I'll Walk With You
Catherine Humpherys (Shanghai, China)
When it comes to the topic of same gender attraction have you ever wondered…….
- When and what do I say to my children?
- What is the difference between accepting and condoning?
- How can I show charity to individuals who do not fit traditional gender roles?
- What does the science say?
BiographyCatherine Humpherys has a Master’s Degree from Northwestern University, USA. Catherine has worked as a clinical counselor and presenter for the past 12 years. Before moving to Asia, Catherine worked 8 years as a counselor for LDS Family Services in Chicago, USA.
Currently, Catherine lives in Shanghai, China and does pro bono work for the Community Center Shanghai’s Counseling Department. Catherine has most recently presented in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shanghai. As a mother of 4, she is excited to share her knowledge with you! |
Your Trial of Faith: More Precious Than Gold
Amanda Moore Voelker (Shanghai, China)
We want to be strong. We want to be righteous. We want to be faithful. But what happens when we have a question? What happens when we can’t find an answer to that question and we begin to doubt? What do we do when the very lifeline of our faith seems to be fraying and feels like it is about to snap and we will be tossed out to sea with no hope of return? Scary, right? Trust me, I know. I’ve been there.
In this session we will talk about what I have learned in my faith crises and what I have learned from the experiences of others. We will talk about what you can do to cling to your faith that you have and allow for the immense and beautiful growth that will come as you seek out answers to your questions. Your faith is not weak. You are being given an opportunity to grow in light and knowledge, to strengthen your faith and to strengthen your family, friends and the church through your increased understanding. Instead of a faith crisis we can have a faith transformation.
In this session we will talk about what I have learned in my faith crises and what I have learned from the experiences of others. We will talk about what you can do to cling to your faith that you have and allow for the immense and beautiful growth that will come as you seek out answers to your questions. Your faith is not weak. You are being given an opportunity to grow in light and knowledge, to strengthen your faith and to strengthen your family, friends and the church through your increased understanding. Instead of a faith crisis we can have a faith transformation.
BiographyAmanda was born and raised in Northern California, but always had a desire to leave home and travel the world. While attending St. John’s College, in Annapolis, MD, Amanda met and married her husband, Nathan. They have two kids together, and have lived in Seattle, Napoli, D.C. and Shanghai.
Amanda is an internationally published photographer, was the creator and editor of a women’s inspirational photography magazine, and is currently pursuing her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. Amanda reads constantly, travels when possible, practices yoga daily, plays the piano well, plays the viola terribly, and thoroughly enjoys any and all down time with her family. |
Keep the Fire Burning
Anna Nash (Shanghai, China)
Nurturing the relationship with our spouse is key to long term marital happiness. How can we keep the fire burning for each other amidst all of the distractions of life?
We will be discussing ways to enhance our relationship with our spouse. What can we do in our busy schedules to keep the romance and intimacy alive? How can we take care of ourselves physically and emotionally to make us better partners in the relationship? How can we validate each other and make sure that both partners are having their needs met?
We will be discussing ways to enhance our relationship with our spouse. What can we do in our busy schedules to keep the romance and intimacy alive? How can we take care of ourselves physically and emotionally to make us better partners in the relationship? How can we validate each other and make sure that both partners are having their needs met?
BiographyAnna was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She served a Chinese speaking mission to the Taiwan, Kaohsiung mission where her love for Asia grew exponentially despite her initial disappointment not being called to Hong Kong. A happy consequence of serving this mission was meeting her husband Dave. They have been married for almost 16 years and have 4 children.
While working as a surgical tech at the University of Utah hospital, she considered every medical career path finally being directed to the PA path. After her schooling, she decided to follow a job opportunity to Washington state. She found a job in a small Obstetrics and Gynecology practice in a town called Shelton. This became her love and passion! Six years into her career, their path took another not-so-unexpected detour; they moved to China. They had always wanted to, and the opportunity sort of landed in their lap and they couldn't resist! While coming to China meant leaving behind a job that she loved, it has been a great experience. She enjoys sharing her love for women's health to anyone who might benefit from it! |
Near Death Experiences and the Gospel
Jeannie Griffiths (Bangkok, Thailand)
People who briefly die and then return to life, tell amazing stories of the spirit world and their out of body experiences. I was surprised to see how many of these Near Death Experiences (NDE) support the truths of the gospel. NDE gave me new eyes to see familiar gospel truths that we have heard all our lives, but have perhaps taken for granted.
