Jason Smyth Wins Gold for Fifth Olympic Medal

Winning his third gold medal in the 100m T13 division sprint and fifth gold overall, Jason Symth, 29, defended his Olympic title from the 2008 Beijing Paralympics and the 2012 London Paralympics. Although he suffers from Stargardt disease and is considered legally blind, he never backed down from going for the gold.

In Beijing and London, Smyth also won a gold in the 200m sprint, which was not included in the Rio Games. He ran the the 100m race in 10.64 seconds, beating out Namibia’s Johannes Nambala for gold. Smyth is a member of the Belfast Northern Ireland Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Jason Smyth won his fifth Olympic gold in Rio (via irishpost.co.uk).

Another Mormon competed in the 100m T13 sprint. Tyson Gunter from Pocatello, Idaho, came in seventh in the 100m T13 finals.

David Blair Wins Gold Medal, Sets World Record in Discus

David Blair, 40, who is from Eagle Mountain, Utah, won the gold medal and set a world record in the discus F43/F44 division with a 64.11m throw. Blair graduated from Weber State University.

David Blair poses next to his world record discus throw (via teamusa.org).

Josh Wheeler Wins Silver Medal in Wheelchair Rugby

Josh Wheeler, 36, won the silver medal with Team USA in wheelchair rugby after beating Australia. After a motorcycle accident broke his neck, Wheeler lost function of his lower body. However, he discovered a sport he loved a few years after his accident: wheelchair rugby. He is a member of the San Tan Valley Arizona Stake.

Josh Wheeler (left) fights for the ball in wheelchair rugby against Canada (via teamusa.org).

Todd Hodgetts Wins Bronze Medal in Shot Put

Competing in the F20 division for shot put, Todd Hodgetts won bronze with a 15.82-meter throw. Hodgetts, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at age 8, won the gold medal in the 2012 London Paralympics. The defending champion competes for Australia.

Todd Hodgetts won the bronze medal in shot put, following his gold medal in 2012 (via alchetron.com).

Other Mormon Paralympians

Margarita Foundez competed in the 1,500m T12/13 race for Chile. She came in third in her preliminary race, just missing the finals.

Brickell Bro finished seventh overall in the 400m freestyle swim in the S8 division. Bro also finished sixth in her preliminary heat of the 100m butterfly, and competed in the 50m and 100m freestyle.

Ann Yoshida from Hawaii finished fifth in her prelimary heat for the KL1 division paracanoe, and did not advance to the finals.

Julieta Olmedo, 26, competed on the Argentine wheelchair basketball team. After losing two preliminary games, they won against Brazil before losing to Great Britain. They finished ninth overall in the tournament.

Eric Bennett, 42, finished eighth overall in his individual recurve archery competition, after finishing fourth in the 2016 London Paralympics.

The Rio 2016 Paralympics will continue competition until the closing ceremonies on Sunday, September 18, 2016.

Read more from the original Deseret News article (and an updated article on Deseret News).

In an interview with PBS, Tony Vainuku explained the relationship between the Polynesian community and football.

“So the origin of the story. I grew up in the same community as our subjects with a lot of Polynesian cousins and uncles who played football and were advancing in football at a really young age,” Vainuku said. “A lot of us looked up to NFL players like Vai Sikahema who ends up being in the film, Junior Seau from the San Diego Chargers, and they all became role models for us at a young age. Again, all of us were excelling at football at the time or we do even now in little league football and whatnot, so it became something really easy that motivated us.”

“For most of us—all of us wanted to be in the NFL,” Vainuku continued, “but it was a younger uncle of mine that was our NFL hopeful. He ended up being recruited, but instead he got addicted to drugs and he ended up going to prison 10 years. And so that story of him really inspired me to tell the story of all Polynesians that are really raised to play football at the cost of everything else. Later when I got into filmmaking I wanted to tell this story and I knew there were other Polynesian kids that mostly related to it just because I know the community.”

As an aspiring football player, Vainuku grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, playing football and dreaming of the NFL. However, in college he turned his attention to filmmaking, and “In Football We Trust” combines his two interests in one project.

Co-director Erika Cohn, who is more a filmmaker than football star, explains the history of American football in Polynesian culture.

