after waiting to have babies when most of my other friends had already married and started their families. I was ready to be a mom, but had no idea how challenging motherhood really would be! It has refined me more than anything else in the world.
After many prayers we decided to homeschool our children and I have been a full-time homeschooling mom for several years. As a family we love to do theater productions, we love to travel (we lived in Mexico for six months), and we like to be involved in our communities. We’ve put together choir camps, charitable events, Valentine’s events, homeschooling events, and various other volunteer pursuits.
We have a saying in our family that I shout at my kids as they are going into classes and running away from the van, “Work Hard, Have Fun, Be an Ambassador of Christ!” – I feel like if my kids learn these three things, then I have done my job as their mom.
I love the light and fire of the gospel and have a VERY strong testimony of the fact that the gospel is the answer for ALL the world’s problems, and learning the Thought Habits of Jesus Christ is essential for spiritual survival!
