Derek R. Sainsbury has a Ph.D. in American History from the University of Utah and is the author of the groundbreaking book, Storming the Nation: the Unknown Contributions of Joseph Smith’s Political Missionaries. He is also the author of several journal articles and conference papers. He also earned a Master of Public Administration from Brigham Young University and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Utah. He teaches in the Church History and Doctrine Department at Brigham Young University. He has taught and administered for twenty-six years in the Seminaries and Institutes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is married to his high-school sweetheart Meredith Pettit and they are the proud parents of Briant, Nathan, and Joshua. Derek loves to spend time with family (including their three dogs) and researching and writing history, particularly nineteenth century Latter-day Saint history.