A Life-Changing Opportunity

Life has a unique way of opening doors when we least expect it. Occasionally, something captures our hearts, urging us to embrace it fully. Maybe someone shares an opportunity that aligns perfectly with your purpose. Has this ever happened to you? For Rick and Sonja Decker, their life-changing moment came through a friend.

Meeting the Shepherds

For those familiar with Cumorah Academy, you might remember Kelly and Stacey Shephard. Kelly and Stacey joined the Cumorah family in the fall of 2022. Since then, students have cherished their presence and are eager to learn from them. Kelly currently serves as the Chief Learning Officer for Cumorah Academy.

So, how did the Deckers meet the Shepherds? Before diving into that story, let’s first get to know a little more about our Advisory Couple.

The Deckers: A Life of Service

Sonja and Rick Decker both attended the University of Utah. Sonja studied Health and Nutrition, while Rick earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. Rick also holds a Master of Science from Utah State University, where he focused on wildlife studies. His extensive background includes more than 30 years of work with Seminaries and Institutes of Religion for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, making him uniquely qualified to work with young adults.

Sonja spent over 20 years working as a gardener and landscaper at the Jordan River Temple and the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. Both Rick and Sonja are now retired. They first met while singing in the choir at the University of Utah, where they also served together in the choir presidency. They have been married for 42 years, have five children, and are the proud grandparents of 15 grandchildren. As many grandparents often say, their family is their greatest joy.

One day, Rick met Kelly at Ensign College, where Rick worked from 2015 to 2020. The two became great friends, and Kelly enthusiastically shared his experience at Cumorah Academy, describing the campus atmosphere and the excitement of working with young people.

Intrigued, Rick and Sonja carefully considered the opportunity and embarked on this new chapter of their lives. Both are passionate about teaching and inspiring others and now, the students at Cumorah Academy will benefit from their wisdom. When asked about their expectations, the Deckers said:

“We hope to have wonderful experiences. Working with young adults is always an exciting adventure.”

A New Adventure at Cumorah Academy for the Deckers

Indeed, it’s an adventure! Teaching this generation is always full of surprises. They are brimming with brilliant, innovative ideas and an eagerness to bring them to life. It’s this boundless enthusiasm that excites us, semester after semester!

With the Deckers now on campus as the new Advisory Couple, we can expect great things to unfold. They will listen to our students and help them design a vision for their future, leaving a lasting impact on our community.

Life has its ups and downs, but sometimes it presents us with remarkable opportunities when we least expect them. This was the case for Rick and Sonja Decker, who chose to dedicate their time and talents to Cumorah Academy. Our students will remember them forever.

Written by Fernando L. Ferreira Jr.

Photos by Natalia Lopez

Supervision by Kamila Uberto Fullmer