Ensign College Devotionals

After serving in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission from 1975 to 1977, Elder Gibbon married his high school sweetheart, Cathy Caldow, and they spent a short time in Provo, Utah, attending Brigham Young University, before returning to Canada, where Elder Gibbon operated a business for about 12 years. In 1991, the Gibbons returned to BYU with their four children and earned bachelor’s degrees in education. Upon graduation from BYU, Elder Gibbon worked for School District 23 (Central Okanagan) as a Resource Teacher and then as a District Student Support Services Coordinator, where he developed Resource and Transition to Employment programming. He also taught for 20 years in the Continuing Education Department at Okanagan College. After earning his master’s degree from Gonzaga University, Elder Gibbon lectured as an adjunct instructor at the University of British Columbia and Gonzaga University for 10 years, teaching graduate courses in Psychology of Learning, Inclusive Education, and Classroom-based Learning Assessment. When they retired in 2014, Elder and Sister Gibbon served as CES Missionaries in the Canada Winnipeg Mission. They are currently serving full-time missions at Ensign College. Elder and Sister Gibbon have four children and twelve grandchildren.

An address given by Taylor Randall, delivered on February 18, 2025, a the Conference Center Theater.President Randall was born in Berkeley, California, and raised in Salt Lake City. He did his undergraduate at the University of Utah and his graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania.President Randall joined the U in 1998 as a professor of accounting and led the nationally ranked David Eccles School of Business for 12 years before he was appointed the president in 2021.President Randall, the first alum in 50 years to hold this position, has an infectious energy and passion for his alma mater. He has set a bold goal for the University of Utah to become a top 10 public university with unsurpassed societal impact. He believes the U can revolutionize the student experience, change the world through research, and serve our state to improve the lives of all 3.5 million Utahns.Some of the highlights of his tenure thus far include repledging the U’s commitment to serve the state of Utah, opening centers for climate science and policy and financial technology (fintech) education and investment, building several new living-learning housing projects, announcing a hospital in West Valley, initiating a comprehensive strategic planning process, and launching a Responsible AI Initiative.

An address given by Julie Franklin, delivered on February 11, 2025, a the Conference Center Theater.

Julie L. Franklin grew up in western Massachusetts. She attended Brigham Young University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and later received an MBA, also from BYU.Julie has been the Student Life Vice President at Brigham Young University for five years. She served as a missionary in the Hamburg, Germany Mission and now serves in her ward Relief Society presidency. Julie and her husband, Alan, are the parents of four children and grandparents of four.

An address given by Brother Kevin Hallstrom, delivered February 4 , 2025, a the Conference Center Theater.Kevin Hallstrom was raised on the east shore of beautiful Oahu, Hawaii. He attended Brigham Young University in Provo, where he received a Bachelor of Social Studies Teaching. Around that time, he also served a mission in New Caledonia and learned French.After teaching geography in West Jordan for two years, Brother Hallstrom returned to the islands to study law at the University of Hawaii, where he received a Juris Doctorate. He worked as a real estate and business transaction attorney for a time and then started a position as a Seminaries & Institutes Coordinator. Kevin married the amazing Melanie Wiser in the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple in 2005, and together they have four outgoing children.Now Brother Hallstrom has the great privilege of witnessing learners come closer to Jesus Christ and receive the precious blessings of His gospel.

An address given by Matt Driggs, delivered January 28, 2025, at the Conference Center Theater. Matthew Driggs grew up in Syracuse, Utah. He attended Weber State University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish/Health Promotion. He continued his education by receiving a Master’s degree in Professional Communication and a Certificate of Proficiency in Programming Essentials at Weber State University.v

Brother Driggs has been employed at Weber State University in the Office of the Registrar and now works in Enrollment Services at Ensign College. He continues to work as an adjunct professor of Communication at Weber State University. He served a mission in San Jose, Costa Rica from 2005 to 2007.

Upon returning from his mission, he married his high school sweetheart Alyson Dabb on August 3rd, 2007. They have three children. He currently serves as Bishop in his ward.

An address given by Elder Ulisses Soares, delivered January 21, 2025, at Ensign College.