Come put the gospel in its proper perspective with personal experiences from the other side of the veil.
Come put the gospel in its proper perspective with personal experiences from the other side of the veil.
BiographyJeannie Decker Griffiths a native of Salt Lake City, graduated from BYU paying for college as a lead singer in a dance band. Not wanting to be an old maid, she moved to Boston, where she performed her own music in the coffee houses of Cambridge. At age 30 she married her husband, Robert, who joined the U.S. Foreign Service. During a 34-year career, they lived in Colombia, Taiwan, Thailand and China, interspersed with occasional tours back to Washington D.C.
After being told it was unlikely they could have children, they fooled the doctors and Jeannie gave birth to three children in three different countries, on three different continents. The kids now grown and married, have flown the coop. They live as far north, east and south in the US as possible. They have produced seven adorable grandchildren, with three more on the way. It’s a bumper crop year! Jeannie tried to convince her husband not to retire…. especially not to Utah. It didn’t work. Their marriage survived the building of her husband's dream house in Provo UT, where they now reside. Jeannie teaches gospel doctrine, but the best thing about Utah is teaching Cultural Geography at UVU’s Elder Quest. Jeannie and Robert now based in Bangkok, Thailand are spending a few months in Asia. |
What's Your Story
Jennifer Linton (Shanghai, China)
Click here to view materials from Jennifer's breakout session - What's Your Story (includes workbook & resources)
Click here to listen to the audio recording of Jennifer's breakout session - What's Your Story Recording
Click here to listen to the audio recording of Jennifer's breakout session - What's Your Story Recording
Each of us creates stories about ourselves, others, and the things that happen in our lives—often without realizing it. These stories matter because they drive how we feel and act. Examining and sometimes changing our internal dialogue can be a POWERFUL way to gain confidence, improve relationships, and feel more happiness.
I know this because for years I created and believed some stories that made me miserable. I will share my personal journey of how I learned to recognize the stories I had spun, and how I re-wrote these stories in a way that changed my life and my relationships.
I will teach a few specific tools I’ve discovered about how to learn to examine your own stories—and how to re-write them in a way that serves you far better. Because we create mental stories about everything in our lives, these tools are helpful for anyone who is interested in feeling more confident, yelling at their children less, improving their marriage or other relationships, adjusting to living abroad, losing weight, or any other challenges. Bring a challenge you have, and leave with new perspectives and tools to help you gain traction in your efforts to deal with it.
I know this because for years I created and believed some stories that made me miserable. I will share my personal journey of how I learned to recognize the stories I had spun, and how I re-wrote these stories in a way that changed my life and my relationships.
I will teach a few specific tools I’ve discovered about how to learn to examine your own stories—and how to re-write them in a way that serves you far better. Because we create mental stories about everything in our lives, these tools are helpful for anyone who is interested in feeling more confident, yelling at their children less, improving their marriage or other relationships, adjusting to living abroad, losing weight, or any other challenges. Bring a challenge you have, and leave with new perspectives and tools to help you gain traction in your efforts to deal with it.
Biography
Jennie Linton and her bow tie-wearing, diplomat husband are lucky enough to live in girl heaven with four daughters between the ages of three and twelve. They love to ride their electric scooter around Shanghai, China and have become local dumpling connoisseurs. These globetrotters and their globe-daughters have previously lived in Quito, Boston, Washington, D.C., Beijing, Mexico City, Honolulu, and Taipei.
Before becoming a citizen of the world, Jennie graduated from both BYU in Provo and Simmons College in Boston and has degrees in Nutrition and Dietetics, and Fitness and Wellness Management. Despite her love of health and nutrition, she is an avid fan of chocolate chip cookies.
After graduation, she developed a wellness program for an orthopedic specialty clinic in Salt Lake City, ran a statewide program for the American Heart Association in Utah, worked in the NICU at Primary Children’s Medical Center, and volunteered with the federal Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program in Massachusetts. She has also done humanitarian work in Africa and Ecuador, focusing on education and nutrition. She currently runs a Days for Girls sewing group in Shanghai.