“American football was introduced to Pacific Islanders in the early 1900s with missionary schools and colonial sports clubs. Later the seemingly close alignment between football culture and Polynesian culture (especially respect for authority, community-mindedness, teamwork, self-pride, etc.) combined with the large and agile build of some Polynesian men, began to interest college football teams. By the 1970’s American football had become a potential pathway out of poverty, and a legitimate means to migrate to the United States. Samoan and Tongan young men are 26 times more likely to make it into the NFL than any other ethnic group. Yet, this statistic/their overrepresentation in college football and the NFL give an impression of equality. In reality only a few athletes receive college offers or professional contracts, leaving the rest to search for alternatives often too late in the game.”

Star Lotulelei was one of those standout football players to make it to the NFL. Lotulelei was born in Tonga and raised in South Jordan, Utah, after he turned nine years old. Raised as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Star’s father was a seminary teacher. After playing high school football for Bingham High School, he rose to the top 3 in the 2013 NFL draft playing for the University of Utah football team.

Discussing Lotulelei’s road to success, Vainuku explains, “Star was so humble. I think he had an idea that he was going to be picked in the first round. But when he wasn’t picked kicked in the first little bit he got nervous and went downstairs and you could feel the tension. It’s definitely surreal and I think a humbling moment for him because of his journey on his way. He went to a junior college before—he didn’t go the route of the D 1 schools and was picked up by Utah. So I think he had a humbling and tough road for that day. So it was definitely surreal and humbling to see his family get that gratification.”

While “In Football We Trust” highlights more than one Polynesian football player, Star Lotulelei stands out as an example of finding success while staying humble and valuing family.

“I don’t know if I can really say I love football,” Lotulelei said. “I like football. But I love my family and that’s why I do it.”

Watch the trailer for the new PBS film “In Football We Trust,” airing for PBS’s Online Film Festival starting July 11, 2016.

Track athlete Shaquille Walker (via byucougars.com)

After running the 800 meter race in the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, former BYU track athlete Shaquille Walker fell short in his qualifying race.

With only 50 meters left in the race, Walker raced towards the finish line in lane 1. Unfortunately, a runner behind him sped up at the same time, tangling feet and losing momentum. While his opponent fell completely, Walker only slowed down enough to lose his place in the top eight. Finishing in tenth place, Walker lost his chance for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Walker, who formerly ran for the BYU track team, was born in Blue Island, Illinois, and ran for Richmond High School in Georgia before attending Brigham Young University. After running for the BYU track team for three years, Walker left his college team to run professionally for Brooks Beasts Track Club. His first professional race was the Olympic Trials.

After being disqualified, an appeal from his previous BYU coach, Ed Eystone, helped Walker to be readmitted to his previous standing. However, in tenth place, he still fell short of the Olympic qualifications.

While Walker faces disappointment in losing out on his Olympic dreams, he keeps his focus on what truly matters. A convert to the church, Walker openly shares his beliefs online.

“Before I really came to know God was there just a short 2 years ago,” Walker wrote on his Mormon.org profile, “I looked at religion as a Sunday thing that was not meant to affect our lives on any of the other days of the week. I now know that that is not the case. It is there to help us everyday, all day long. It is something we need! In short, it is not just a religion—it’s a life style.”

Although he didn’t grow up as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he considers his happy childhood and family as some of his main motivators.

“I grew up in a house where it was never quiet,” he writes. “I have five brothers so Mom and Dad always had their hands full. Growing up around so many boys was fun and something I am grateful for! Because I am a twin, it seemed like I was always competing with him; in school, in sports, in music, etc. It could have been damaging, but we never let it get too out of hand. Growing up that way always taught me to push myself and to never give up on myself, on my goals, or on my dreams.”

“From a young age I have loved running,” he explains. “I always wanted to be the fastest of all my friends. Although I never ran track until I was a freshman, I always thought it would be a good idea.”

Walker contributes his success to his work ethic as well as his faith. After completing his two-year mission to the England Manchester Mission in August 2014, he continued running and competing.

“When I started track, I never thought I would have run as well as I did. Before long, I found myself setting big goals and dreams, some of which seemed much too hard to achieve,” Walker wrote. “I never gave up though, and gave my best which was all I could do. Through hard work and many many blessings, I have seen a lot of those dreams fulfilled! I’ve now had the opportunity to run all over the country and even as far as Barcelona, Spain. Hard work, determination, and faith is the key—with those anything is possible!”

Although he won’t be competing in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, he will continue to run professionally with the Brooks Beasts Track Club. The Rio Olympics start on August 5, 2016.

After winning his first overall Canadian gymnastics title in 2011, he left the senior men’s national gymnastics team to serve a two-year mission in South Korea for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sacrificing many key opportunities to compete for opportunities to serve.

