Latter-day Missionary

Welcome to Latter-day Missionary, a weekly podcast that gives you a raw, unscripted look at what it's really like to serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every week, Sister Cheney will jump on a call with her dad, Edgar, to share stories about the people she's meeting, the lessons she's learning, and the everyday reality of missionary life. Whether you're preparing to serve, have already served, or are simply curious about the 84,000+ missionaries serving around the world, we are so glad you are here.In this episode, Hannah and Edgar walk through one of the most anticipated moments in any missionary's journey — receiving a mission call. From lots of paperwork to the email that changes everything, this conversation is candid, emotional, and full of unexpected turns.In this episode, we dive into:The Application Process: From meeting with the bishop to doctor's appointments, language tests, and lengthy paperwork, Hannah breaks down just how thorough and meaningful the process of applying for a mission really is.How Missions Are Assigned: Edgar and Hannah share a fascinating clip from a Church leader describing what it's actually like to sit in the room where an Apostle prayerfully assigns each missionary to their field of labor, one by one, by revelation.The Moment of Truth: Hannah opens and reads her actual mission call letter live on the podcast and shares what was going through her mind as she read it.The Crushing Disappointment: In a refreshingly honest moment, Hannah admits she was heartbroken by her assignment to the Texas Houston East Mission. The Turning Point: How Hannah's perspective slowly shifted over the months that followed through small but undeniable signs that her Heavenly Father had been orchestrating this all along, including a remarkable coincidence involving a close friend.The episode closes with a scripture from Alma 26:3–8, the story of Ammon rejoicing over the souls he helped bring to the gospel, which serves as a reminder that the work missionaries do has the power to protect and strengthen people through every storm life brings.If you've ever opened a mission call, watched someone open one, or simply wondered what that moment really feels like, this episode is for you. Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss next week's episode, where Hannah and Edgar share tips and advice heading into the mission field!

Welcome to Latter-day Missionary, a weekly podcast that gives you a raw, unscripted look at what it's really like to serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every week, Sister Hannah Cheney will jump on a call with her dad, Edgar, to share stories about the people she's meeting, the lessons she's learning, and the everyday reality of missionary life. Whether you're preparing to serve, have already served, or are simply curious about the 84,000+ missionaries serving around the world, we are so glad you are here.In this episode, Hannah and Edgar open up about one of the most personal parts of the missionary journey — the decision to go. From Edgar's unwavering conviction as a 19-year-old to Hannah's long, winding road of doubt, fear, and faith, this conversation is honest, relatable, and deeply moving.In this episode, we dive into:Edgar's "Why": How the missionaries who brought the gospel to his family in Guatemala shaped his desire to serve — and why going on a mission never felt like a choice, just the next step.Hannah's Honest Struggle: From childhood certainty to real fear, Hannah shares how the closer her mission got, the harder the decision became — and why leaving BYU and the life she loved made it even more complicated.What Fasting Is: A brief, accessible explanation of fasting as a spiritual practice and why Hannah turned to it while seeking answers.The Age Change: A discussion of the Church's recent policy change allowing both young men and young women to serve beginning at age 18, and why Hannah feels it was divinely inspired.A Leap of Faith: Hannah shares how she didn't feel fully convicted until after submitting her papers and receiving her call to the Houston, Texas Spanish-speaking mission.The episode closes with a scripture from Proverbs 3:5–6 — "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" — a reminder that even when you can't see the full picture, He can.

Welcome to The Latterday Missionary, a weekly podcast that gives you a raw, unscripted look at what it’s really like to serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every week, Sister Hannah Cheney will jump on a call with her dad, Edgar, to share stories about the people she’s meeting, the lessons she’s learning, and the everyday reality of missionary life. Whether you’re preparing to serve, have already served, or are simply curious about the 84,000+ missionaries serving around the world, we are so glad you are here.In this debut episode, get to know the hosts before Sister Cheney officially ships out to the Houston, Texas Spanish-speaking mission in a few months! Right now, she's still at home, so this episode is all about introductions.In this episode, we dive into:Meet the Hosts: Learn about Sister Cheney's background as a recent high school graduate and BYU student, and Edgar's background as a product manager and father of five.Missionary Roots: Edgar shares his own life-changing experiences with the missionaries who introduced his mother to the gospel in Guatemala, as well as stories from his own mission in McAllen, Texas.What is a Missionary?: A brief, approachable overview of what it really means to dedicate 18 to 24 months to serving, teaching, and living by specific missionary guidelines.The episode wraps up with a special spiritual thought centered around Philip's invitation to Nathaniel to "come and see" from John 1:45-46.Make sure to follow the podcast on Spotify to join us every week as we document Sister Cheney’s journey in real-time. Next week, we’ll be discussing the big decision: how and why we both made the choice to serve a mission!