Several years ago—despite having so many wonderful things in her life—the accumulation of dealing with some depression, the loss of her mother, children with health challenges, and managing life with frequent moves around the world, she found herself overwhelmed, discouraged, and frustrated a lot of the time. She wanted to thrive, and not just feel like she was surviving each day.
Jennie tried a variety of things over the years, but ultimately found some amazing tools that have helped her get to a much better place emotionally. She is passionate about sharing her story and helping other women up-level their lives. Jennie currently runs a blog called The Courage to Choose Happy, and is a life coach for women.
Jennie Linton and her bow tie-wearing, diplomat husband are lucky enough to live in girl heaven with four daughters between the ages of three and twelve. They love to ride their electric scooter around Shanghai, China and have become local dumpling connoisseurs. These globetrotters and their globe-daughters have previously lived in Quito, Boston, Washington, D.C., Beijing, Mexico City, Honolulu, and Taipei.
Before becoming a citizen of the world, Jennie graduated from both BYU in Provo and Simmons College in Boston and has degrees in Nutrition and Dietetics, and Fitness and Wellness Management. Despite her love of health and nutrition, she is an avid fan of chocolate chip cookies.
After graduation, she developed a wellness program for an orthopedic specialty clinic in Salt Lake City, ran a statewide program for the American Heart Association in Utah, worked in the NICU at Primary Children’s Medical Center, and volunteered with the federal Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program in Massachusetts. She has also done humanitarian work in Africa and Ecuador, focusing on education and nutrition. She currently runs a Days for Girls sewing group in Shanghai.
Several years ago—despite having so many wonderful things in her life—the accumulation of dealing with some depression, the loss of her mother, children with health challenges, and managing life with frequent moves around the world, she found herself overwhelmed, discouraged, and frustrated a lot of the time. She wanted to thrive, and not just feel like she was surviving each day.
Jennie tried a variety of things over the years, but ultimately found some amazing tools that have helped her get to a much better place emotionally. She is passionate about sharing her story and helping other women up-level their lives. Jennie currently runs a blog called The Courage to Choose Happy, and is a life coach for women.
Ancient Role Models for Modern Lives
Janet Steele (Beijing, China)
As women, we share bonds that transcend barriers of language, culture, and even generations. This quick review of several Old Testament women and their stories provides inspiration and even a model for modern women facing 21st-century challenges.
BiographyJanet spent her childhood in Orem, Utah, but has spent the past twenty-five years in Southern California. She has a B.S. in Business from BYU and a J.D. from BYU J. Reuben Clark Law School. In her career, she has been a teacher, lawyer, stay-at-home mom, and then a teacher again. She is married with 5 children and 20 grandchildren.
Currently, she is in her third year with the BYU China Teachers Program teaching Critical Thinking and Academic Writing at Peking University. Her church service includes many, MANY music callings, YW and Primary presidencies and boards, and 10 years as an ordinance worker in the Newport Beach Temple. Her favorite activities include reading, traveling, and spending time with family (preferably all at the same time!). |
Humility vs. Confidence
Annie Wong (Hong Kong)
Have you ever been thrown into a situation which you thought you couldn't handle? Have you had a hard time committing to things because you didn't want to over-commit and then under deliver? Is it easy for you to differentiate what you want verse what you need? Is it hard for you to accept compliments? How much do you rely on the Lord and how much do you rely on your own strength and knowledge on a regular basis? Annie would like to go through some of these questions with her audience while sharing her personal experience.
Biography
At the age of two, Annie left the beautiful Piano Island in Xiamen, China, where she was born, to Hong Kong with her parents, simply for better job and education opportunities. The relocation also granted them the freedom and independence in the British colony where she had the opportunity to attend Christian and Catholic schools growing up.
Such experience had prepared her to receive the gospel when the missionaries street contacted her at age 15. After investigating the Church for 2.5 years, she finally convinced her mother to allow her to be baptized and to pursue for further education at BYU. There, she studied public relations and discovered her desire to work for the Church as a lifelong career. The desire was intensified during her mission in San Diego while serving at the Mormon Battalion Visitors’ Center and among the Hmong people.
