TUCSON, Ariz. — A mission was always in Spencer Larsen's plans, but so was college football. The conflict reached its critical point when he started attending the University of Arizona on a football scholarship a few months after turning 18 years old.
As the 2002 season progressed, the 6-1, 240-pound linebacker worked himself into the starting lineup and the decision became clear — he would serve a mission.
He said during a Church News telephone interview that, as he played, he realized that if he passed up the time to serve as a young missionary, the opportunity would be lost forever. He said he also realized, due in part to a patriarchal blessing and receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood before going off to college, that a mission would be more fulfilling than football.
Looking back, he has no regrets for taking two years out of football to serve in the Chile Osorno Mission, and counts his blessings. He is a highly-touted senior linebacker prepared with his teammates to launch the 2007 season today, Sept. 1, against BYU in Provo.
Besides football, he believes he has been blessed in other ways for putting service to the Lord first.
After his mission, "things worked perfectly" as romance blossomed between him and his friend since junior high days in Gilbert, Ariz., Annie Pugmire. They were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple in December 2005 and have a 4-month-old son, Tyton.
Spencer, whose parents named him after President Spencer W. Kimball, said he struggled academically prior to his mission. But "in the mission field I got a passion for reading." Studying came easier to him after he returned home. He made the Academic All-PAC-10 first team last year as a junior.
When he returned home from his mission in March 2005, he rushed into school so he would be eligible for spring football practice. He soon suffered a serious knee injury due, he thinks, to the fact he was still out of shape after his mission. He received a priesthood blessing before surgery and was back starting at linebacker again as a sophomore. As a junior, he was second-team All-Pac-10.
He acknowledges that the blessings he has received come with responsibilities. He is looked up to by fans, especially youth. He said he knows if youngsters are looking up to him, he has to try "to live a life worthy."
Apparently he is succeeding.
University of Arizona Institute director Norman Gardner said the football star is "a great role model to the LDS community."
Bishop Brad Whitaker of the La Canada Ward, Tucson Arizona North Stake, spoke highly of Spencer, especially his work as teachers quorum adviser. He called Spencer a great example, a caring and selfless individual who can get down on the level of the 14- and 15-year-old young men and have a lot of fun with them.
The bishop added, "He's an icon in our community." He speaks at as many firesides as he can in the Tucson area.
"We're lucky to have him," Bishop Whitaker said.
Spencer's ambition is to continue playing football as long as he can, keeping options open to go into law or coaching, or perhaps teaching seminary. — Greg Hill
