Laura Gough grew up attending an oral school called the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind. She later mainstreamed to her local school and graduated. At the age of 14, Laura started learning ASL when she learned she would become completely Deaf.

Laura was baptized at the age of 12, but because of lack of support at home she did not fully attend church until she became 18, when she started attending the Deaf ward.

Laura met her husband at his twin brother’s wedding. They became friends first and then 2 and 1/2 years later they started dating. They have been married for 16 years and have 5 children together.

Laura is a stay at home mom most of the time. She works for her husband’s business as a secretary.

Laura loves learning the gospel and feels each calling she has received has helped her grow and learn different things in the gospel. She is so excited to be a seminary teacher and looks forward to helping others learn to love the gospel. 

Kayla McLeod lives in Kansas. She been married to her best friend Sam McLeod for 9 years and they have two boys (Chuck, and James).   She is a stay at home mom and has also worked part time as an ASL teacher.  She attended Brigham Young University-Idaho and graduated with a Health Science major in 2016. She has enjoyed being a seminary teacher since January 2023.  She is thrilled to have an opportunity to know you and work with you!

For over 13 years Emmalee has been a part time employee teaching seminary and institute. Emmalee is currently a member of the first ASL Board of Education serving as the chairwoman over the children and youth sub-committee. Her current calling is the chairwoman for the Deaf Symposium and FSDY (For the Strength of Deaf Youth). She is also the owner of Deaf Saints 4 Christ since 2019; a social media platform to bring awareness of ASL content, resources for the deaf Latter-Day saint community. Since 2020 she has managed weekly vlogs via YouTube called "One by One Come Follow Me." Over the years Emmalee has been involved with various film management and productions. She has had assorted opportunities to serve as president or counselor in relief society, young women's, primary, temple worker. She served an ASL mission in Phoenix AZ. Emmalee is a graduate of Utah State University. She is married to her pre-school BFF, Dean. They have been married for 14 years with 3 energetic children (ages 13, 11, & 9). She loves to create opportunities for family and friends to gather. Someday she hopes to lead ASL church history tours. Her personal mantra she lives by, "When life gives you lemons, God can use them to change lives."  

Matt Jamison was born in Palo Alto, CA. He was born profoundly deaf since birth due to his mom having German measles and chicken pox while she was pregnant. Matt grew up both in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA and Southern CA. Matt was taught to read lips and attended mainstream public schools from K-12. Upon my graduation from high school, he attended BYU, where he first was exposed to ASL.  It was while he was at BYU he finally received his own testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He decided to go on a 2-year mission where he served in Seattle Washington and Southern CA.  After his mission he resumed college at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. and graduated there with a BS degree in Computer Information System.  He started a career as a computer programmer and other various jobs for Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL) in Livermore, CA for 22 years. He aslo taught ASL classes at the community colleges and high school. 

He has been married to his beautiful wife, Debora for 32 years. They have 3 beautiful children, including one who was adopted. Two of them are married and one still remains at home with them.  Matt has had several callings, which include the Branch Presidency, High Priest Quorum presidency, Elder Quorum President, Branch Mission Leader and Temple ASL ordinance worker. He has recently been called as an ASL seminary teacher and LOVES it!   Being a seminary instructor has been one of his favorite callings (besides being a fulltime missionary). He hopes he never gets released!

Matt and his wife currently live in Mesa, AZ. His hobbies are video editing, singing/signing church songs in ASL, creating short videos and sharing the gospel. One day he hopes to establish my own video studio. 

Sara Putman is a native Californian, growing up in the beautiful Los Angeles Valley. She is the middle (deaf) child of two hearing parents, with two other Deaf sisters. Years of speech therapy and the use of hearing aids provided her limited access to educational and social activities and resources. Nevertheless, she was introduced to ASL in 6th Grade and began a renewed journey of self-identity and confidence. Her LDS pioneer heritage continued to be a blessing as she pursued in serving in many Church leadership callings and strengthening her testimony of Jesus Christ in the Riverside Deaf Branch, CA.

