Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — What are the chances of best friends — who also happen to be cousins — receiving their mission calls for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the same time and even to the same place?
Stephen and Josh Pinnock both received their mission calls on March 7. They gathered with family and friends to open their calls and discover where they would be serving for 24 months.
Stephen's sisters recorded the event and posted "2 cousins. 1 mission." on YouTube March 8. The video shows Stephen first reading that he is called to serve in Milan, Italy, and report to the Missionary Training Center in Provo July 24.
The elated crowd claps and hugs before Josh opens his mission call and reads that he, too, is called to serve in Milan, Italy. Furthermore, he too will report to the MTC on July 24.
Stephen told the Deseret News his initial reaction was shock.
Deseret News:
Close cousins surprised to be called to the same Mormon mission
Josh and Stephen were born two months apart and grew up together. They were in the same ward for their first seven years of life and have always been in the same stake. "They have been so close for so long, we know it will be a fun experience for them to serve in the same mission," said Larry Pinnock, Stephen's dad."The next day it hit me more that we would be serving in the same mission. I was really grateful," he said.
Josh told the paper, "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."
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."