“It was difficult. I went into my mission not knowing if I would ever do [gymnastics] again. It was terrifying,” Payne said. “It was scary, but at the same time my religion is very important to me. I knew that if I put my trust into that decision it would work out.”

Unique from regular missions, Payne was given special permission to practice gymnastics at the Korean National Sports University eight months into his two-year service. He was able to rejoin the Canadian gymnastic team upon returning from his mission.

Right before competing in the Pan American Games in 2015, he tore his right Achilles tendon, making it impossible for him to compete.

However, with a boot to heal his foot and a determination to qualify for the Olympics, he fought his way through rehab for a year, starting training only ten days after his foot surgery. Rather than succumbing to his Achilles tendon injury and losing hope, Payne trained his way back to nationals in his hometown of Edmonton, Canada, and he’s not about to give up now.

“I had some doubts in my mind if I could come back,” Payne said, “but they weren’t big enough for me to stop.”

Jackson Payne (via examiner.com)

However, when the artistic gymnastics team for Canada failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics, Payne—along with other gymnasts from his artistic gymnastics team—had to compete in the national championships to vie for the one available gymnastics spot on Team Canada.

Payne excelled in Edmonton at the national championships. He won gold on the parallel bars and won his third overall national title, which positioned him as a main contender for the spot on the men’s gymnastics team, along with Rene Cournoyer of Quebec and Scott Morgan of Vancouver.

“It was a long road back. It took a year to get back to this point. There were some errors,” Payne said. But he sounded more hopeful for the future.

“I know I have room for improvement. I know there is more left in me.”

He exhibited good sportsmanship, as well as his competitive side, when he said, “I want the best person there in Rio competing for Canada. It’s the best way we can build our sport, and I want to be that guy.”

On June 30, Gymnastics Canada will determine who will fill the spot on the Canadian gymnastics team and go to Rio for the Olympics in August. Until then, Payne will undoubtedly be training, practicing, and hoping. He will also take a break from competing in gymnastics to get married in June.

Apart from hoping to get to Rio in August, Payne hopes to go to medical school in the future. He currently studies kinesiology at the University of Alberta and serves as a ward missionary in his local ward.

With Jackson Payne’s ability to turn every roadblock into something good, he sends a positive message to the world.

“If you can take something back from what happens, you can really grow.”

UPDATE: As of June 30, 2016, Scott Morgan of Vancouver beat out Jackson Payne as the only men’s artistic gymnast to go to the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Shown below, Payne (right) next to teammate Scott Morgan (middle), who made the Olympic team, and teammate Kevin Lytwyn (on the left). Payne will not compete for Team Canada in Rio this August.

Back in the game in Baku! #roadtotheolys #thedreamteam #ignoringthesleep #repost

A photo posted by Jackson Payne (@jpayne04) on Feb 18, 2016 at 7:47am PST

The Madison baseball players and cousins could face a choice between completing their mission at BYU and making the jump to Major League Baseball if they get drafted in June. (Video by Dalton Okolo for Synthesis/Koubaroulis LLC./The Washington Post)

This article is from The Washington Post. This is an excerpt.

As the rain clouds dispersed over Madison High before a recent Saturday afternoon game, a throng of pro scouts in a rainbow of Major League Baseball caps crowded along the backstop, eyes focused on two seniors who may not even be playing baseball in two years.

By committing to Brigham Young University last summer over the likes of defending NCAA champion Virginia and Liberty, Madison standout seniors Pete Nielsen and Matt Favero demonstrated the importance of their Mormon faith. Per custom, the cousins plan to step away from the sport following their freshman year at BYU to take a two-year mission, just as their older brothers did.

But following a strong showing against stout talent in March’s Sarasota Classic and as more scouts flock to their games during top-ranked Madison’s Virginia 6A state title defense, Nielsen and Favero’s shared dream of playing pro baseball is now dangling before them. With every diving play by Nielsen at shortstop and every glove-punching strike thrown by Favero, their draft potential elevates, leaving the teenagers to wrestle with a decision that has no easy answer.

Read the rest of this article

HALF COURT!? @LexiRydalch21 drains it for the WIN!