The sweetest years came when Sara started to participate in the Young Single Adult and Institute programs, furthering her Gospel knowledge and preparing to meet her eternal companion. Her dreams were fully realized when she was sealed for time and all eternity in the San Diego Temple in May 1999.

Shortly after, they traveled and started their family in Rexburg, Idaho. Sara’s calling as a mother in Zion blessed her life with 3 beautiful girls. While at Ricks, she also served a 1-year service mission, and hosted ASL community classes for children and adults.

Her family decided to move back to California, Central Coast.  More children followed adding to their ranks with two additional girls and a boy. Today, their 6 beautiful children range between the ages 23 to 11.

Sarah has served in a variety of Church callings, including Primary, Young Women and Relief Society presidencies.  She also works as a, business entrepreneur/partner and certified tax preparer.  She has held this occupation for nearly 20 years!

Being a seminary teacher is a new one for her, but she is excited and cannot wait to see what the Lord will reveal to her on her covenant path with the youth of the church.

Jerry and Stefanie live in Idaho and were married in the Idaho Falls temple in 1994.  They lived in Logan, Utah where they first met at Utah State University, and have since lived in Salt Lake City, UT, and Madison Wisconsin. 

Jerry served an ASL mission in St. Louis, Missouri his full two years. Past callings include teaching Primary together and various other age groups. They served as Ward missionaries in Madison, WI.  Stefanie has taught ASL for over 20 years and started a "Learn ASL" church class for future interpreters that is held over Zoom. In January 2021, they were called to teach ASL Seminary and Institute and enjoy this calling.

They love to plan events, attend conferences for the Deaf (especially Deaf Symposium), dress up for Halloween, serve in the community, do arts and crafts, decorate for holidays, see musical plays, watch adventurous and Hallmark movies, camp, and travel. 

They have 2 kittens born in October 2022 and had 3 previous cats that they call their fur babies. They also have some "adopted kids" who call them "Deaf mom" or "Deaf dad" that they met through their ASL classes, who have invited them to their temple sealings. They love playing with their 21 nephews and 9 nieces, and some have taken an interest in ASL.

Stephen Peterson grew up in St George, UT and now lives in Riverside, CA where his wife, Marianne Peterson, grew up. Stephen and Marianne have been married since 2012 and have 5 children together.  He graduated from Utah Valley University and Utah State University. He works as a math teacher at California School for the Deaf - Riverside, and has been enjoying teaching seminary since August 2025.  He loves reading, learning new things, playing the piano, and running when feeling motivated to improve his health which is sometimes! 

Benjamin “Ben” Featherstone is an instructional designer who believes learning should be clear, human, and rooted in real connection. He also serves as a Deaf ASL Coach for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival where his love for teaching and mentoring continues to grow. Ben served a two-year mission in Australia, where he gained a deep appreciation for Deaf culture and learned Auslan (Australian Sign Language)—an experience that shaped both his faith and his lifelong passion for language, accessibility, and teaching.

At the center of Ben’s life is his deep love for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which guides how he approaches his work, his family, and his service to others. He is married to his wonderfully beautiful wife, and together they are raising three beautiful children  who keep life joyful, loud, and full of perspective. Ben loves teaching, learning, river rafting, and helping others grow in confidence and understanding. He believes teaching is a form of service, faith is lived one day at a time, and that the best learning—like the best relationships—is built with patience, care, and genuine love for people. 

Rachel Gurr was born deaf and raised in Magna, Utah.  She is a convert to the church and chose to be baptized when she was 18, after graduating high school.  

She has had many growth challenges that have strengthened her testimony and deepened her love for the Savior and His gospel. 

Rachel currently lives in Houston, Texas with her five wonderful children.  She loves being a stay at home mom and considers it to be one of the greatest blessings of her life.  She is excited for the opportunity to teach students who love and share testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel.