

Salt Lake City, Utah was where I began my life's journey. After moving to several other states, my parents settled in the little farming community of Blackfoot, Idaho when my father bought a family shoe store.
I graduated from Blackfoot High School and then went to Rick’s College in Rexburg, Idaho with my best friends. I also graduated with an Associate degree from Rick’s because it was a two-year institution at the time, and then I attended Brigham Young University.
I interrupted my college studies to serve an 18 month mission to the California North Mission whose mission office was in Sacramento, California.
When I returned from my mission I graduated from BYU with a B.A. in Speech and Drama, a minor in English and a Utah Teacher’s Certificate.
While at BYU I married Gary Johnsen, who I met in California because he also served in the California North Mission.
Gary worked for Exxon Mobil his entire career which took us first to Los Angeles, California then Houston Texas. We then moved to Gillette, Wyoming, and from there to Carlinville, Illinois. Then we were transferred back to Houston (really Spring, Texas both times.) We were transferred to the Territory of Guam and again returned to Spring, Texas after that.
When Gary retired in 2011 we served a mission in the Micronesia Guam Mission which has its mission office in Guam, but we were assigned to the island of Palau for 18 months.
After returning from our mission, we made the big move back to Utah and bought a home in Draper, Utah. Four years later we relocated to South Jordan.
Gary and I have 7 children now ranging in age from 49-35,.They are living all over the United States, including New York, Texas, Arizona, California and Utah.
I have served twice served as Relief Society President, and been a Primary President, and I have taught early morning Seminary along with almost every calling available except I have never been a ward librarian.
I love to read and have become a self-help enthusiast. I love to write lyrics for songs. My song, Anthem to America, with composer, Beckee Davis was given a special recognition award in the LDS Church music contest in 2017. I like to write family and church programs, do family history, and serve in the church.
I have been a costumer for Draper Philharmonic and Choral Society, and on the board of the Draper Theater.
I am an Ordinance Worker in the Jordan River Temple. and I am a volunteer for Lifting Hands International.
I teach classes on organizing, goal setting and how to give a better speech.
I have written four books: My Miraculous Moments, Counseling with the Lord, Being from Blackfoot and The House with NO Junk Drawer. I have published a book of music with Becky Alexander called The Prophets Songbook which contains 17 songs following themes from all of the Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 2024, I completed He Comes! which is a musical celebration of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The music was composed by Jacob Lives and Joe Osterstock.
