Phil Ford, a promising 6'6" offensive line prospect that has been in contact with BYU about joining their football team, made his decision to serve a mission as soon as he can! Click here to link to a recent article about his decision.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the spotlight often find themselves facing a very real and sometimes daunting decision: to serve a mission or to forgo it for the opportunity to influence people while in the public eye? I've heard the argument that BYU football holds immense opportunity for missionary work. The better it does, the better chance it has to draw the eye of non-members, and hence, inspiring people to find out more about the church. It can be especially hard for athletes, as they fear losing their much needed strength and agility to compete at the college level if they take 2 years away from training. How can they be an influence later if they can't make it through the college years?
For those of us who have never tasted fame, how can we truly judge if this or other arguments are good or bad? One of my teacher's quorum advisers told me a story of how, when the time came for him to serve and he prayed about it, he received the answer that he should not serve a mission. Instead of a mission, he ended up in the army where he found himself able to influence and convert those serving alongside him in the military. And who's to argue with him that that wasn't his purpose at that time? These decisions are often so personal and proper judgment can only be made by our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ at the last day.
I think Phil Ford is setting a great example by choosing to serve a mission. I would love to see every LDS athlete do the same, but do not hesitate to accept those who decide not to. Other LDS members in the lime light who have made similar decisions include famous pop-star David Archuleta (video of his announcement below), the up and coming basketball star Jabari Parker, and this list of athletes who have served.
If you know a pre-missionary athlete who is struggling making this decision, it might be helpful to show them this list, as well as give the gentle guidance from a prophet that every worthy young man should fill a mission. The benefits they will gain from it will be so much greater than if they had stayed. But don't hesitate to allow them to make their decision, and trust that they are doing what they know to be right.
This kind of decision is being made by many elite athletes around the world. Here in the South Pacific - Australia in particular - we have many talented young men in the church who play rugby professionally from a very early age. Most of them have to make similar decisions at age 19 - often foregoing lucrative million dollar deals to serve the Lord. One such young man - Will Hopoate - made the difficult decision to do just that. He is currently serving in the Brisbane Australia Mission, and maintains that it was the right thing to do. Here is an 'I'm a Mormon' video about him http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAheGUPJI8Y
ReplyDeleteI so admire this kind of sacrifice and committment.