Featured Guests

Lacy Cowley is a wife and mother of 7 children, and a business owner of 10 years.  She grew up in Enterprise Utah and has resided there ever since. Lacy became a widow at age 23 and had to learn to navigate life as a single mother until she met her husband, Kurtis, when she was 26. Together, they have since moved twice and are looking at a third time to build their dream home. Lacy loves music, camping, and shopping. She absolutely loves running her kids to all their extra curricular activities and watching them all learn and grow in life. Lacy’s greatest lessons learned through life trials are that the Atonement applies to everyone, God’s reach is never too far, and his love for you is undeniable.

Pennie Bigelow is the mother of 8 amazing children and  grandmother to 35 even more amazing grandchildren, and two beautiful great grandchildren. She was a stay at home mom but she and her husband ran their own construction company up until David’s death in 2017. She has served in the church in R.S., Y.W., and primary. David and she served a mission in The Addiction Recovery Program. Most recently she taught institute in the program in Rexburg Idaho and presently she is back in YWs. She loves to cook for people who love to eat, and she loves to crochet, sew, quilt and craft. This life has been such an amazing gift! Every experience has brought more tender mercies and blessings than I can count.

Mike is a graduate from BYU in accounting, but his career shifted after college to software development and information systems. He added an MBA to his education path in 2015. His family, career, and the opportunities to travel within the states and abroad have helped him to make his for a fulfilling life. Family is central to his life, with six children and a growing number of grandchildren (12.22 grands with 10 girls and 2 boys and one TBD). He enjoys spending time with them, amidst the challenges they have faced, and loves all things family. Becoming a widow at the center of raising such a large family was a unique life experience and difficult to say the least, but embracing it brought both the joys and challenges by finding ways to thrive as life moves forward.He loves being physically active outdoors and especially when it involves time with family and close friends. He is finally becoming adept at managing his life as a single man while maintaining those strong family connections and enjoying the things that bring him peace and joy.

Brandon is a central Utah farm boy but always had a passion for finance.  He bought his first Microsoft stock shares in 1991 when he was just 17 years old and has enjoyed investment management in his personal and professional life ever since.  He is a Certified Public Accountant in tax and the longest tenured Investment Advisor Representative with BOSS Retirement Solutions out of Lehi, Utah. 

As a recent empty nester, in September of 2025 he moved to open a new office for the firm in Saint George.  His specialties are forward looking tax strategies for any financial situation but especially getting to a tax-free position in retirement—he manages over $250 million retirement assets.  Brandon has also been a long-time business owner involved in rental real estate and land development and he managed Norbest Turkeys as President and Chief Financial Officer. 

In 2001, only 3 months into his career as a CPA they discovered his first wife had primary brain cancer.  Instead of an 18-month prognosis, his wife lived 10.5 years leaving behind three beautiful children before passing in March of 2012. 

Brandon was married a second time for almost 11 years and has been divorced since April of 2023.  He is a grandfather to 5 beautiful grandchildren and loves his family.  His work helping people with tax strategies, serving in the gospel, any sport for exercise, and being with his family and friends brings his life’s greatest happiness!

Dennis and Nykele Leavitt have been married for 40 years and are the parents of 4 children and have 9 fantastic grandchildren,  His career has provided a wide variety of opportunities, including leadership as an educator, motivational speaker, author, general manager, and chief operations officer. He is currently the President and CEO of two non-profit organizations focused on educating youth and families in American history and civics to help empower youth to preserve their liberties. Dennis received his associate’s degree from Dixie College, a bachelor’s degree in political science from Brigham Young University, and a master’s degree in educational counseling from the University of Phoenix. Dennis currently serves as the Second Counselor in the Utah St. George Mission Presidency. He has been an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout his life, and has served in various capacities, including Young Men’s President, Bishop, and Stake President. The Leavitts enjoy travel and sports, and most importantly spending time with family.

Kent Allen is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in the Ogden, Utah area.  He has been married to his wife Susan for 49 years.  They have 3 wonderful children and 10 grandchildren whom they love and adore. Kent has served in numerous callings in the church.  He has been in private practice for 36 years and has seen thousands of individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. He has been involved in helping individuals through the grieving process for over 35 years.  He has been helping and presenting at the Latter-day Saint Widows & Widowers conferences since their conception.  He has spoken numerous times around the Western United States to groups involved in grieving.

Dr. Denim L. Slade is a Ph.D.-level coach, speaker, and former therapist with over 30 years of experience helping individuals and families navigate life’s challenges. Known for his compassionate approach, Dr. Slade specializes in guiding people through transitions, healing from trauma, and building healthy relationships.

As the creator of C.O.R.E., a temperament and personality model, he empowers individuals to better understand what makes them truly unique in order to foster personal growth and connection with those around them. His Healthy+Happy Program combines proven therapeutic and coaching methods to help people move forward with purpose and hope.

Dr. Slade’s work is deeply informed by his own journey through loss, including the passing of his son and his father. These experiences have strengthened his commitment to helping others find resilience, hope, and renewal in the face of grief.

Kevin Smith: Kevin Smith, who currently serves as Ivins City Mayor, is also CEO & Executive Producer of Tuacahn Center for the Arts and has been with Tuacahn for over 25 years. Smith has produced or co-produced more than 60 professional Broadway musicals, and has presented more than 500 major professional concerts and events. Smith has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a minor in Business Management from Brigham Young University and a Master of Education Degree from Southern Utah University.

Just over 4 years ago Kevin lost his wife, Rebecca, to cancer and they have four children, and 4 grandchildren. Kevin is now married to Liz Erickson who has 6 children, and 5 grandchildren, for a combined family of 25.

