Former Authors

Tyler Griffin

Tyler was born and raised in the beautiful Cache Valley, Utah. After serving a mission in Brazil Curitiba, he returned home and married an Angel named Kiplin Crook. They have 10 children (5 boys and 5 girls). They love spending time in the mountains, playing board games, doing house projects, and being together. Tyler taught seminary for 6 years in Brigham City, Utah and then taught for seven years at the Logan, Utah LDS Institute. He has taught in BYU’s department of Ancient Scripture since August, 2010. His bachelors degree was in Electrical Engineering and his masters and doctorate degrees are both in Instructional Technology. He is a co-founder of BYU Virtual Scriptures Group which develops digital learning resources to enhance scriptural immersion and understanding.  He has authored a few books and is a co-presenter on Book of Mormon Central’s weekly Come, Follow Me, Insights episodes.

Barbara Morgan Gardner

Barbara Morgan Gardner is an associate professor of religion at BYU.  She is a co-host for the BYUtv show “Come Follow Up,” serves as the chaplain-at-large for higher education for the Church and is on the Deseret Book Editorial Board.  She is the author of the book The Priesthood Power of Women in the Temple, Church, and Family. After completing her bachelor and master’s degrees at BYU, Barbara received a PhD in instructional psychology from USU and completed postdoctoral work in higher education administration at Harvard University. She served as institute director in Boston, which included her assignment as the chaplain at both Harvard and MIT. She was born and raised in Salem, Oregon; served a Spanish-speaking mission in the Los Angeles Temple visitors’ center; and resides in Highland, Utah. Barbara is married to Dustin Gardner, and they are the parents of two children. She enjoys her wonderful family, learning, teaching, traveling, people, languages and culture, the great outdoors, and life!

Eric D. Richards

Eric grew up attending the Mountain View Baptist Church in San Diego before missionaries baptized him and his mom. Later, his own mission began in Honduras – and his son was called to serve in the same mission as well. He has served in several Bishoprics, as Ward Mission Leader, High Councilor, Stake Sunday School President, and currently is the Stake Executive Secretary. Professionally, he teaches Institute and Seminary in the Utah North Area. For 5 years, his team wrote the Online Seminary Curriculum. He presents at BYU and BYU-Idaho Education Week and he is active in the Interfaith dialogues and forums across the country. He’s best known for his popular ‘brotherichards’ Instagram & Facebook accounts and he is the author of “Preparing for the Second Coming” and six best-selling fireside CDs at Deseret Book. Most of all, he loves teaching and being with valiant Christians around the world.

Hilary Weeks

Hilary grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and loves the outdoors.  She began playing the piano at age 8 and wrote her first song at 14.  She has written and recorded 13 solo albums and is the first and only member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to chart in the Top Ten on the Christian Billboard Charts.  Hilary is married to Tim Weeks and they have four daughters and two sons-in-law.