Utah Cousins Stephen And Josh Pinnock Get Simultaneous LDS Mission Calls -- To Milan, Italy

On March 13th, 2013, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued an official statement congratulating Argentinian Roman Catholic Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio on his selection and accession as Pope Francis. But it doesn't mean the Church will stop competing for the spiritual allegiance of Italians, who are still predominantly Roman Catholic. Two more young men have been called to serve as LDS missionaries in Milan, Italy.

However, this is not an ordinary mission call. Stephen and Josh Pinnock, who are cousins who've been in the same LDS stake all their lives and were in the same ward for the first seven years of their lives, both received their mission calls on March 7th. Both have been called to the Italy Milan Mission, and both depart for the Provo Missionary Training Center on July 24th, 2013. The departure date is a noteworthy sidelight since July 24th is celebrated as Pioneer Day, a secular holiday in Utah commemorating the arrival of the first Mormons in 1847. Family members decided to record the moment on video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdrghP3m8VE



It is almost unheard of for close relatives to be called on proselyting missions together. According to KSL Channel 5, both are thrilled; Josh said, "I personally have no idea why we were called to the same mission, but the fact that we are means there is a purpose and a work we can do that needs to be done", while Stephen added, "This is going to be an incredible experience for both of us, and it feels right. There's no doubt in our minds that we are both suppose to go there." More of their reaction, and that of some family members, is published in the Deseret News. Annie Pinnock also shares her thoughts and numerous photos on her blog.

Now, whether they are assigned to be each other's companions once they reach the mission field is a different story. One commenter to the Deseret News wrote that when a pair of twins was assigned to the Milan Mission years ago, and it became known they were twins, one of the twins was re-assigned to another mission. Such a decision most likely would be up to the mission president.