Mormon Insights is published by students in the capstone course of the editing minor at Brigham Young University (BYU). Every member of the Winter 2016 Mormon Insights staff (above) assisted with planning, writing, editing, and designing articles; publishing them on the Internet; and promoting them through social media.
photos by Dallin Green
TIANA AHUNA
Major and minor: Linguistics major and editing minor
Hometown: Orem, Utah
Positions on Mormon Insights staff: Associate Editor, Web Team Member, Translation Assistant Director
Favorite quote: “Our Heavenly Father did not put us on earth to fail but to succeed gloriously.”—Richard G. Scott
Unique hobbies: I enjoy doing traditional Native American dancing in my performing group. I also love to travel and learn about different people and cultures. When I’m closer to home, I love doing anything related to words.
Personal motto: Do your best and let the Lord handle the rest.
Read Tiana’s Mormon Insights articles.
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
ALLIE BOWEN
Major and minor: English language major and editing minor
Hometown: Minden, Nevada
Positions on Mormon Insights staff: Assistant Managing Editor, Facebook Manager, Web Team Member
Most memorable thing you’ve done this year: Baked a pizza wrapped in bacon
Unique hobbies: Juggling, guitaring, collecting Starburst wrappers
If you could be any superhero, who would you be? Moroni
Personal motto: Esse Quam Videri (to be rather than to seem)
One item on your bucket list: Take a fish for a walk
Read Allie’s Mormon Insights articles.
Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
KAREE BROWN
Major and minor: English major and editing and family life minors
Hometown: Springfield, Missouri
Positions on Mormon Insights staff: Associate Editor, Design Team Member, and PR Assistant Director
Dream job: Writer and inspirational speaker—pretty much Sheri Dew’s job
Most memorable thing you’ve done in the past year: I was able to set up an appointment for my youngest sister, Klarie, to meet Sister Rosemary Wixom, Primary general president. Watching Sister Wixom give Klarie advice was the sweetest, most joyous moment!
Personal motto: Have courage and be kind.
What is your perfect pizza? Fruit pizza with a chocolate crust.
Do you speak any foreign languages? Spanish and someday I will speak Swedish.
Read Karee’s Mormon Insights articles.
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn
KAYLEE BROWN
Major and minor: English major and editing and business management minors
Hometown: Farmington, Utah
Positions on Mormon Insights staff: Assistant Managing Editor, Design Team Member, and Assistant Copyrights Director
One item on your bucket list: Go down a hill in a hamster ball in Australia
Favorite quote: “Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” —Leonardo da Vinci
What is your perfect pizza? Parmesan white sauce, three kinds of cheese, chicken, jalapeños, and bacon.
Read Kaylee’s Mormon Insights articles.
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
MARYSSA DENNIS
Major and minor: English language major and editing minor
Hometown: Pflugerville, Texas
Positions on Mormon Insights staff: Associate Editor, Web Director, Assistant Correspondence Director
Favorite quote: “In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.” —Gordon B. Hinckley
Unique hobbies: Taking thirty-minute naps that accidentally last for three hours, reading books that were intended for twelve-year-olds, opening up blank Word documents and crying on my keyboard (i.e., writing)
Favorite Mormon Insights article or topic? Daily Living
Read Maryssa’s Mormon Insights articles.
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
BRADLEY ELDERS
Major and minor: Linguistics major and editing minor
Hometown: Thatcher, Arizona
Positions on Mormon Insights staff: Translation Director, Associate Editor, Design Team Member
Most memorable thing you’ve done in the past year: Watched my son take his first steps
Personal motto: What did I forget today?
Do you speak any foreign languages? Spanish, Papiamentu, French
One item on your bucket list: Buy a kilt and convince my wife to let me wear it
Favorite book: Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis
Read Bradley’s Mormon Insights articles.
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn
MELISSA GEE
Major and minor: English language major and editing minor
Hometown: Orem, Utah
Positions on Mormon Insights staff: Assistant Managing Editor, Assistant Design Team Director, Assistant Twitter Manager
What must you always have on your person? My phone, my chapstick, and a bottle of water
Favorite vacation spot: Bear Lake, or anywhere by the ocean
Unique hobbies: Crossword puzzles, scuba diving, and trying to grow weird plants in my apartment
Favorite band/singer/group? It’s changing all the time, but at the moment I’m loving Cage the Elephant.
