James and Jenessa Mac Pherson Family History
James E Mac Pherson was born Thursday, 22 January 1976, to Bradford Earl Mac Pherson and Marilee Johnson, at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. James is the oldest of four sons. He was raised in Florida and Utah.
Jenessa Rasband was born Friday, 03 January 1976, to Ronald A Rasband and Melanie Twitchell, at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jenessa is the second oldest of four daughters and one son. She spent her childhood in Utah, Colorado, Ohio, and Connecticut.
James and Jenessa met in seminary, their sophomore year at Alta High School, in Sandy Utah. James asked Jenessa to accompany him to Junior Prom where he escorted her down the stairs of the Utah State Capitol and danced together under the Capitol Rotunda to the song by Eric Clapton, “You Look Wonderful Tonight.”
James served as Alta High’s Seminary Class President his senior year. Jenessa swam on the high school swim team and competed in the state championship. Jenessa loved the water and enjoyed working as lifeguard for Pepperwood pool. Together, they graduated from Alta High school in the class of 1994.
James was called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, assigned to the Brazil Rio de Janeiro North Mission. He entered the Provo Missionary Training Center in February of 1995 and was re-assigned to the Maryland Baltimore Mission in March of 1995.
Jenessa followed shortly thereafter. While attending university classes at the BYU Jerusalem Center, Jenessa opened her mission call on the banks of the Sea of Galilee. It was the same shoreline where the Savior called Peter, James, and John to follow Him and be fishers of men. Jenessa was called to serve in the Michigan Detroit Mission and entered the Provo Missionary Training Center in September of 1996.
Nearly every week James and Jenessa wrote letters to one another for over three years. Upon Jenessa’s release, she flew to New York City to visit her parents who were presiding over the New York, New York North Mission. In April of 1998, James and Jenessa were reunited at the Salt Lake International Airport. A month later, they were engaged to be married.
On Wednesday, 12 August 1998, James E Mac Pherson and Jenessa Rasband were sealed for time and all eternity in the Washington D.C. Temple. The sealing was performed by Elder Donald L. Staheli, of the Seventy, among close family and friends.
Jenessa graduated from Brigham Young University in the Spring of 1999 majoring in Recreational Management. Soon after, Jameson Cole Mac Pherson was born on Monday, 15 November 1999, at the University of Utah Hospital, in Salt Lake City. He was named after his father. He weighed only 4.7 lbs. due to a battledore placenta. Yet, Jameson proved to be a fighter and quickly gained weight to come home after several days in the hospital. As a young mother, Jenessa served as Primary President in a ward located in Cottonwood, Utah.
James graduated from the University of Utah in the Spring of 2001 majoring in Political Science. On Saturday, 19 May 2001, Ammon J Mac Pherson was born at the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ammon’s middle name, J, stands for his mother, Jenessa, as it was felt they would have a special connection to one another.
In 2002, James, Jenessa, and family moved to St. George, Utah. James founded WaterBrooke Financial (a mortgage company) and began a career in the financial industry.
In the heat of summer, Maggie Faith Mac Pherson was born on Monday, 28 July 2003, at Dixie Regional Medical Center located across the street from the St. George Temple. Maggie is derived of English origin meaning pearl. As the only daughter in the family, she is a rare and special gem. Her middle name “Faith” was bestowed upon her because it was felt that it took much faith for her to leave the presence of her Father in Heaven.
In 2005, James sold his mortgage company and all assets to Countrywide Financial and joined the organization working as Area Sales Manager for Southern Utah.
On Wednesday, 12 October 2005, Isaac Rulon Mac Pherson was born at the Dixie Regional Medical Center by cesarean section. He would be named after Isaac Lee, a fellow member of the Snow Canyon 11th Ward and his two great grandfathers, Rulon Rushton and Rulon Rasband. In Fall of 2006, James was called and set apart as the Young Men’s President of the Snow Canyon 11th Ward.
Asher James Mac Pherson was born on Saturday, 30 June 2007, at the Dixie Regional Medical Center, in St. George, Utah. Asher means ‘happy’ and it was felt that this would be one of his defining characteristics. His middle name was given in honor of his father. On Wednesday, 29 April 2009, Hyrum Rushton Mac Pherson was born at the same St. George hospital as his siblings. He was named after Hyrum Smith, the first martyr of the restoration. Hyrum’s middle name bears the name of his progenitors who crossed the plains as pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley.
On Sunday, 16 August 2009, James was ordained a High Priest by his uncle, Stephen Lee Johnson. He was then ordained and set apart as Bishop of the Snow Canyon 11th Ward of the St. George Utah Snow Canyon Stake by his father-in-law, Ronald A. Rasband.
In December of 2009, James resigned his position with Bank of America (who acquired Countrywide Financial) to accept a career opportunity to join Academy Mortgage Corporation.
In the Spring of 2011, James was called and set apart as Second Counselor in the Stake Presidency of the St. George Utah Snow Canyon Stake.
On Sunday, 20 November 2011, Manti Exeter Mac Pherson was born at the new Dixie Regional Medical Center located on River Rod, in St. George, Utah. James, Jenessa, and family learned they were having a boy while in the small town of Manti for a family reunion. Manti also shares the same middle name as Blaine Exeter Twitchell, his great grandfather, who serve in World War II, and in the U.S. Military.
In 2013, James, Jenessa, and family relocated to Draper, Utah, at the request from the President of Academy Mortgage. He was appointed Executive Vice President.
Shortly thereafter, James enrolled in the Masters of Executive Leadership Program at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. James flew every other week to DC and attended weekend classes for nearly 18-months. In the Spring of 2015, James graduated with his master’s degree in Executive Leadership with Jenessa and children in attendance.
In May of 2015, James was called by Elder Robert C. Gay, of the Seventy, and Elder Gene R. Chidester, Area Seventy, to serve as president of a newly created Draper Utah Meadows Stake. He was set apart as president by Elder Ronald A. Rasband.
In January 2016, James was appointed President of Academy Mortgage. Soon after, Jenessa purchased Camden Lane Labradoodles and became owner and breeder of Australian Labradoodles. Through the years, Jenessa has had the opportunity to serve as a Young Women leader, Sunday school teacher, Enrichment leader, and Relief Society teacher. She has also faithfully supported James in his leadership callings.
In 2018, Jameson Cole Mac Pherson graduated from Corner Canyon High School, in Draper, Utah. He entered the Provo Missionary Training Center in July 2018—called to serve in the Australia Melbourne Mission speaking Mandarin.
In 2019, Ammon J Mac Pherson graduated from Corner Canyon High School, in Draper, Utah. He entered the Provo Missionary Training Center in August 2018—called to serve in the Fiji Suva Mission speaking Fijian. In that fall, James was appointed CEO of Academy Mortgage.
In April of 2020, and after 21 months of service, Jameson returned home and was honorably released as a missionary due to the spread of COVID-19. The very next day, Ammon returned home from serving nearly 8 months and was temporarily released as a missionary. Ammon is waiting for the soonest opportunity to return to the mission field.
As we reflect upon our lives, our family humbly acknowledges our Father in Heaven in all things. We have experienced joy and sorrow, the pain of losing loved ones, and the happiness found in each other, and in our children. We have been blessed in all things both temporal and spiritual. We give thanks to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and His everlasting atonement. He is the center of our family. It is through Him and His unconditional love that we have the promise to grow, to become, and to be a family forever.