Chapter 36: Two teenage Mormon missionaries on missing mom to make miracles

So one day I'm out taking one of my magical ​life-changing long walks​ when suddenly two guys are like "Hi! How are you?!"

And I look up kind of stunned because I'm walking around downtown Toronto where no one really pops out of the woodwork to shout a "Hi! How are you?!" at you …

What do I see?

Two young men smiling back at me. Like, big smiles! Gigantic smiles. Dressed up, too. It takes me a minute to piece it together but turns out they're Mormon Missionaries living away from home for two years with the sole purpose of teaching people about their church.

They asked me what I'd heard about Mormonism and I said, uh, well, they don't drink much and they have a lot of kids. Oh, and there's a play called The Book of Mormon! Super ignorant.

I got to talking to them and my fascination with these guys deepened. They are teenagers. They go by Elder Cox and Elder Corona. They are living away from home for two years while most of their peers go to college. They get no TV, no music, no books, no booze, no bars, no dating, and no… well, no anything most teenagers would be interested in.

Do they have doubts? Do they have fears? What if no one believes in them? How successful are they?

How do they even define success?

So, we are sitting down with two teenage Mormon Missionaries to discuss their three most formative books and what it's like devoting your life to one sole mission, purpose, and faith.

I found this conversation enlightening and inspiring on many levels.

I hope you do, too.