When Shannon Foster goes to work, she sometimes sports toy crowns and sits beneath blanket forts.
After teaching seminary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 13 years, Foster retired in 2012 when her daughter, Hannah, was born, but the Utah mother still wanted to help people study the gospel.
Using her years of experience teaching LDS youths, Foster created a business around scripture study guides and teaching tools, which allows her to share her passion while playing dress-up with her daughter.
"She’s an amazing teacher, and all her students loved her," said Foster's husband, Tyson. "It was almost sad to have her retire because the church is losing such good talent here, but we knew that retiring was the right thing."
Foster is putting that talent to use through her online business, The Red Headed Hostess.
She first recognized the interest in her tips when she posted a scripture study guide on her website that quickly grew in popularity. She then took art classes and created a study guide for the Book of Mormon featuring illustrations, charts and tips.
"I wanted to get that into the home," Foster said. "That was the whole reason I started this site because I wanted to get the skills that had become second nature to me into homes and into families and to parents who want so desperately to teach with power."
When Foster began teaching seminary, she read a quote by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, that inspired her.
"We encourage everyone to make careful study of the scriptures and of the prophetic teachings concerning them and to prayerfully seek personal revelation to know their meaning for themselves," Elder Oaks wrote in a 1995 Ensign article.
To help others enhance their study of the scriptures, Foster published "My Book of Mormon Study Guide: Diagrams, Doodles and Insights" in 2014, which covers 1 Nephi through Mosiah. She will release another guide at the end of September for Alma through Moroni. She also plans to make study guides for the LDS Church's other books of scripture.
In addition to creating study materials, Foster enjoys planning events. Her ability to pull off parties led to her nickname, "the redheaded hostess," which then became the name of her company.
In the midst of her busy schedule, Foster still sets aside time to study the scriptures, trying to do so when her daughter is nearby.
"I think it’s important for your kids to see you studying because they’ll model that behavior," Foster said. "I do it when she is awake, even though it’s a lot harder."
Being able to do that has become easier since her husband, Tyson, left his job in March to work on The Red Headed Hostess.
"It is nice being home," he said. "I never thought that I would be able to stay home and work. It’s still kind of a weird concept for me. I’ve had a normal job working for someone else since I was 14 years old. I’m just glad that our sacrifices and risk-taking have paid off to where we can do this."
But everything did not come together seamlessly for the Fosters. When the couple was first married, they bought a restaurant franchise that was unsuccessful. Because of that experience, they were more willing to take chances to launch The Red Headed Hostess.
The couple has seen those efforts make an impact on not only their customers but also on their daughter.
"The other day, (Hannah) was sitting in the back of the truck, and out of nowhere, she goes, ‘Jesus is my friend,'" Tyson Foster said. "I guess we’re doing something right."
Shannon Foster is grateful to have found a way to follow the counsel of Elder David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, who asked LDS Church members to "sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth."
"It’s great to have a business we can do while we’re moms and fulfill the gospel," Foster said. "There’s so many opportunities in the digital world. There’s no end to possibilities."