A Call from a Prophet to Serve in the New York New York North Mission

On March 19, 2015, we received our call to the New York New York North mission to serve as member and leader support (MLS) missionaries.

Our family gathered to watch us open the letter. Family members who lived outside of Utah watched the event via FaceTime on their iPhones and iPads:

The Zimmermans gather in our living room, with cameras, iPhones, and iPads ready.

We opened the letter and read the lines, "You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the New York New York North Mission. Your primary assignment is to labor as member and leader support missionaries." The family cheered.

Here we are with the call letter from a prophet:

Scott and Beverly with the call from President Thomas S. Monson.

Our New Mission President

The Church News announced the new president of the New York New York North Mission, effective July 1, 2014, about three weeks before we arrive in the mission. Here is the announcement:

President David L Smith and Sister Rebecca C. Smith

David Lynn Smith, 42, and Rebecca Cardall Smith, three children, Keller 2nd Ward, Colleyville Texas Stake: New York New York North Mission, succeeding President Thomas B. Morgan and Sister Debra Morgan. Brother Smith serves as a bishop and is a former bishopric counselor, ward Young Men president, elders quorum president, seminary teacher and missionary in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission. Partner and executive vice president, Veridicus Health. Born in Salt Lake City to Richard Lynn Smith and Sirkka Eliisa Laitinen Smith.

Sister Smith is a former ward Young Women president, ward Primary presidency counselor, Sunday School teacher, and missionary in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission. Born in Salt Lake City to Duane Volker Cardall and Margaret Layton Cardall.

Letter from the Mission President

Debra F. and Thomas B. Morgan

On March 24, 2014, we received a wonderful letter from the president of the New York New York North Mission, President Thomas B. Morgan. (He will be replaced July1st by President David L. Smith by the time we arrive in the mission at the end of July.) The letter filled our hearts with joy as the Spirit witnessed to us that this call came from the Lord. Here is the letter:

 







Dear Elder and Sister Zimmerman,  

Sister Morgan and I are so excited to receive the news that you will be serving in the New York New York North Mission. You will be serving in one of the most interesting and culturally diverse areas in the world. In our mission, five different languages are spoken by missionaries—English, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese, and ASL (American Sign Language).

The New York area is one of the great and historic missions of the Church, established in 1839 as the second formal mission in the latter days. Over the years, the mission has been divided many times. The· New York New York North Mission currently includes the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx, and the northern suburbs of the city. The mission boundaries extend to include many outlying cities and towns, such as Monticello on the west, Kingston on the north, and Norwalk and Stamford, Connecticut, on the east. It is estimated that five million people reside within the boundaries of the mission, which includes four stakes with a combined membership of twelve thousand. The mission home and office are located in Scarsdale, NY, a lovely northern suburb of the city.

As you prepare yourself for this exciting and sacred service_, I encourage you to continue your personal study of the Scriptures and prayerfully consider how your testimony and experience in the church might bless the lives of those with whom you meet.

I understand that you have received all necessary information from the Missionary Department, but if you have any questions) please feel free to call the Mission Office at (914) 722-4105. We have included with this letter a map of the mission and a short history of the mission.

We look forward to personally welcoming you to this great New York New York North Mission. We love you already and promise that your experience here will be a sacred one. May Heavenly Father continue to bless you in your preparations.

With love and deep appreciation for your service,

Thomas B. Morgan 
Mission President 
 

LDS Church Maps of the New York New York North Mission

This is the official map of our mission as published by the Church. It shows the typical detail of a road map. (You can click on an image to expand it.)

Road map showing the area of the New York New York North Mission

This is another map, with less detail, but showing the major cities within the mission.

 And finally, a map showing the four stakes covered by the mission. (For some reason, the aspect ration is off, but the details are there.)

The four stakes are New York Newburgh Stake (red), New York Yorktown Stake (purple), New York Westchester Stake (yellow), and New York New York Stake (green; see inset).

The New York New York North Mission Area within New York State

This map (click it to expand it) shows the location and relative size of our mission within the state of New York. The mission is approximately 100 miles long and 100 miles wide.