Doug Foxford and Justin Jensen may look like a couple of rolling contradictions as they cruise the streets of Tahlequah on high tech mountain bikes, wearing dress shoes, slacks, white shirts and neck ties.
But when you’re on a mission for God, projecting a cool image isn’t necessarily a high priority.
“You’ve got to remember to tuck in your pants,” said Jensen, as he stuffed the cuffs of his pants into his socks to keep his bike chain from chewing them up.
“I’ve destroyed a couple pairs of pants that way.”
Foxford, 19, and Jensen, who’ll turn 21 next week, are two missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – also know as the Mormons – stationed in the Tahlequah.
They can be seen riding and walking all over town, wearing their dress clothes, their name tags, and – when they’re on their bikes – their helmets, spreading the gospel.
“Our church encourages worthy young men to serve a mission,” said Foxford.
“It’s not required; you’re not going to be looked down upon if you don’t, but it’s encouraged.”
Mormon men between the ages of 19 and 25, and women between the ages of 21 and 25 can apply for mission work – sometimes in the U.S., sometimes overseas – and will spend two years ( a year and a half for the women) in different communities, telling just about everyone they meet about their church.
“We try to tell everyone we see [about the Mormon faith], because we believe our message is so important,” said Foxford.
“We also occasionally hold what are called ‘firesides,’ where people can come in and see movies and get more information, and just learn more about Christ.”
Tahlequah is Jensen’s sixth mission location, Foxford’s first.
Mormon missionaries spend anywhere from six weeks to six months in a particular location, always in an area away from home (Jensen’s from Virden, N.M., Foxford’s from Clermont, Fla.), and always in pairs.
“We believe that Christ himself said to go forth, two by two, to spread the gospel,” said Foxford.
“At times, it can be a difficult task, but when there’s two of us we’re able to help each other out.”
Of course, walking up to folks to tell them about a religion – any religion – can bring out the best, the worst, and sometimes the absolute weirdest in people.
Foxford and Jensen have both had a few odd moments during their mission work.
“We ran into one character who was a nice lady, but she also seemed to be a little psychotic,” said Foxford.
“She told us people were following her around, marking on her house – writing things on the side of her house. Then we caught her marking up her own house.”
Jensen said he’s also had folks who – when they found out he was Mormon – started doing their own mission work on him.
“When I was in Tulsa last year, I had people praying over me in tongues ,” he said.
“They were [Oral Roberts University] graduates. You see a wide variety of things.”
Most Americans know at least something about the Latter-day Saints. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Brigham Young University in Salt Lake City, Utah are probably two of the most famous Mormon institutions.
But then, there’s that little issue of polygamy, which came into the public spotlight last year with the arrest in Colorado of Warren Jeffs.
Jeffs, who allegedly had 40 wives, was the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which is not affiliated with the larger Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that Foxford and Jensen belong to.
“A lot of things come up like that when we’re talking to people,” said Jensen.
“We tell them those are rumors, and rumors are mostly lies. If you want to know about the church, the thing to do is ask someone in the church. We gladly share our true beliefs, and not just whatever someone else says about us.”
Foxford agreed, and stressed that, as missionaries, they’re not out to “brainwash” people into becoming Mormons.
“Sometimes people have a skewed concept of what our beliefs are, and they get this animosity toward us,” he said.
“But if someone has another religion, we respect that. We believe in strengthening their faith and religion, we’re not trying to tear it down.”
When their missionary days are over, Foxford and Jensen will head back to their respective homes, continue their education, and continue one of the fundamental traditions of their religion.
“One of the most important parts of the church is family – home can be a place to come for refuge from the sorrows of the world, so family is very important to us,” said Jensen.
“When I go back home, I’ll go to school, get married, and start a family.”
Contact Eddie Glenn at eglenn@tahlequahdailypress.com.
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