Smith served a mission in the Washington DC South mission. Other Church callings include serving as a Young Men’s leader, Bishop, High Councilor and as a Stake President of the Ivins Utah Stake. He currently works in Church Education as a substitute teacher at the St. George Institute of Religion.

Dr. Jennifer Martinez is a licensed clinical psychologist currently living in Washington state. She is the proud mother of four young adult children. Jennifer grew up in Oregon and served a mission in Argentina, where she still maintains close friendships. She and her husband raised their children in Spanish Fork, UT. They moved back to the beautiful Northwest in 2013. She was widowed a few years later after her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Jennifer is passionate about preparedness, and loves to travel, teach, cook, take Sunday naps, and hike to the lakes and waterfalls in the forests near her home. Her favorite places are the Oregon coast and anywhere where it’s summer!

Jennifer earned her doctorate from BYU and was the clinical director for an adolescent treatment center for ten years. She has taught at BYU and BYU-Hawaii, and worked at the Utah State Prison, Utah State Hospital, and Utah Valley Hospital. She currently serves as Young Women’s president in her ward and has a telehealth private practice.

Kristine Hirschi is an accomplished singer and author who believes that even in the deepest shadows of loss, there is a path toward light. Having walked the difficult journey of laying her own daughter to rest after a tragic baby delivery, Kristine understands the unique, heavy silence that follows the loss of a loved one. She has channeled her personal grief into a powerful mission to help others navigate their own, becoming the published author of eight children’s books dedicated to the delicate process of healing and remembrance.

Beyond her work as an author, Kristine finds her greatest joy and strength in her family. She has been happily married to her wonderful husband for 35 years, and together they have raised eight children and have 14 wonderful grandchildren. Her message is one of resilience, rooted in the belief that while grief changes us, it does not have to define us.

Shawn Farnworth is a University of Utah graduate, Information Security Manager, and a widower of more than eight years. Since losing his wife, Melissa, to cancer in 2017, Shawn has spent years navigating grief with faith, honesty, and a growing conviction that joy and laughter can coexist with deep loss. His perspective comes not from theory, but from lived experience, prayer, and daily reliance on the Savior. Shawn has developed a strong social media following where he openly shares the realities of widowhood—sometimes tender, sometimes humorous, always real. Many regularly comment that his posts help them feel understood, bring light into heavy days, and remind them they are not alone in grief. A West Valley City native, Shawn and Melissa were married for 22 years and raised four children together. Known for his humor, love of people, and belief that “the opposite of grief is connection,” Shawn speaks with warmth, faith, and authenticity about finding healing, hope, and laughter along the road of widowhood. If you see him at the conference, just smile for the selfie. It’s already happening.

Dale is a southern boy having grown up in Alabama and North Carolina before moving to Utah while in High School.  He served a mission to Mexico and after returning home married his eternal companion Coby.  They built a family with 3 kids and a home filled with love, life and baseball. In 2012 Coby was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and after an 8 year battle, passed away September 2020. Since the loss of his wife of 25 years, Dale has found enjoyment in spending time with his now 3 granddaughters and family, hiking, playing pickleball and most surprising, learning to dance!  While the future has not been what was planned, there is so much to be grateful for in living a life that is filled with adventure, learning, friends, family and above all the gospel.  The knowledge of knowing that this is not the end and we all will be reunited with our loved ones that we have lost can be such a comforting and peaceful understanding. He has loved seeing his kids grow, see his family grow and see how he has grown.  While he would still love nothing more than to have Coby there to share in all that is his current life, he recognizes dwelling on it is not productive and looks forward with hope and excitement to what is just around the corner.

Reid and his late wife, Marsha Lynn, shared 51 years of marriage and raised six children—four daughters and two sons—in the Southwest Illinois area near St. Louis, Missouri. They have been blessed with 24 grandchildren and one great‑grandchild. Reid served a full‑time mission in the Central States Mission from 1969–71 and married Marsha in the Mesa Arizona Temple on July 7, 1972. Throughout his life he has served in numerous church callings, including Young Men’s President, Bishop, High Councilor, and member of a Stake Presidency. Professionally, Reid is a Managing Director and Partner in his own financial services firm, where he advises clients on Medicare solutions, estate planning, wealth management, and legacy planning. After Marsha’s passing in August 2023, Reid has devoted himself to honoring her memory through service, personal growth, and supporting others on their grief journeys.

A mother of three, mother-in-law to one, and proud grandmother to a 17-month-old, Andrea was married to Aaron for 23 years before losing him to cancer. Widowed for four
and a half years, she continues to run the business they built together, honoring his legacy while embracing the next season of her life. She loves traveling, boating, and gathering with family and friends, and believes in moving forward with purpose, hope, and grace.

 Laurel Diehl married her husband in 1996, and lost him to Covid in 2021. They spent their entire life together on their small farm in Bluffdale, Utah. Laurel coached gymnastics for 20 years while raising her three children. She always wanted six kids, and was surprised and delighted to finally reach that goal when she remarried and now has the pleasure of being mom to her new husband’s three young children. She moved to Washington, Utah one year ago and hopes to adjust to the heat some time sooner than later, but very much enjoys the hiking, biking and climbing that living in this beautiful region allows.

Andrea Schmutz is an Associate Professor for Utah State University Extension in Washington County, specializing in Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H Youth Development. She utilizes innovative programming to teach youth and families about sustainability, personal finance, and healthy living skills. Andrea earned a master’s degree in Recreation Management and Youth Leadership from Brigham Young University and considers herself a lifelong learner who thrives on adventure. A former Grand Canyon river guide, she now channels that same spirit of exploration into her work and hobbies, which include hiking, upcycling, and reading good books.