James joined the church through sister missionaries and an ASL Interpreter in Las Vegas at the age of eleven years old. He served a mission in Anaheim, California ASL Mission. He also has served in the church in a number of callings, including Elders Quorum president, Sunday school president and teacher, and a counselor to various elders quorum and branch presidents. He is currently the Branch President of Riverside Branch in Riverside, California. 

James received a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Utah State University in History & Watershed Science and Deaf Education. He began his career in Deaf Education as a History Teacher and CTE teacher in Construction in Oregon. He is currently the CTE Principal at California School for the Deaf, Riverside. He loves fishing, hunting, camping, outdoors, geography, history, and oceanography. He is married to Lynell Smith, and they are the parents of four children, three of which are deaf.