If you could have dinner with any person (living or dead, real or imagined), who would it be? Liz Lemon. She is my spirit animal, and I know she’d pick a fantastic place to eat. She knows food like nobody’s business.
Read Melissa’s Mormon Insights articles.
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, professional portfolio
CARLI HANSON
Major and minor: English major and editing and communications minors
Hometown: Taylorsville, Utah
Positions on Mormon Insights staff: Copyeditor, Copyrights Director, Web Team Member
Favorite Mormon Insights article or topic? My favorite article to write was the one on suicide because (a) it’s an important subject to discuss, (b) it’s an important subject to me, and (c) Elder Ballard’s words are incredibly hope-filled.
Most memorable thing you’ve done this year: Once after I spoke in church, my stake president, President Holzapfel, took a selfie with me and my bishop and sent the picture to Elder M. Russell Ballard. Apparently Elder Ballard asked President Holzapfel to send pictures of couples getting married, individuals getting set apart for missions, etc. President Holzapfel said he was adding a new category: people who quote Elder Ballard in sacrament talks.
Read Carli’s Mormon Insights articles.
Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
RACHEL HARRIS
Major and minor: English major and editing and communications minors
Hometown: Cottonwood Heights, Utah
Positions on Mormon Insights staff: Twitter Manager, Design Team Member, Associate Editor
Favorite Mormon Insights article or topic: God’s love for his children and “My Message”
What is something hard that you’ve had to do in your life? I’m a healthy, happy, type one diabetic. That’s been an adventure!
Favorite conference talk: “Forget Me Not” by Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Favorite vacation spot: Hawaii, of course! Beaches + island paradises = the best
Most memorable thing you’ve done in the past year: I went to Harry Potter World and bought a wand.
Read Rachel’s Mormon Insights articles.
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, professional portfolio
BROOKEANN HENRIKSEN
Major and minor: English language major and editing minor
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
Positions on Mormon Insights staff: Associate Editor, Web Team Member, Analytics Director
Favorite book: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Dream job: An editor for an academic journal or a professional cake decorator
Personal motto: Live in the present with a smile.
Favorite Mormon Insights article or topic? Church history
Read BrookeAnne’s Mormon Insights articles.
Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn, professional portfolio
TATIANA HERNANDEZ
Major and minor: Communications major (journalism emphasis) and editing minor
Hometown: Provo, UT
Positions on Mormon Insights Staff: Copyeditor, Web Team Member, Instagram Manager
Favorite quote: “It ain’t about how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. It’s how much you can take; and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.” —Rocky Balboa
Unique hobbies: I knit and crochet and try doing calligraphy and writing in shorthand.
Favorite band/singer/group: Coldplay and Keane always teach me about life and living in their songs. They are so deep, moving, and beautiful.
If you could have dinner with any person, who would it be? Tom Welling, Tom Cruise, or Thomas S. Monson
Read Tatiana’s Mormon Insights articles.
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn
MEAGAN KNIGHT
Major and minor: Graphic design major and editing minor
Hometown: Glendale, California
Positions on Mormon Insights Staff: Art Director, Associate Editor, Pinterest Assistant Manager
Dream job: To be a member of a successful band
One item on your bucket list: Scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef
What is something hard that you’ve had to do in your life: Accept failure
If you could have dinner with any person, who would it be? My future self
What is your perfect pizza? Thin crust with cheese, Alfredo sauce, thin potato slices, bacon, and Sriracha
Read Meagan’s Mormon Insights articles.
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
COLLIN MATHIAS
Major and minor: Political science major and editing minor
Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Positions on Mormon Insights staff: Social Media Director, Associate Editor, Design Team Member
Most memorable thing you’ve done in the past year: Winning first row tickets to the hottest show on Broadway, Hamilton the Musical
One item on your bucket list: Be knighted by Queen Elizabeth
If you could be any superhero, who would you be? When I want to be a superhero, I just wake up.
Read Collin’s Mormon Insights articles.
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, professional portfolio
KRISTA NETTGEN
Major and minor: English language major and editing and TESOL minors
Hometown: Belvidere, Illinois
Positions on Mormon Insights staff: Copyeditor, Pinterest Manager, and Web Team Member
Favorite quote: “What’s so great about living in Switzerland? Well, the flag is a big plus.” (I came across this on Pinterest months ago, and I still laugh every time.)
Personal motto: If you act like it works, people will believe it works. (This, in regard to fashion.)
If you could be any superhero, who would you be? Is there a superhero who can save the world by binge watching Monk and Gilmore Girls and eating fruit snacks? I would be that one.
Read Krista’s Mormon Insights articles
Social Media: Facebook
KALEIGH NIEMALA
Major and minor: English language major and editing minor
Hometown: Mapleton, Utah
Positions on Mormon Insights staff: Associate Editor, Design Team Member, Correspondence Director
Favorite Quote: “Cheerful insecurity is what our Lord asks of us.”—C.S. Lewis
Favorite conference talk: “Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father” by Elder Maxwell
Favorite Mormon Insights article or topic: “Reveling in Paradox” by Alison Brimley
Favorite vacation spot: Telluride, Colorado
What is your perfect pizza? Xtreme Veggie from The Pie Pizzaria
Read Kaleigh’s Mormon Insights articles.
Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
JESSICA PALMER
Major and minor: English language major and editing minor
Hometown: Mapleton, Utah
Positions on Mormon Insights staff: Copyeditor, Assistant Art Director, Assistant Analytics Director
Favorite book: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Favorite vacation spot: Cork, Ireland
Favorite conference talk: “Of Things that Matter Most” by President Uchtdorf
Personal motto: Never lose that little spark of madness.
Do you speak any foreign languages? Japanese
Read Jessica’s Mormon Insights articles.
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
MARIAN SPENCER
Major and minor: English major and editing minor
Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand
Positions on Mormon Insights staff: Public Relations Director, Web Team Assistant Director, Associate Editor
Dream job: Web content manager, children’s author, and young adult novelist
Personal motto: Shoot for the moon. If you miss, refuel and try again!
What is your perfect pizza? Pepperoni, thick-crust, lots and lots of cheese and sauce
What must you always have on your person? Lipstick
Read Marian’s Mormon Insights articles.
Social Media: Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn
ALICIA STANTON
Major and minor: Molecular biology major and editing minor
Hometown: Spring, Texas
Position on Mormon Insights staff: Managing Editor
Favorite book: The Book of Mormon
Unique hobbies: Hiking, exploring new places
What is something hard that you’ve had to overcome in your life? Learning to relax. I’m still working on it.
If you could have any superpower what would it be? Endless energy
Do you speak any foreign languages? Spanish
Read Alicia’s Mormon Insights articles.
Social Media: Facebook
CHRISTINE WILKINS
Major and minor: English major and editing minor
Hometown: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Positions on Mormon Insights staff: Assistant Managing Editor, Assistant Web Director, Assistant Facebook Manager
Most memorable thing you’ve done in the past year: Graduate from BYU
One item on your bucket list: Make a quilt
Favorite band: Evanescence
If you could have dinner with any person, who would it be? Walt Disney
Favorite Mormon Insights article or topic: Historical articles
Read Christine’s Mormon Insights articles.
MARVIN K. GARDNER
Positions on Mormon Insights staff: Editor in Chief
Position at Brigham Young University: Teaching Professor, Department of Linguistics and English Language, College of Humanities
Current favorite quote: “No matter how serious the trial, how deep the distress, how great the affliction, [God] will never desert us. He never has, and He never will. He cannot do it. It is not His character [to do so]. . . . He will [always] stand by us. We may pass through the fiery furnace; we may pass through deep waters; but we shall not be consumed nor overwhelmed. We shall emerge from all these trials and difficulties the better and purer for them.” —Elder George Q. Cannon
Social Media: LinkedIn