BYU wins 65-62! #BYU #BYUTVSPORTS pic.twitter.com/bwRkArKde8

— BYUtv Sports (@byutvsports) February 12, 2016

Goal to play professional basketball

While it’s common for men to pursue a professional basketball career, it’s not so common for women. It’s because Rydalch had that goal that Rydalch is exceptional. According to her BYU coach, Jeff Judkins,

“In women’s ball it’s a little different. A lot of [players], they think this is the highest they are ever going to get, but Lexi was a pusher and a great leader.”

On April 14, 2016, the effort that Rydalch put into her game paid off. She was drafted into the Seattle Storm as the 26th pick overall in the third round. In a press conference, Rydalch said,

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be drafted by the Seattle Storm. I have followed and watched their program for years and really like how they play. I love the city of Seattle and I’m looking forward to playing for Jenny Boucek, proving myself and hopefully contributing to the team.

With the 26th pick we have selected Lexi Eaton Rydalch from BYU! Welcome to Seattle Lexi! #WatchMeWork #WDraft16 pic.twitter.com/mBvPG55wJt

— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) April 15, 2016

Latter-day Saint faith

But it’s not just her determination to accomplish a goal that many women don’t choose to aspire to that makes Rydalch unique; her devotion to her faith makes her different than so many other athletes and it’s this devotion that has made a difference in her path to the WNBA athlete.

For example, part of the reason that Rydalch chose to attend BYU was because of its religious environment. She says, “I wanted to go to a school that shared my same values and would push me academically and spiritually.” Rydalch then added, “Plus, I knew that [BYU coach] Jeff Judkins simply wins games.”

Furthermore, her LDS faith has taught her to work to be better, helping her to be an exceptional basketball player.

“I’ve always been the type of person who wants to be the best I can be. When I realized I could compete with the best players in the country, I thought ‘Why not go to the next level?’

Furthermore, Rydalch hopes that her experience in the spotlight of athletics will put her in a position to share her faith with others. Simply, she said,

“[Basketball] is a natural platform to be an example of the LDS culture and church. You’re not young forever so you don’t have that opportunity for very long.”

So in one way or another, whether it’s the realization of her goal to play professional women’s basketball or her devotion to the Mormon faith, Rydalch’s uniqueness just serves to make her more unique.

Arnie Ferrin

via Deseret News

In the early days, only eight teams participated in the college basketball tournament, but that doesn’t cheapen the success of player, Arnie Ferrin. He was named Most Outstanding Player in the league in 1944 when his team, the University of Utah, beat Dartmouth 42-40 in the March Madness championship. He later played for the Minneapolis Lakers and served as a mission president in Michigan.

Vernon Hatton

via photos.ldspros

With a half-court buzzer beater during triple overtime, Vernon Hatton led his team to victory over Temple University in the 1958 tournament. He was All-American his senior year and the 9th pick in the NBA draft. Hatton played for the Philadelphia Warriors after college and had a successful career.

Thurl Bailey

via NBA

No one expected the North Carolina State University team to make it far in the March Madness tournament. But Thurl Bailey lead his team to the 6th seed with his scoring and rebounding. They beat Pepperdine, UNLV, Utah, Virginia, and Georgia to compete in the championship game in a Cinderella run. At the time Bailey was not a Mormon but while playing for the Utah Jazz, Bailey came in contact with members of the Church, including his wife who was a Mormon. He says that the example of the Mormons he met made him want to learn more and as he investigated The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he felt that it was true and decided to join.

Danny Ainge

via Deseret News

Losing 49-50 with only seven seconds left in a March Madness game against Notre Dame, Danny Ainge drove the ball past all five Notre Dame players and across the entire court to win the game with a layup as the buzzer rang out. That shot won them the game and lead BYU to it’s only Elite 8 spot. Ainge won the National Player of the Year award his senior season and is considered one of the best players in basketball history.

Shawn Bradley

via BYUtv

Shawn Bradley is one of the tallest basketball players of all time. At 7’6”, it’s hard to stop him, but he is incredible at stopping other players. During his freshman year playing for Brigham Young University, Bradley set the record for blocks with 177 that season. In fact, in the first March Madness game that year, he made a total of 10 blocks, leading the Cougars to victory against Virginia. He later retired from college basketball to serve a mission in Australia, returning instead to the NBA.

Jimmer Fredette

via Mormon Wiki

Jimmer was one of the best scorers in all College Basketball history. In fact, President Obama even said, “[Jimmer Fredette is the] best scorer obviously in the country.” He led the Brigham Young University Cougars to their first spot in the Sweet Sixteen since 1981 by scoring 66 points in wins over Gonzaga and Wofford.

