Exhibit 10.17
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                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


         THIS  EMPLOYMENT  AGREEMENT  is made and entered  into this 16th day of
July,  2004  effective  as of the  4th day of  December,  2003,  by and  between
SECURITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION, a Utah corporation (the "Company"), and
SCOTT M. QUIST ("Quist or Employee").

                                   WITNESSETH:

In consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained,  the parties agree as
follows:

         1. EMPLOYMENT IN EXECUTIVE CAPACITY The Company hereby agrees to employ
Quist as its President of Security National Financial Corporation and cause that
he continue to be elected to his current  positions in all subsidiary  companies
for a five-year term  commencing on December 4, 2003, and terminating no sooner,
other than for cause than  December 4, 2008.  The Company  agrees to review this
Employment  Agreement on December 4, 2008,  and December 4, 2013 for  additional
five-year periods provided that Employee has performed his duties with usual and
customary  care,  diligence,  and  prudence  becoming  the  position and has not
performed  or failed to perform any act which would  justify a  termination  for
cause.

         2. EMPLOYEE  AGREES TO DEVOTE FULL TIME Quist agrees to such employment
and  agrees to devote  his full time and  attention  to the  performance  of his
duties  hereunder which shall include such additional  duties as may be assigned
to him from time to time by the Board of  Directors  and/or the  Chairman of the
Company.  Employee  agrees to perform such duties in a reasonable  fashion using
customary  standards of  diligence,  care,  and prudence  commensurate  with his
position.

         3.  EMPLOYEE TO BE OFFICER  During the term of this  Agreement and each
renewal  thereof,  it is agreed that Quist shall be elected as the  President of
Security National Financial Corporation and cause that he continue to be elected
to his current positions in all subsidiary companies.

         4.  COMPENSATION  In  consideration  of the  services to be rendered by
Quist as an  officer  of the  Company,  the  Company  agrees to pay Quist and he
agrees to accept  compensation  at no less than his current rate of compensation
including benefits inclusive of all subsidiary companies.  It is agreed that the
term "current rate of compensation"  does not include such items as stock option
grants  or  incentive  or  similar  bonuses  as may be  granted  by the Board of
Directors from time to time. It is agreed that on a yearly  anniversary  date of
this  Employment  Agreement or such other time as the Board of Directors may see
fit,  the  compensation  being paid to Quist  shall be  reviewed by the Board of
Directors  and  adjusted by the Board of  Directors  as they see fit,  but in no
event shall  compensation be less than the current rate of  compensation.  Quist
shall  be  entitled  to  reimbursement  for  any  and  all  reasonable  expenses
associated with his duties incurred by him in the performance of his duties.


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         5.  DISABILITY  In the  event  Quist is unable to  perform  the  duties
provided  for  hereunder  because of illness or  accident,  then Quist  shall be
entitled  to seventy  five  percent  (75%) of the current  rate of  compensation
provided  for  hereunder  for a term of five  (5)  years  from  the  date of the
commencement of said disability pursuant to such illness or accident. In lieu of
the benefit  provided in this  paragraph,  the Company may purchase a disability
policy.  To the extent  that any such  policy were to pay a benefit in excess of
seventy  five  percent of the  current  rate of the  compensation  provided  for
hereunder,  then no additional benefit shall be due under this paragraph. To the
extent  any  such  benefit  is  less  than  one-half  of  the  current  rate  of
compensation  then  this  paragraph  shall  be  interpreted  to  pay  an  amount
sufficient to bring the benefit to one-half of the current rate of compensation.

         6.  PENSION  PLAN The  Company  agrees to provide an ESOP,  401-K Plan,
Non-qualified  stock  plan  or  similar  arrangement  for  Quist  and to  make a
contribution  to the Plan on behalf of Quist  consistent with the Company's past
and current practices  regarding other executive  employees of Security National
Financial Corporation and subsidiary companies.

