deseret
Spencer Shuman, a talented two-sport athlete from Provo High School, had long dreamed of playing professional sports. However, he wrestled with whether that dream could coexist with serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The concern that pausing his athletic career might leave him behind his peers and jeopardize scholarship opportunities or professional prospects weighed heavily on him. "Honestly, I struggled with that for a while," Spencer admitted.
In March, Spencer attended the Utah National Football Foundation awards banquet, where he was recognized for his kicking prowess—boasting long field goals, accurate extra points, and deep kickoffs that pinned opponents. There, he crossed paths with Chad Lewis, a former NFL tight end who played nine seasons. The two struck up a conversation over cookies, and Lewis began discussing the very topics that had been troubling Spencer. "Without really knowing what I had been struggling with or what my concerns were about serving a mission, he started talking about the exact things that had been on my mind," Spencer recalled.
Lewis shared how his mission in Taiwan had profoundly impacted him, expressing gratitude for the lessons learned, the people he met, and the experiences gained. Rather than viewing his mission as a sacrifice, Lewis emphasized the immense benefits. "He talked about how much you actually gain through serving a mission," Spencer said. "He emphasized how meaningful those two years can be and how much they can change your life." One statement particularly resonated: Lewis said that if he could relive his life, he would choose his mission over his professional football career—even over winning a Super Bowl—100% of the time.
Morgan Scalley, head coach at the University of Utah, also spoke with Spencer, affirming that he would not change his decision to serve a mission in Munich, Germany. Scalley expressed his admiration for missionaries and believes the attributes they develop benefit every aspect of life, including football. Additionally, Spencer's high school coach, Kirk Chambers—a former NFL offensive lineman with six years of professional experience—was present. "He spent years playing in the NFL, so when he talked about his mission, I really listened," Spencer said. Chambers told Spencer that, without hesitation, he would choose the mission over his NFL career.
Spencer did not make an immediate decision, but the conversations lingered in his mind. "I thought about how Chad had talked about so many of the exact things I had been worried about, even though he had no idea what was going through my head," Spencer said. He came to see the players as answers to prayers. "For the first time, I started to really understand that maybe serving a mission wasn't something I needed to put off my dreams for," he explained. "Maybe it was something Heavenly Father knew I needed in order to become the person I wanted to be."
Ultimately, Spencer chose to serve. He submitted his mission papers and received a call to the El Salvador San Salvador East Mission. His home MTC training is set to begin next week. "I don't know exactly what these two years will bring," Spencer said, "but I'm excited to find out."
Key Analysis
Spencer's story highlights the profound influence of mentors who have walked similar paths. The perspectives shared by Lewis, Scalley, and Chambers—each having experienced both professional sports and missionary service—provided Spencer with a framework to reconcile his ambitions with his faith. Their willingness to prioritize spiritual commitments over athletic achievements underscores a broader conversation within the Latter-day Saint community about the compatibility of high-level sports and mission service. Spencer's decision reflects a growing narrative that mission experiences can enhance, rather than hinder, personal and professional development.
Originally reported by deseret.