Tiffany is a Utah native who grew up playing sports and singing. She earned a D1 basketball scholarship to Utah State University and then graduated from BYU with a degree in broadcast journalism. In college, she worked as a rodeo interview reporter and would sing for the entertainment between interviewing the cowboys. Immediately upon graduation, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee and spent a few years out there traveling the country and performing with many different bands. Tiffany has sang professionally since she was 18 and has spent time as a vocal coach and now works as a soloist and studio vocalist. Her song “Born to Stand” was earlier this year on all streaming platforms.
As much as Tiffany loved her time on the road, her favorite gig has been as the wife to her Idaho boy Shane and the mother to their five amazing children. She started homeschooling them this last year and has found so much joy in having more time with her children.
Tiffany finds joy in being a follower of Jesus Christ, a wife, mother, musician, freedom-fighter and truth seeker.
Tiffany and her husband Shane are no strangers to miracles and have endured some terrifying life-threatening experiences. Tiffany knows that our Savior has been with her every step of the way and is especially grateful for the closeness she feels to Him as a result of her trials. She feels her mission in life is to help prepare the world for the Savior’s Second Coming and she is grateful to get to share her love for Him every chance she can get.
Keynote Speaker
Title: But If Not
Description: King Nebuchadnezzar kidnapped the best and brightest youth when he invaded Jerusalem. Among those were three young boys named Meshack, Shadrack, and Abednego. They refused to worship the idol that the king had set up and as a result, were ordered to be thrown into a fiery furnace. These brave young men were not afraid and testified to the king that their God had power to deliver them... and then followed that testimony with some of the most courageous three words in all of scripture: "but if not."
"But if not, be it known unto thee, O King, that we will not serve thy gods, not worship the golden image which thou hast set up," (Daniel 3:18). Their faith was not contingent on their desired outcome but on the Lord's. They had absolute faith in Heavenly Father and His plan for them. We will all get our "but if nots" in this life and how we learn to handle those moments is where our true faith is born.
*I will be speaking about these types of experiences we face in our lives and how we learn to trust in God when our own plans don't work out how we would hope. I will be singing some songs in between.
Time: Friday 7:00 PM
Mari Van Ormer
Mari van Ormer is a mother, blogger, runner, widow, divorcee, and she loves pumpkin cookies… with chocolate chips. After losing her husband when she was just 34, she started a blog called www.clingtocourage.com. Her blog became a source of healing and hope, and it helped her to connect with others who were grieving and who had also experienced loss.
In the beginning of her widowhood journey, Mari tried hard to live by the motto: “Choose Happiness.” She did everything she could to feel happy… including training for and running a marathon. But after the finish line, and as her life and experience with grief and pain through death and then a divorce progressed, she decided to change her life motto to: “Embrace Grace.”
She has learned that healing and feeling joy requires a daily effort, not a one-time finish line event. She believes that when we stay close to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and when we have daily grace for ourselves (and for others), along with gratitude to our Heavenly Father for small and simple things … we can experience extraordinary, beautiful, joyful, and magical moments, even on bad days.
She invites all to cling to courage and Christ, and embrace His Grace, no matter what.
Mari has 5 beautiful children who she loves even more than cookies. She also loves music, photography, teaching gospel doctrine, watching home improvement shows, staring at Christmas twinkle lights, and chasing thunderstorms.
Keynote Speaker
Title: Finding Courage to Continue
Description: Come prepared to have an open discussion on grace, gratitude, growth, and grieving. Mari is not an expert, or professional, but she has learned a lot through personal experiences… and so have you. She invites you to come learn, grow, belong, and heal together, as friends.
Time: Saturday 9:30 AM
Jennie Taylor
Sister Jennie Taylor is the proud wife and widow of Utah Army National Guard Major Brent Taylor, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in November of 2018. Brent and Jennie are the parents of 7 children ranging in age from 5 to 18 (or from kindergarten to college). Jennie served a full-time mission in the Santiago North Mission, which included four months spent on Easter Island. She taught high school before her children were born and is now an adjunct professor at Utah State University. She serves as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for the State of Utah, acting as a liaison between the Pentagon and all things Army in Utah. Sister Taylor has enjoyed callings with the Young Women program and Stake Primary, and currently teaches Gospel Doctrine in her home ward. Through the trials and testing times of her life, she has come to know with certainty that no matter what questions life brings, Jesus is always the answer.
Keynote Speaker
Title: Envisioning Beauty for Ashes
Time: Saturday 4:45 PM
Workshop Presenters
Barbara Van Cott
Barbara is a Jewish convert to the church, a widow, and an author. Is he is currently finishing a manuscript for Deseret Book. Raised in a Jewish home, with no knowledge of Jesus Christ or the Holy Ghost. She received a prompting. As she followed it, her life changed forever. She knows the Savior lives and watches over each one of us. He neither sleeps nor slumbers. He hears and answers our fervent prayers in His due time. She met my husband at BYU. She married an Orem, Utah boy, who was voted most likely to succeed in high school. She adores and miss him.
