Double the Blessings - Twins
Hermana Utley, Hermana Grose, Elder Rosenberg, and Elder Hill with their twin’s photo on their phones.
I don’t know if it is a Church record, or not, yet we are lucky in our mission to have seven missionaries who are twins! No, their twin siblings are not here with them. Can you imagine how confusing that would be!? It is hard enough having missionaries that don’t look alike with the same last name. You can ask Elder Young and Elder Young who live in the same house in Cresent City how that is going. They are sometimes referred to as Elder Young and Elder Younger! Elder Younger is the newer of the two. We have quite a few other missionaries with the same last name to keep straight. It is a little tricky at times. Our missionaries that are twins are: Hermana Utley, Hermana Grose, Elder Rosenberg, Elder Hill, Elder Farnsworth, Sister Sargent, and Elder Giron. (And here is a shout out to Hope Stanley and Olivia Piombo who are former missionaries who have a twin sibling.)
Elder Young and Elder Young-er. I just had to add this photo :)
Hermana Utley holding photo of her twin
All of our missionaries leave their home and families behind for 18 - 24 months to serve the Lord. Our “twin” missionaries have the additional sacrifice to be separated from their twins. Twins do have a special bond. Hermana Utley, one of our twins, is completing her mission and returning home at the end of this transfer in two weeks. Her twin sister is also serving a mission in the Washington Kennewick Mission, not too far from here. Her eyes light up and a big smile comes across her face when she talks about how her twin is also being released from her mission in two weeks and their planes heading for home in Nevada are scheduled to land an hour a part from each other. She is super excited to see her twin sister soon. I can only imagine how excited their mother must be too!
Elder Farnsworth holding photo of his twin
Elder Farnsworth told me that he and his twin received their mission calls at the same time and were lucky enough to be in the MTC (Missionary Training Center) with each other. He said, “Seeing each other at the MTC made the transition to being away from each other easier.” His twin is now serving in the California Modesto Mission.
Sister Sargent holding photo of her twin.
Sister Sargent’s twin is serving in the California Sacramento Mission. Hermana Grose’s twin just returned from her mission in Tahiti. Elder Roseburg’s twin is working full time and Elder Giron’s twin is in the California San Diego Mission. Elder Hill’s twin is serving in the California San Bernardino Mission. Elder Hill and his brother received their mission calls the same night. He said when coming on a mission it was weird being separated from him for the first time after being so close to each other all his life. He said it feels funny that he and his brother are only about a 6 hour drive away from each other but won’t see each other for two years. They, like the other twins here, enjoy visiting with each other remotely on P-days. (Preparation day)
Elder Giron holding photo of his twin.
President Quinn and I have 14 year old identical twin grandsons, Andrew and Isaac Black. They are both planning on serving a mission in a few years. Their mom, Melissa, when talking about their missions, says. “It is going to be really hard to have them both leave home a the same time! And my twin mom heart aches at the thought of them not being together for two years. I selfishly want them to be little again and wearing matching clothes forever, but I know it will be good for them to grow as individuals on their missions.” Andrew and Isaac enjoy playing soccer and basketball together. Their teammates refer to them as the “Twin Towers” because they are tall.
Andrew and Isaac Black - Billerica Massachusetts
We also have 4 month old fraternal twin grandsons who were just blessed, Booker and Maverick Quinn. Chase, their father, said when he first knew they were having twins he realized that everything would be doubled, including their service as missionaries. I love this photo of them on their blessing day. Their mother, Maryssa, put them in cowboy boots as a nod to their birth place of Texas. Our missionaries will recognize the blanket they are laying on. Many of our missionaries saw me crocheting like crazy, trying to get TWO blankets done before they were born!
Booker and Maverick Quinn - Blessing day March 15, 2025 - Aubrey Texas
Twins are a lot of fun! I found it interesting that in the United States the twin birth rate is around 31.2 per 1,000 live births, a rate that has increased significantly since the 1980’s with factors like assisted reproductive technologies and maternal age playing a role.
It was another great week here in CASRM. There is always a lot going on. The missionaries continue to work hard inviting others to come unto Christ! We have 32 people on date for baptism in this transfer! Each person being baptized is an individual loved by the Lord. I hope you’re having a great day! Thanks for following our mission updates. It means a lot to us!