It was a dream come true for her when she got the job as the Assistant Director and then as the Director of Public Affairs for the Asia Area. Before moving back home to Hong Kong, Annie had worked on several high-profile transportation projects in Utah, including the I-15 Corridor Expansion Project from Lehi to Spanish Fork.
At the age of two, Annie left the beautiful Piano Island in Xiamen, China, where she was born, to Hong Kong with her parents, simply for better job and education opportunities. The relocation also granted them the freedom and independence in the British colony where she had the opportunity to attend Christian and Catholic schools growing up.
Such experience had prepared her to receive the gospel when the missionaries street contacted her at age 15. After investigating the Church for 2.5 years, she finally convinced her mother to allow her to be baptized and to pursue for further education at BYU. There, she studied public relations and discovered her desire to work for the Church as a lifelong career. The desire was intensified during her mission in San Diego while serving at the Mormon Battalion Visitors’ Center and among the Hmong people.
It was a dream come true for her when she got the job as the Assistant Director and then as the Director of Public Affairs for the Asia Area. Before moving back home to Hong Kong, Annie had worked on several high-profile transportation projects in Utah, including the I-15 Corridor Expansion Project from Lehi to Spanish Fork.
Forgiveness: Pain, Paralysis, and Process
Laraine Chamberlain (Beijing, China)
When something has happened to us, it is sometimes difficult to work through all the emotions and fears associated with it. Forgiveness is a process that can sometimes take years to complete. The important thing is that you are in the process. I will talk about these three common forgiveness phenomena and how we can work through them to find peace again. It will include an exercise that everyone can do to move forward. We will also look at how Nephi dealt with all the mixed emotions about his family.
BiographyWhile raising six children, Laraine spent her “spare” time in various volunteer leadership roles including that of volunteer coordinator at a youth detention center for over ten years. Teaching life skills to troubled teenagers, she made sure each was loved and treated with care. She also served on the national executive board of American Mothers Inc. for eight years. Laraine has led and mentored many groups of young mothers throughout the United States. She has organized, facilitated and taught several women’s and couples retreats in the U.S. and Mexico.
She and her husband are certified in Creative Journal Expressive Arts (CJEA) a brain-science-based method of creative expression developed by Dr. Lucia Capacchione. For more than ten years, Laraine has specialized in working with personal clients, helping them gain greater emotional health and emotional literacy. She also worked closely with her husband to provide retreats and workshops, including court-ordered anger management classes, support for birth mothers giving up babies for adoption, marriage enhancement retreats, stress reduction seminars for employees of a large telecommunications firm, and health enhancement workshops for private groups. In 2015 and 2016, she and her husband served a mission as Asia Area Public Affairs Specialists for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hong Kong. She currently teaches at China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing while continuing to Skype with private clients. |
The Ministering Cocoon
McArthur Krishna (Faizabad, India)
The alternative title to this session could be "A freakin' cocoon shouldn't be necessary!" However, despite my own belligerence and preference, I've learned the value of cocoons.
This session will focus on nurturing our divine, human, and personal cocoons to do all things with the Lord. Why do I resist a divine cocoon? How can I accept (and ask) for others' help in cocooning? How can I cocoon others-- in ways that work for them? Christ was cocooned by angels-- let's learn how we can cocoon as well.
This session will focus on nurturing our divine, human, and personal cocoons to do all things with the Lord. Why do I resist a divine cocoon? How can I accept (and ask) for others' help in cocooning? How can I cocoon others-- in ways that work for them? Christ was cocooned by angels-- let's learn how we can cocoon as well.
BiographyMcArthur Krishna comes from Utah pioneer stock, graduated with a masters degree in Communications from BYU, co-owned a marketing studio focused on social justice issues, retired, and moved to the Magic Land of India.
Now, she writes books, hides from police, jumps on moving trains, wrangles kids, and creates textile art for sheer joy. She is a best-selling author for Deseret Books with the Girls Who Choose God series and Heavenly Family, Earthly Families. |
Women of The New Testament
Camille Fronk Olson (Provo, Utah)
In our last General Conference, President Henry B. Eyring told the women of the Church, “[The Lord] has made clear that the daughters of Heavenly Father will play a primary role in that miraculous acceleration [of pouring out eternal truth on the heads and into the hearts of His people] . . . through gospel instruction in the home.”