Workshop 1
Title: As a Jewish convert, I know God Lives & Knows us personally
Description:
Time: 10:30-11:15 AM
Room: Young Women's Room
Workshop 2
Title: As a Jewish convert, I know God Lives & Knows us personally
Description:
Time: 11:30 - 12:15 PM
Room: Young Women's Room
Workshop 3
Title: The Coming of Elijah, What it Means to the Jew and Us
Description:
Time: 1:45 - 2:30 PM
Room: Relief Society Room
Workshop 4
Title: The Coming of Elijah, What it Means to the Jew and Us
Description: This is a repeat from the previous hour.
Time: 2:45 - 3:30 PM
Room: Relief Society Room
Brett Delange
Brett recently retired after serving for 32 years in the office of the Idaho Attorney General where he was the Office’s division chief over consumer protection matters. He is happily married to Janna DeLange and the proud father of five children.
Workshop 2
Title: Cyber Security Frauds & Schemes
Description:
Time: 11:30 - 12:15 PM
Room: Institute Room 121
Workshop 4
Title: Cyber Security Frauds & Schemes
Description:
Time: 2:45 - 3:30 PM
Room: Institute Room 121
Dori Shaner LPC
Dori Shaner is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rutgers University in 1998 and received a Master of Counseling Degree-Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Idaho State University in 2019. Upon graduating, Dori worked as a counselor for Ambitions of Idaho until 2022 when she began private telehealth counseling. Dori is trained in EMDR and specializes in trauma, grief and loss.
Dori grew up on a farm in Kimberly, ID, and is married to Russ Shaner. They are the parents of three children and have 7 grandsons and 2 granddaughters. Dori was a trailing spouse for 18 years as Russ’s career took them overseas to Norway, Austria, Japan, China, and Taiwan. Upon Russ’s retirement in 2016, they moved to Boise.
Dori enjoys gardening and glamping with her husband, spending time with noisy, wonderful grandchildren, making sourdough bread, freeze drying, and playing the piano and organ. She is currently serving as Relief Society President in her ward and is an ordinance worker in the Boise Temple where she and her husband serve as shift coordinators.
Workshop 1
Title: Insights into Grief
Description: Exploring the complexities of grief to help change perspectives, foster self-compassion, help maintain faith, and increase the ability to understand and live with grief.
Time: 10:30-11:15 AM
Room: Chapel
Workshop 2
Title: Grief & The Family
Description: Understanding how grief can impact the family, how to help children of all ages grieve, and how to work together to strengthen relationships while minimizing distress.
Time: 11:30 - 12:15 PM
Room: Chapel
Workshop 3
Title: Insights into Grief
Description: Exploring the complexities of grief to help change perspectives, foster self-compassion, help maintain faith, and increase the ability to understand and live with grief.
Time: 1:45 - 2:30 PM
Room: Chapel
Workshop 4
Title: Complicated Grief
Description: Understanding the difference between normal grief and complicated grief and how to recognize when you need help.
Time: 2:45 - 3:30 PM
Room: Chapel
Workshop 5
Title: Being OK Alone and Dating Do's & Don'ts
Description: Learning to be okay alone, dating dos and don’ts, and feeling joy again.
Time: 3:45 - 4:30 PM
Room: Chapel
Frank Leany
Frank Leany has been widowed for seven years. During that time he has used music to sustain and guide him along this new and often hard to navigate path.
Seeing other people struggle has prompted Frank to work on a comprehensive approach to personal safety that goes beyond learning Karate Kid moves. His funnel approach to personal security could help you feel more safe and free to enjoy life without as much worry.
“The best math you can learn is how to calculate the future cost of current decisions.”
Workshop 4
Title: Healing Through Music
Description:
Time: 2:45 - 3:30 PM
Room: Primary Room
Workshop 5
Title: Healing Through Music
Description:
Time: 3:45 - 4:30 PM
Room: Primary Room
Glenda Christiaens
Glenda Christiaens PhD RN was a nursing professor at BYU and the University of Utah and the Dean of Nursing at Fortis College in Salt Lake City. She is a past president of the American Holistic Nurses Association. She has given presentations around the country about mindfulness, positive thinking and stress management.
She was the host of the Glenda the Good Nurse talk radio show. Dr. Christiaens holds a Master’s Degree in Community Health Nursing and a PhD in Nursing. She is now happily retired and spending time with friends and family in Utah and Arizona. She has been a widow for almost 9 years.