Biggest Comeback in March Madness History

via Deseret News

Fans began leaving the game early when the Brigham Young University Cougars were suffering 25 points behind the Iona Gaels. But the Cougars fought hard for the 14th seed and were able to beat the Gaels 78-72. BYU coach, Dave Rose, “It was tough for us early. But our guys fought. We fought hard. We fought all game long.”

When Brigham Young University, a private school run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, chose not to sanction their soccer team to be in the NCAA even after the Cougars won their seventh national Collegiate Club title in nine years, BYU soccer coach, Chris Watkins, knew it was time to find a new way to push his players. Watkins said that the idea of competing in the Premier Development League came to mind like inspiration.

The Premier Development League, part of the United Soccer Leagues, is the top amateur soccer league in the United States and Canada and it’s uncommon for universities to compete in it. In fact, it’s so uncommon that Brigham Young University is the only university soccer team ever to participate in a level higher than the NCAA. In order to compete in the PDL, the BYU soccer team had leave the collegiate devision of soccer, purchase a franchise and play year-round in this league designed to develop players individually and as a team for professional play.

But this unique prestige has come with it’s unique challenges as well.

When they first entered the minor leagues, the choice seemed like a mistake. The team only won two games in their first season. Watkins commented:

“We just got hammered. We didn’t deserve to win any more than the two.”

But those early failings, what Watkins calls “an all-time low for me personally and for many of our players,” motivated the team to develop in new ways. After consistently winning national championships, the Cougars needed the new challenges that competing in the PDL provided. It’s these obstacles that gave them the resistance they needed to become stronger.

And for Major League Soccer hopefuls, that is exactly what they need. The PDL slogan is “Path to Pro.” But according to current coach, Brandon Gilliam, “[BYU] players aren’t just looking to go professional in soccer.” According to Gilliam, they just want to develop their players the best they can and they believe that the Premier Development League is just the way to do that.

He chews

What’s never in a picture of Mormon people? A wad of chew. But that’s not true of Bryce Harper’s photos.

We are sitting front row right field and the lady behind us threw her phone down and Bryce Harper took this selfie on her phone ⚾️

A photo posted by Ashley Heberling (@aheb) on Jun 2, 2015 at 4:23pm PDT

Mormons believe that just like God wants His children to care for their spirits through things like prayer and going to church, He wants them to care for their bodies. This idea is not new; throughout the Bible there are many examples of faithful disciples choosing to only eat certain foods because of their faith. Mormons still believe that caring for their bodies makes them closer to God. In order to teach us how to care for our bodies, God outlined a code of health. Mormons refer to this as the Word of Wisdom. As part of the Word of Wisdom, God warns against the use of tobacco.

Because Mormons choose to follow the Word of Wisdom and avoid chewing tobacco, the photo of Harper with some chew in his mouth was upsetting to many people. However, Nationals manager, Matt Williams negated the assumptions that Harper was going against his Mormon values. “He doesn’t do [tobacco] but that herbal stuff is available as an alternative to chew tobacco.”

So while it may appear that Harper is choosing to follow the style of his teammates by chewing, in actuality, Harper is keeping his Mormon standards by choosing not to chew tobacco.

He doesn’t like BYU

In an interview with the Major League Baseball Network, Bryce Harper said that his least favorite Mormon stereotype was that all Mormons like Brigham Young University. He admitted that he was one of the Mormons who doesn’t align with this particular assumption:

” I hate BYU. I mean, BYU is just — I can be a fan, but I don’t like them. There are a lot of Mormons that don’t like BYU.”

While many professional Mormon athletes start their career at Brigham Young University, Harper did not. In order to move up his eligibility for the MLB, Harper dropped out of high school after his sophomore year and enrolled in the College of Southern Nevada where he earned his GED. This choice paid off; because he started college earlier, he was eligible for the 2010 MLB draft and he was the number one pick.

He didn’t serve a mission

Another popular image, that of a Mormon missionary, popularized by Broadway musicals or first-hand view, is another picture that Harper just can’t fit into.

Although Harper may have chosen not to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he believes that he can use his fame as a baseball player to be a missionary for his church. He said,

“My mom always told me, ‘You can touch a lot more lives playing baseball and doing good things than you would on a mission.’ It’s very true. Shoot, I’ll tweet about God and get 1,500 retweets and it’s like, that just went to 1,500 people or more.

Even though he’s not fitting into the expected picture of a Mormon by walking streets with a Book of Mormon in hand, Harper does say,

 “I try to be the best walking Book of Mormon I can.”

