Bio of Jan Murray Smith

Family: Married to David with three children: Christy, 23 is a BYU graduate in English and ASL interpreter, Michael, 21 just returned home from the Philippines, Tacloban mission and Janae, 19 a BYU-I music major. I am trying to talk them into getting married so I can be a Grandma!

David and I met the Friday after I came home at an Institute dance and we were married three months later. We have stayed in Washington State (Gig Harbor, White Salmon, Ellensburg, Woodland) with one creative year in Guam. We recently relocated to Pocatello, Idaho and plan to retire here. David is a construction safety consultant and I still work in nursing. During the winter I am a Psychiatric nurse at the local hospital (a really awesome job) and spend my summer being "nurse Jan" at Camp Easter Seals West - which is even better.

Our family has been 100% active in the church, which means I have done a bit of everything, calling wise, over the years. David served as Bishop in Key Center, Washington and Branch President in Guam. I've written a few articles for the Ensign, Friend and New Era... my favorite was a story called "Juan Carlos and the Conference Shirt" which was set in Honduras. Scottish genealogy is better than a good mystery novel and I love to do my next mission to Scotland.

Served as a Health Service/Welfare Service Missionary in: Leon, Nicaragua with Hermana Marta Calderon. Chinendega, Nicaraugua with Hermana Ora Lee Black. Colon, Panama with Hermana Mary Rimshaw, Hermana Cook. San Pedro Sula, Honduras with Hermana Marilyn Moss and Hermana Hansen. Had the wonderful opportunity of traveling to surrounding areas to work and do health fairs, classes and act as a local resource... so worked in many other areas.

The 18 months I spent in the mission field made me who I am and changed my whole way of thinking and living. I still feel cheated that Sisters can't stay two years, I might still remember Spanish if I had stayed a bit longer. I have an Eternal love for the mission companions who helped me grow and become a better me. And as far as I am concerned, President Muren still walks on water.