Emily Susan Pack is a singer-songwriter, comedian, and social media personality known for her humorous and faith-focused music, particularly within the Latter-Day Saint (LDS) community. Based in Mesa, AZ, she creates relatable, often comedic, songs that blend storytelling with heartfelt themes. She has a large following on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

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John C. Giles (born 1960) is an American attorney and Republican politician who served as the 40th Mayor of Mesa, Arizona, from 2014 until 2025. A Mesa native, Giles earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Brigham Young University and his Juris Doctor from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. In addition to his political career, he is a practicing lawyer at Giles & Dickson and an adjunct law professor.

Giles first entered local politics as a member of the Mesa City Council from 1996 to 2000, which included a stint as Vice Mayor. He was elected Mayor in a 2014 special election and served two full terms before reaching his term limit in 2025. During his tenure, Giles focused heavily on community and infrastructure improvements. His key achievements include leading the “Off the Streets” program to combat homelessness, championing the Mesa College Promise to provide free community college to residents, and securing federal grants to expand electric vehicle infrastructure and public transit.

Though a member of the Republican Party, Giles gained national attention for his willingness to cross party lines. He endorsed Democrat Mark Kelly for the U.S. Senate in 2022 and served as co-chair of the Arizona chapter of Republicans for Harris during the 2024 presidential election, even speaking at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

Outside of politics and law, Giles is a dedicated athlete who has completed multiple Ironman competitions and Boston Marathons. He also hosts It’s Always Cool in Mesa, a podcast highlighting the city’s culture and history. He and his wife, Dawn, have five children and eight grandchildren.

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TikTok creator Kami Skolmoski recently captured the internet’s attention with a ten-part video series detailing how she fell in love with, and eventually married, her Mormon mission companion. The article highlights both the romance of her story and the complex realities of being a queer person raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).

Meeting on a Mission: Kami and her now-wife, Heysell, met in 2018 during their LDS mission in California, where Kami was actually assigned to be Heysell’s trainer.

Personal Struggles: Kami openly shared the hardships of her mission, which included battling an eating disorder, struggling with her mental health, figuring out her sexuality, and eventually being sent home early.

From Roommates to Wives: The two later reconnected as roommates at Brigham Young University in 2020. They eventually realized they were in love, proposed to each other in the summer of 2024, and eloped in Cannon Beach, Oregon in early 2025.

A Nuanced Relationship with Faith: Despite the LDS church’s anti-LGBTQ+ policies, Kami still considers herself Christian and occasionally attends church. She credits this to a deeply supportive local community that never turned its back on her.

Advocacy Over Institution: Kami maintains that she answers to God, not the church. She chooses to stay somewhat connected to her faith roots so she can act as an ally and advocate for other queer members navigating similar paths.

Link to Patreon

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