Workshop 3
Title: Near Life & Near Death Experiences
Description:
Time: 1:45 - 2:30 PM
Room: Primary Room
Workshop 5
Title: Near Life & Near Death Experiences
Description:
Time: 3:45 - 4:30 PM
Room: Relief Society Room
Jann Ranks
Jann joined the Ranks of Widowhood in 2019 when her husband passed unexpectedly in his sleep. They had met 48 years earlier at BYU at the beginning of her sophomore year. Dave was getting his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Soon they married and together they raised four children, moved coast to coast, and loved life. After achieving her primary goal and occupation of raising her children, Jann worked in retail, real estate, and even owned her own interior decorating business. She also served in many church callings along the way including Primary, Young Women, Relief Society and Emotional Resilience Facilitator. At some point she lost her mind and found her purpose which inspired her to return to school completing her bachelors and masters degree in Mental Health Counseling. She currently continues to work as a Mental Health Therapist.
Her four children now live in four different states: Arizona, Idaho, Utah and Washington, and have blessed Jann with ten brilliant and talented grandchildren. Recently Jann welcomed enthusiastically her first great grandchild, with number two only months away! Jann also treasures the time she has with her handsome, loving tather who turns 95 this year.
A wide range of experiences including living in many states, serving in multiple church callings, and working in various professions, has made Jann’s life rich with variety. However, her mission after her husband’s death is the one experience that prepared her most for moving forward after being widowed.
Workshop 1
Title: Joys of Missionary service as a Widow / Widower
Description:
Time: 10:30-11:15 AM
Room: Primary Room
Workshop 2
Title: Joys of Missionary service as a Widow / Widower
Description:
Time: 11:30 - 12:15 PM
Room: Primary Room
Kari Gray
Kari Smith Gray grew up on a farm in Warden, Washington. She loved her time at Ricks College and BYU where she earned her BS in Elementary Education. She married Mike Gray in 1986 and has been a widow for nearly 12 years. The biggest joy in her life is being a mom to 6 kids and grandma to 14. She enjoys reading, baking cookies, volunteering, traveling, and playing games. One thing Kari’s friends don’t know about her is that she likes to pretend she’s a mermaid when she swims. Kari has been a paraplegic for 39 years. She lived in Alaska for 21 years before moving to Boise 11 years ago.
Workshop 4
Title: Miracles, Mercy and a Merry Heart
Description:
Time: 2:45 - 3:30 PM
Room: Institute Room 119/120
Workshop 5
Title: Miracles, Mercy and a Merry Heart
Description:
Time: 3:45 - 4:30 PM
Room: Institute Room 119/120
Kent Kunz & Terry Hinson – Kunz
Kent and Terry just celebrated their one year wedding anniversary. Kent and Terry met at a local Idaho W/W activity in Boise after having lost their eternal companions in the spring of 2021.
Kent is a native of Pocatello, Idaho, a retired railroad engineer , a former state legislator, and Director of Government Relations for Idaho State University. He and his late wife, Kitty, raised 5 children who blessed them with 16 grandchildren.
Terry is a native Texan, and a retired educator and public school guidance counselor. She, along with her late husband Randy, raised 7 children, who have blessed them with 20 grandchildren.
Kent and Terry, like others on this journey, understand loss and grief, while recognizing the Lord’s hand in their lives. They reflect on the past year in gratitude for their families who have shown their love and support, for the wonderful W/W friends they have made in this group, and for the insights and inspiration the Lord has shown them as they move forward in this journey together.
Recently, at a 50th class reunion, a friend remarked that their story sounded like a fairy tale. Always mindful that the realities of life are ever present, Kent and Terry feel they are truly living a love story and eager to share with you their adventure
Workshop 3
Title: Chapter 2 A LOVE STORY
Description:
Time: 1:45 - 2:30 PM
Room: Young Women's Room
Workshop 4
Title: Chapter 2 A LOVE STORY
Description:
Time: 2:45 - 3:30 PM
Room: Young Women's Room
Mari Van Ormer
Mari van Ormer is a mother, blogger, runner, widow, divorcee, and she loves pumpkin cookies… with chocolate chips. After losing her husband when she was just 34, she started a blog called www.clingtocourage.com. Her blog became a source of healing and hope, and it helped her to connect with others who were grieving and who had also experienced loss.
In the beginning of her widowhood journey, Mari tried hard to live by the motto: “Choose Happiness.” She did everything she could to feel happy… including training for and running a marathon. But after the finish line, and as her life and experience with grief and pain through death and then a divorce progressed, she decided to change her life motto to: “Embrace Grace.”
She has learned that healing and feeling joy requires a daily effort, not a one-time finish line event. She believes that when we stay close to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and when we have daily grace for ourselves (and for others), along with gratitude to our Heavenly Father for small and simple things … we can experience extraordinary, beautiful, joyful, and magical moments, even on bad days.
She invites all to cling to courage and Christ, and embrace His Grace, no matter what.
