Published: April 13, 2008 11:39 pm            

LOCKPORT: Mormon Church missionaries link with community

Monday is a day of rest for Elders Mack and Hansen. It’s not that they’re old and need rest; “elder” is the word for teacher in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dustin Mack is 19 and Darrick Hansen is 21.

Lockportians have probably seen the young men in dark pinstripe suits doing mission work on the streets and at the doorways of neighbors from Tuesday to Sunday. Monday is laundry day.

“As far as entertainment goes, we’re pretty much living the life of celibacy here,” said Hansen, who related life as a missionary to a vow of silence. “It’s only for the two years we’re out here. We don’t date or have friends. Every Monday we have recreational day. Other than that, we devote all of our time to help people spiritually.”

Hansen and Mack are among 58,000 Mormon missionaries throughout the world. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints started in Palmyra in 1820 when the Book of Mormon was revealed to Joseph Smith less than 100 miles from here.

Hansen has visited Palmyra twice. “It’s an historic place for our church,” he said. “As a missionary, it’s a treat for us to go and see all the sites where the restoration took place.”

The headquarters are in Salt Lake City and missionary work may take young men and women anywhere. LDS lists membership at 5.2 million in the United States and 11 million worldwide.

Hansen, a native of Livermore, Calif., has been on the road almost two years and his tour is almost over. Mack is a relative newcomer, starting his mission three months ago.

They pay their own way and buy their own suits. They wear white shirts and ties. The younger elder has a thing for collecting old ties.

“Ties are the only way you can express yourself out here,” said Mack. “One of our hobbies is to collect vintage ties. At the Salvation Army we get the ties we want, polyester.”

Hansen does not share that hobby. “It’s not my thing,” he said with a smile. “I’m low profile.”

The church encourages its missionaries to connect with the community and going door-to-door is just a small part of the mission. Mack and Hansen live on Market Street and do service work around the city.

“However people need us to help them, we do whatever they like us to do,” Mack said. The young elders do service in the YMCA, senior center, Red Cross, for members of the Lockport church on Locust Street, for people who need help moving things and for people who are sick.

“We’re here to help,” Hansen said. “We’re not here to sell something to you. We’re here to help you guys and share our message of Jesus Christ. We do that by showing compassion.”

Mission work is not required by the church, but it is encouraged because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Mack’s father served in Australia and his older brothers were sent to Ireland and the Philippines.

Men usually begin mission work at 19. Women start at 21.

And it can be scary.

“Some of the areas we can get called into can be a little interesting,” Hansen said. “I’ve served inner-city Rochester or Buffalo and it gets a little tense, but you feel protected. You can tell the Lord is watching over you.”

They go where they are sent. Hansen and Mack live at a house Market Street and missionaries are rotated and stay in the same home. There is a constant flow. Hansen, who plans to return to California, is showing Mack the ropes and Mack will follow suit with the new elder.

The local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is on Hamm Road and serves about 120 people. There are black members of the church.

“There are lots of African Americans,” Hansen said. “Most of the members are not from the United States. The majority are outside the United States, countries in Africa is where it’s growing the most.”

Contact reporter Bill Wolcott at 439-9222, Ext. 6246.

        

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