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For Many Mormon Athletes, Mission is to Play

posted on June 26, 2014

In The New York Times, Alex Thompson reports on the decision of many Mormon athletes—including Jabari Parker, who was selected in this week’s N.B.A. draft—to not undertake a traditional Mormon mission. According to Thompson, many Mormon authorities argue that athletes can garner substantially more visibility for the Church through playing rather than going on a mission, although some high-profile athletes have still chosen to serve a mission before playing professionally. In a recent article explaining his decision, Parker wrote, “After talking with my family, my local church leaders and a couple close friends, I’m at peace with my decision to forgo a mission for now and join the N.B.A. I don’t consider myself an exception to the rule.”

Read at The New York Times