Speakers + Musical Guests

Elder and Sister Gong

A former bishop and stake president, Elder Gong has served as a General Authority since 2010 and in that capacity seen the Church grow and develop across the world. He now serves as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A Rhodes Scholar who worked for the U.S. State Department and for the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., Elder Gong’s travels have taken him to all seven continents, including living in Asia for more than a decade.

Both Elder and Sister Gong served as full-time missionaries in Taiwan; the couple married in January 1980 in the Salt Lake Temple. They are the parents of four sons and have three grandchildren.

Sister Gong is a “compulsive gardener,” loves to cook and “bring people together.” She received a BA in English Literature from BYU and served a full-time Mandarin speaking mission in Taiwan, and has continued her love and study of the Chinese language throughout her life.

Ann Romney

Wife | Mother & Grandmother | Best-Selling Author | Global Ambassador for the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases

Ann Romney is an American equestrian, author, and philanthropist. She is the wife of businessman and politician, Senator Mitt Romney of Utah. From 2003 to 2007, Romney was First Lady of Massachusetts, while her husband served as governor. As First Lady of Massachusetts, Romney served as the governor's liaison for federal faith-based initiatives. She was involved in a number of children's charities, including Operation Kids.

Ann was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998 and has credited a mixture of mainstream and alternative treatments with giving her a lifestyle mostly without limitations.

Dr. Ross Baron

Topic:"Lessons Learned Living in Israel to Prepare for the Second Coming of Christ"

Dr. Baron is a professor in the department of religion at Brigham Young University—Idaho. He has spoken about and defended the Church at firesides, on the radio and the History Channel, and at Christian colleges and universities.

Al Carraway

Topic: “When Things Go from Bad to Worse”

For all the times we don’t see Him, feel Him, hear Him—recognizing God in the hard and unwanted.

Al Carraway is a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ, writer, multi-award-winning international speaker, and author of the best-selling book, “Wildly Optimistic,” “More Than the Tattooed Mormon,” and “Cheers to Eternity!”

Dennis Schleicher

Topic: "Why I Stay—When Adversity Is So Hard“

Dennis Schleicher is an LGBT advocate and highly sought-after public speaker, a writer, lifestyle reporter, and best-selling author of "Is He Nuts?: Why a Gay Man Would Become a Member of the Church of Jesus Christ" and "Scripture Up!"