With the Come Follow Me curriculum’s focus on the New Testament this year, this session will discuss the influence of several of the women in the New Testament to assist you in your family gospel learning. Exploring the variety of types of NT women and their unique challenges and stories can open our minds to ways our daughters and we can accelerate the spread of God’s truth in unique and inspired ways. The session is unstructured to allow participants to suggest which women we discuss, ask questions about any of the women or culture of that era, and share personal insights that emerge in the moment.
With the Come Follow Me curriculum’s focus on the New Testament this year, this session will discuss the influence of several of the women in the New Testament to assist you in your family gospel learning. Exploring the variety of types of NT women and their unique challenges and stories can open our minds to ways our daughters and we can accelerate the spread of God’s truth in unique and inspired ways. The session is unstructured to allow participants to suggest which women we discuss, ask questions about any of the women or culture of that era, and share personal insights that emerge in the moment.
BiographyAfter 25 years at BYU, Camille Fronk Olson recently stepped down as a professor of ancient scripture and the chair of the Department of Ancient Scripture for the last six of those years. She completed a PhD in Middle Eastern Studies, a master’s degree in Near Eastern Studies, and a bachelor’s degree in Education. Her research focused on women in scripture, LDS/evangelical dialogue, LDS doctrine, and Palestinian families in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Her published books include Women of the Old Testament, Women of the New Testament, LDS Beliefs, and Mary, Martha, and Me.
Prior to coming to BYU, Dr. Olson taught seminary and institute for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Salt Lake City area and served as Dean of Students at LDS Business College. She is a former member of the Young Women General Board and served a full-time mission to Toulouse, France. Her current Church calling is a counselor in her ward Relief Society. Camille Fronk Olson is married to Paul F. Olson, a Provo ophthalmologist. They have two children and four grandchildren. She is originally from Tremonton, Utah. |
Heavenly Mother in Latter-Day Saint Poetry
Rachel Hunt-Steenblik (Wenzhou, China)
Click here to view materials from Rachel's session - Heavenly Mother in Latter-Day Saint Poetry Resources
The most well-known depiction of Heavenly Mother in Latter-day Saint writing is in Eliza R. Snow’s beautiful hymn, “O My Father.” Did you know it started as a poem? Or that it wasn’t the first (or last) LDS poem turned hymn on Heavenly Mother? There were two by W.W. Phelps first! They were called “A Song of Zion” and “A Voice from the Prophet: Come to Me.”
Today there are three hymns mentioning Heavenly Mother or “Heavenly Parents” in our English speaking hymnbook and the French hymnbook has one more. We have a rich history of Mother in Heaven in poetry starting with W.W. Phelps, Eliza R. Snow, John Lyon, Edward Tullidge, Orson F. Whitney, and Lula Greene Richards, that has continued to today via poets and writers like Carol Lynn Pearson, Susan Howe, Joanna Brooks, Martin Pulido, and myself.
Today there are three hymns mentioning Heavenly Mother or “Heavenly Parents” in our English speaking hymnbook and the French hymnbook has one more. We have a rich history of Mother in Heaven in poetry starting with W.W. Phelps, Eliza R. Snow, John Lyon, Edward Tullidge, Orson F. Whitney, and Lula Greene Richards, that has continued to today via poets and writers like Carol Lynn Pearson, Susan Howe, Joanna Brooks, Martin Pulido, and myself.
BiographyRachel Hunt Steenblik researched Heavenly Mother full-time for the BYU Studies article “’A Mother There’: A Survey of Historical Teachings about Mother in Heaven.” She also authored an award winning poetry book called Mother’s Milk: Poems in Search of Heavenly Mother and co-edited a 40-year literary history of Mormon women’s writings for Oxford University Press called Mormon Feminism: Essential Writings.
She finished her PhD coursework in philosophy of religion and theology at Claremont Graduate University and has a BA in philosophy from Brigham Young University and an MS in library and information science from Simmons College. She lives in Wenzhou, China with her husband and their 5-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son. |