John was born and raised in Salt Lake City, and he served his mission in the Philippines. Following his mission he attended the University of Utah, and later graduated from BYU. John has taught the Book of Mormon at Brigham Young University, and the BYU Salt Lake Center since 1996. In 2003, he earned a Master’s Degree in Religious Education. He is the author of more than two dozen books and CDs many of which, he says, are effective non-prescription sleep-aids.
He loves to golf, write, read, and play the banjo and guitar. John is a founding member of the local chapter of the Andy Griffith Show Re-run Watchers Club, and does a spot-on impersonation of Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife. John has served as a bishop, and is currently serving as a member of the Young Men’s General Advisory Council (formerly known as the General Board). John and Kim’s children have served missions in France, Iceland, Tahiti and West Virginia, and another son will soon be serving in Uruguay..