Elder Ulisses Soares was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 31, 2018.

An address given by Brother Joseph Kerry, delivered January 14, 2025, a the Conference Center Theater. Joseph Kerry was born in Seoul, South Korea. Prior to moving to Utah, he lived in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas.He received his Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in Political Science and served as a missionary in the Munich Germany Mission. Following his graduation from BYU, Brother Kerry pursued a joint-degree, receiving his Masters in Public Policy from the Eagleton Institute of Politcs and his law degree from Rutgers University. He is a co-author of a New York Times Best Selling book, which has been translated into several languages, including Chinese, Korean, and German. He currently serves on the Utah State Board of Education and as Chair of the Communication Department here at Ensign College.His greatest blessing are his three children who are all currently attending college in Pennsylvania.

An address given by President Kusch, delivered January 7, 2025, at Ensign College. President Bruce C. Kusch became the 13th president of Ensign College on April 17, 2017. He previously served as the Chief Academic Officer from March 2016 until assuming his current role. President Kusch began his Church Educational System service in August 2002, joining the Business Management Faculty at Brigham Young University-Idaho. While there, he also served as the Associate Academic Vice President for Curriculum and as Associate Dean for Online Programs. Before joining the BYU-Idaho faculty, President Kusch worked in the high technology industry in Silicon Valley, CA. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix, an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management, and a PhD in instructional design from Idaho State University. President Kusch served as a full-time missionary in the Guatemala-El Salvador Mission, and from June 2012 to June 2015, President and Sister Kusch served as mission leaders of the Mexico Cuernavaca Mission. He currently serves as an Adult Sunday School teacher in his ward.

An address given by Sister Alynda Kusch, delivered January 7, 2025, at Ensign College. Sister Alynda Kusch was born in Southern California and spent her time as a child and youth in Santa Ana, Lancaster, Whittier and San Diego. Following high school, she attended BYU and met President Kusch in an institute chorus. They married in the Los Angeles Temple and are the parents of four children and have 15 grandchildren.For much of their married life, Sister Kusch dedicated herself to raising their children, which meant that for a time, school had to wait. Music has been an important part of their family life, and she taught piano for more than 20 years.Education has been important to Sister Kusch, and so when she and President Kusch moved to Rexburg, she was able to return to school where she earned an Associate of Science Degree and completed a Bachelor of Science Degree with an emphasis in Business, Communication and Culinary Arts.Following graduation, Sister Kusch taught in the Culinary Arts Department until she left to serve with President as he presided over the Mexico, Cuernavaca Mission.Sister Kusch has served in Young Women and Relief Society Presidencies on both a ward and stake level. She was an early morning seminary teacher and stake supervisor for nine years and taught gospel doctrine. She has served three Church service missions and as a full-time missionary with President Kusch in Mexico. She currently serves as her ward’s music chairman.

An address given by Darren Butterfield, delivered December 10, 2024, at Ensign College.

Darren Butterfield was born in Bountiful, Utah 9 minutes after his identical twin brother, David. He grew up in West Jordan, Utah with 4 brothers and a sister. After serving a Spanish-speaking mission in Ventura, California, he attended BYU-Provo, where he taught Spanish at the Missionary Training Center for 3 years and Seminary for 1. During this time, he met his celestial companion, Ms. Jerilyn Johnson, and the two of them were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 8, 1991.After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Business, Brother Butterfield began his career at Covey Leadership Center, where he coordinated public programs and leadership development training for Fortune 500 companies. During this time he was blessed with 3 beautiful children: Spencer, Taylor, and Brooklyn.In 1997, Brother Butterfield and his family moved to Roseville, California to pursue a career in Human Resources while obtaining a master’s degree in organizational management. Following graduation, 2 colleges invited him to teach business and communication courses. Soon thereafter, Brother Butterfield’s 2 classes turned into 9, and before long his career changed from Human Resources to Higher Education.About this time, 2 more children were added to the family: Alisha and Tanner.In July 2012, the spirit prompted Brother Butterfield to return to Zion and continue his career in higher education with, then LDS Business College. He has been serving as the Learning Management System Director and as an Adjunct Professor ever since.