Mari has 5 beautiful children who she loves even more than cookies. She also loves music, photography, teaching gospel doctrine, watching home improvement shows, staring at Christmas twinkle lights, and chasing thunderstorms.
Workshop 5
Title: How To Have Grace, Gratitude and Growth While Healing
Description:
Time: 3:45 - 4:30 PM
Room: Institute Room 121
Michael Carter
Michael is currently an Aerospace Design engineer working for Northrop Grumman Corporation on top military defense systems. He resides in West Jordan, Utah. His wife passed away 12 years ago of a brain tumor. He has 5 daughters, 6 grandsons and 6 granddaughters. He served a Spanish speaking mission to Puerto Rico. Michael has served in many church callings during his life including Stake High Councilman, Bishopric, and Ward Mission Leader. He has presented at the W/W Idaho Conference every year since its inception. He has witnessed many miracles among the Idaho W/Ws!
Michael loves the Lord with all his heart! His sharing of eternal gospel doctrine and principals by the witness of the Spirit will feed your soul, touch your heart and magnify your testimony of Jesus Christ!
Workshop 1
Title: Our Pre-moral Earthly Destiny as Widows & Widowers of Christ’s Church
Description:
Time: 10:30-11:15 AM
Room: Relief Society Room
Workshop 2
Title: Twelve Ways to Fulfill our Earthly Mission to Prepare for the Coming of the Lord”
Description:
Time: 11:30 - 12:15 PM
Room: Relief Society Room
Rick Tuha – Attorney at Law
Elder Law covers a broad spectrum of legal issues commonly faced by people as they move into the later stages of life. At Idaho Law Group, we focus our Elder Law planning primarily on Long Term Care Planning. We know that many of our aging clients have spent their entire lives building something to help the next generation have more opportunities for success. However, as we age, the expense of Long Term Care is a looming threat to all we have built.
Practice Emphasis
Estate Planning
Elder Law – Medicaid Asset Protection Planning
Business Planning
Education
* Brigham Young University
Juris Doctor: J. Reuben Clark Law School,
Master of Business Administration: Marriott School of Management
Bachelor of Arts – Organizational Behavior
Minors – Psychology; Communications
Affiliations
Taxation. Probation and Trust member Idaho State Bar
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys idaho Trial Lawyers Association
Presenting with:
Michael Angell - Funding Coordinator
Community Outreach Liaison
Education
Northwest Nazarene University
Bachelor of Arts. Philosophy, Magna Cum Laude
Minors. Math, Natural Science, English
Boise State University
Master of Arts: Criminal Justice
University of Hawaii
Master of Arts: Philosophy
Minor: Social Science
Ph.D. Philosophy
Workshop 2
Title: TRUST, WILLS AND ASSET PROTECTION
Description:
Time: 11:30 - 12:15 PM
Room: Institute Room 119/120
Workshop 3
Title: TRUST, WILLS AND ASSET PROTECTION
Description:
Time: 1:45 - 2:30 PM
Room: Institute Room 119/120
Jennie Taylor
Sister Jennie Taylor is the proud wife and widow of Utah Army National Guard Major Brent Taylor, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in November of 2018. Brent and Jennie are the parents of 7 children ranging in age from 5 to 18 (or from kindergarten to college). Jennie served a full-time mission in the Santiago North Mission, which included four months spent on Easter Island. She taught high school before her children were born and is now an adjunct professor at Utah State University. She serves as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for the State of Utah, acting as a liaison between the Pentagon and all things Army in Utah. Sister Taylor has enjoyed callings with the Young Women program and Stake Primary, and currently teaches Gospel Doctrine in her home ward. Through the trials and testing times of her life, she has come to know with certainty that no matter what questions life brings, Jesus is always the answer.
Workshop 1
Title: Happily Even After Vision Boarding 101
Description:
Time: 10:30-11:15 AM
Room: Institute Room 121
Workshop 3
Title: Discussion Group Guiding Children Through Grief
Description:
Time: 1:45 - 2:30 PM
Room: Institute Room 121
Tiffany Armstrong & Frank Leany
Tiffany has been educating and speaking for 23 years. She has reached over 250,000 people around the world with her messages on personal safety, self defense and empowerment.
In a nutshell, she survived sexual abuse as a child, 2 abusive marriages and an attack by a man who was wanted for 2 rapes and an attempted homicide…
and now she’s taking a stand to do everything in her power to ensure that other women, men and children don’t endure what she had to.
Frank Leany has been widowed for seven years. During that time he has used music to sustain and guide him along this new and often hard to navigate path.
Seeing other people struggle has prompted Frank to work on a comprehensive approach to personal safety that goes beyond learning Karate Kid moves. His funnel approach to personal security could help you feel more safe and free to enjoy life without as much worry.
“The best math you can learn is how to calculate the future cost of current decisions.”
