Mission Call Opening Take 2! - January 19, 2025

A few weeks before Sam was scheduled to leave for Mexico last year, he felt like it was not the right time for him to leave on his mission. He cancelled his call and we got him enrolled in Utah Tech for the fall. 

In November of 2024 he decided it was time to start his mission paperwork again. He submitted his papers on Dec 31, 2024. On Jan 13, 2025 his new call was ready to open! He was down at school so we waited until he could come home that weekend to open it.

We had everyone re-guess where he was going.

Then he read his call. He was re-called to the Mexico, Mexico City mission! He starts home MTC on May 26th and leaves for the Mexico City MTC on June 5th!

                                                        

Sam and Mom

Josh Lamont and Sam - Josh is in home MTC.

Sam and Jessica Cederlof 

Grandma Nielson, Sam and Grandma Warner

Spencer, Preston, Sam, Kenna, Lily

Noah Gibbons on his mission in Chile was on zoom when Sam opened his call!

Hadley Sommer and Sam

This is what Sam wrote about the experience of cancelling his call last year:

11 months ago, I was called to serve as a missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints in the Mexico, Mexico City West mission. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to open my mission call and was called back to the Mexico, Mexico City West mission.

As I prepared to serve last year, I never took the time to ask if a mission was what God wanted for me. When my mission was only a few weeks out, I finally prayed about it, and the answer I received was very unexpected. After praying many more times, I finally reached out to my Bishop and canceled my call.

Over the next couple of months, I struggled as I watched my friends leave on their missions. I was beyond excited for each of them, but I couldn't understand why I wasn't leaving at that time.

As I started school, I felt the prompting to begin working in the temple, and that has been such a blessing. The temple is truly the house of the Lord. There is no better place to be. Serving in his house helped me understand that he has a place and a time for each of us, and it helped me prepare for the prompting I would receive next.

On a random Sunday in November, I felt prompted that it was time to start my mission papers. This was unexpected as I had begun to assume I would not serve a mission. I spent lots of time both in and out of the temple praying about it.

I know this is what God has planned for me next! I know that the past 11 months have better prepared me to serve. Thank you for everyone who has been there for me. I love you all!"