The Chosen One of Baseball

Bryce Harper may not fit the stereotypical Mormon, but he doesn’t necessarily fit the stereotypical baseball either. He was voted the rookie of the year and is the youngest player ever to unanimously be voted the Most Valuable Player. Whether due to his faith or his skill on the baseball diamond, Bryce Harper is a man breaking molds all over the place and proving that stereotypes are nothing more than assumptions meant to be broken.

Parker did not Serve a Mormon Mission

First of all, Parker didn’t serve a mission. Male members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or Mormons) are expected to spend two years away from home constantly devoted to finding and teaching people about the gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, church President, Thomas S. Monson, stated, “Every worthy, able young man should prepare to serve a mission.”

However, preparing for a mission and serving one are two different things. While Parker did not serve a mission, he certainly followed President Monson’s counsel to prepare for one. During his high school years, he woke up at 5:30 am to attend religious classes before school, attended three hours of church meetings each Sunday, and regularly visited people to share spiritual messages, all of which would prepare him to serve as a missionary.

His bishop, Eddie Blout, noted that Parker did not take the decision to forgo a formal LDS mission in lieu of pursuing basketball lightly, saying that Parker considered both options through scripture study and prayer. Blout told The New York  Times that although Parker chose not to go door-to-door teaching the gospel, playing professional basketball offers unique opportunities to share his beliefs in a way that formal missionary service would not. Blout stated,

“[Parker] sees himself having an opportunity to be an example for young men in the Church and society. I think he can touch a lot of lives just by being a great person and being in the spotlight.”

This has certainly proven to be true. Parker shares the gospel through his example of high standards, humility, and charity but he also makes time to visit congregations of young people while he’s traveling for games. Recently, while speaking to a group of Latter-day Saint youth in Vancouver, Washington, Parker said,

“You have to keep praying to God, keep reading the scriptures. You have to be nice to people every day. I attribute all my success to God.”

So although the fact that he’s Mormon may come as a shock to people who would expect him to wear a tie and knock on doors, Parker’s choice not to serve a mission is as Mormon as it gets.

I don't post much but when I do, it's only because I feel some type of inspiration that I would like to share with some of you. I just want to thank god for sending people like the missionaries in my life. Words can't express how much joy I get from people who take the time out their days to dedicate themselves just to make you feel some type of peace. I want to challenge everybody out there, to seek some type of peace, for whatever you believe in. You will feel refreshed every single time.

A photo posted by Jabari Parker (@jabariparker) on Nov 17, 2014 at 5:40pm PST

Parker posts photo with Mormon missionaries on Instagram.

Parker is Black

According to Parker, the biggest reason people are surprised that he’s a Mormon is his race. When Katie Couric asked Parker if people thought it was weird that he was Mormon, Parker responded:

“Once [people] think of Mormonism, they look at a white guy; but it’s worldwide.”

Their surprise isn’t unfounded. Out of over six million members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United States, only a mere three percent are black. This may be a result of past discrimination against people of color in both the United States and the Church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not try to cover-up these past discriminatory policies but openly apologizes for and admits their history.

In spite of this past, people of all colors find truth in the Mormon faith. According to Ahmad Corbitt, a writer, African American, and member of the LDS Church,

“We see that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is uniquely able and divinely destined to become the most unifying global organization in the history of the world. Clearly, the Savior’s Church and the gospel it administers transcend race, ethnicity, and culture.”

At any rate, Parker certainly believes that he can’t segregate his professional life from his faith. As he told Sports Illustrated:

“I realize why I’m in the position I’m in right now,” says Jabari. “It’s not because of me. It’s because of God.”

Parker is a Basketball Star

Parker’s natural athletic ability and hard work have made him an immediate winner. In fifth grade, Jabari had five Division I scholarships. As a high school student he led his team to win four straight high school championships and was named The National High School Player of the Year. Parker played for Duke University winning many accolades. He’s been on the cover of Sport’s Illustrated more than once, was the second pick in the NBA 2014 draft, and now plays for the Milwaukee Bucks. However, Parker doesn’t dwell on any of that:

“My mom told me, people are not going to remember you necessarily for your talent and your skills. Life moves on. What’s more important is the person that you are, and that’s what sticks into people’s minds.”

At any rate, it seems as though Parker is on his way to sticking in people’s minds for two things: his basketball talent and the kind of person that he is, and part of who he is, is Mormon.