         7. INSURANCE The Company agrees to maintain a group term life insurance
policy in the amount of not less than $1,000,000 on the life of Quist, who shall
have the right to designate  the  beneficiaries  and the owner or owners of that
policy.  Such policy shall  terminate  upon  retirement  but if possible will be
converted to an individual  policy in favor of the  Employee.  It is agreed that
premiums for his policy shall be paid by the Company  until  retirement or other
termination.  The  Company  further  agrees to  maintain a Whole Life  Insurance
Policy in the  amount of  $500,000.00  on the life of Quist,  who shall have the
right to designate the  beneficiaries and the owner or owners of that policy. It
is agreed that all premiums for both policies shall be paid by the Company until
retirement or other  termination.  Employee agrees that it is his responsibility
to locate and procure such coverage.  Employee  represents that he is capable of
qualifying  for such  coverages  under  standard  rates and  conditions.  If for
whatever  reason  Employee does not so qualify then the benefit to be paid under
this paragraph is the premium amounts that would be paid assuming standard rates
and conditions.  The Company agrees to purchase a group  hospitalization  policy
for Quist  providing  family  coverage  for his spouse and minor  children  with
benefits  consistent  with the Company's  past and current  practices  regarding
other  executive  employees of Security  National  Financial  Corporation or its
subsidiaries such coverage to be provided until retirement or other termination.

         8. AUTOMOBILE The Company agrees to furnish Quist,  until retirement or
other termination,  with an automobile or truck, consistent with past practices,
with lease or purchase payments to be made by the Company.

         9. MERGER OR SALE In the event the business conducted by the Company is
acquired by another entity through acquisition of assets,  merger, or otherwise,
this Agreement  shall be binding upon any such successor  organization  and that
any such agreements having as their subject such combination shall  specifically
adopt this Agreement.  However, if Quist does not continue his employment at the
same salary,  terms, and conditions,  then and in that event, and in addition to
the  Retirement  Benefit  contained in paragraph  12, the Company  agrees to pay
Quist full salary plus all benefits including bonuses,  options, etc, for a term
of seven (7) years from the date of his termination.  In the event Quist is able

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to negotiate an Employment Agreement with a successor entity that is equal to or
more favorable than this  Agreement,  then this provision  shall be void. In the
event that Quist is able to negotiate an employment  agreement  with a successor
entity  that is less  favorable  than the  terms  contained  herein,  then  this
Agreement  shall be interpreted  so as to make up the shortfall in  compensation
such that Employee  shall receive the amounts that he would have received  under
this Agreement.

         10.  RETIREMENT  BENFITS  Quist  shall be entitled to receive an annual
Retirement  Benefit  commencing  one month from the date of his  retirement  (to
commence no sooner than age 65), five years following complete disability or the
completion  of paragraph  5, or  termination  of his  employment  without  cause
whenever occurring, in an amount equal to seventy five (75%) of his then current
rate of compensation. This Benefit shall be paid annually for ten (10) years. In
the event Quist dies prior to receiving all benefits outlined in this paragraph,
payments shall be made to his designated beneficiaries or his estate.

         11.  MODIFICATION  The terms of this  Agreement  shall not be  altered,
amended or modified except in writing signed by a duly authorized officer of the
Company and Quist.

         12.  PAROL  AGREEMENTS  This  Agreement  contains  the entire  contract
between the parties,  and any representations that may have heretofore been made
by either  party to the other are void.  Neither  party has relied on such prior
representations in entering into this Agreement.

         13.  DECISIONS  OF THE  BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS  AND  BINDING  ARBITRATION
Decisions  and  determinations  as  contemplated  in  this  Agreement  regarding
Employee  shall  be made by  majority  vote of the  Board  of  Directors  of the
Company. If Quist is a member of such Board, he shall be recused from voting. If
any disputes are subjected to litigation, then the Company shall provide counsel
to Quist for such litigation.

         14. NOTICES Any notices  required to be given hereunder shall be deemed
officially given if sent by certified mail to the  above-mentioned  addresses or
to such other addresses as either party may hereafter  designate by notice given
in the same manner.

This Agreement  supersedes all prior  understandings  and agreements between the
parties  and may not be changed  or  terminated  orally,  but only by a writing,
signed by the parties hereto.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement
as of the day and year first above written.

         ATTEST:                              SECURITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL
                                              CORPORATION



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                                              George R. Quist, Chairman


                                              --------------------------
                                              Scott M. Quist, President