About Me

Karen Shores was born in Oakland, California, the youngest of four girls. She grew up in El Cerrito, California, where she attended school and was honored to speak at her High School Graduation. In her youth, she was privileged to travel around the United States with her family and later throughout Europe with her sister and friend.

Karen attended Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, receiving a Bachelors degree in both Sociology and in Law and Justice Administration. She served a Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in Spain, (Madrid), then in Arizona. After her mission, she returned to BYU to complete a Masters Degree in Health Education. It was during this time that both her mother and father passed away, teaching her a great deal about surviving intense grief and loss, and how to become independent and self-reliant very quickly.

Karen met her husband, (the late) Mark R. Shores at BYU. They were sealed for Time and Eternity in the Bountiful Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. When her husband passed away, she learned instantaneously, that grief can be much more intense than she had previously experienced, requiring a great deal of Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to survive (or even want to survive) and then find a new meaning and purpose in life, aka, a reason to get up in the morning when your heart and life have been shattered.

Karen worked for the State of Utah- Emergency Medicals Services, as an educator in several different hospitals and the Poison Control Center. She then worked for many years as the Regional Director of Education at Intermountain Healthcare. While working full-time, she returned to school at the University of Utah, where she earned a PhD in Health Promotion and Education.

Throughout the years, while working in her professional field, she also taught classes at Brigham Young University, Salt Lake Community College, BYU Education Week and at many conferences and community sponsored events. She currently teaches Health Science classes full-time at Utah State University.

Karen has a (foster) daughter, son-in-law and three precious Tiny Angel Grandchildren, who are the joy of her life and her reason for living.

Karen enjoys serving in various teaching and leadership positions in her church, learning new things (constantly), teaching classes, playing with her grandchildren, travelling, playing the harp and piano, crocheting afghans for those she loves and spending time with family and friends.

Karen has taught Stress Management for nearly forty years and has been a guest speaker at many events around the United States. She began writing her book, Stress Management Lessons from the Savior, after receiving constant requests to "write it all down please" so people could refer to it during their times of stress.