For the first time in many years, two missionaries have been assigned to the Wallowa Valley from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS), commonly known as Mormons.

Elder Bronson Anderson and Elder Austin Hunziker arrived in the county about four weeks ago. Depending on how their time here goes, the church may send two more missionaries to replace them when their stay is over.

These are the first LDS missionaries assigned to the county in three years. The last pair only stayed for three months and no missionaries have been assigned here for the past ten years.

The elders are here “to serve the community and invite people to come to Christ,” they said. In addition to teaching about LDS beliefs, the elders want to do what they can to help people in the Wallowa Valley, whether it is through chopping firewood or helping people move or paint, or through other work.

LDS missionaries use only their titles and last names while on their missions.

They try not to do too much door-to-door outreach, they said, preferring, instead, to meet people on the street or through other church members.

“We love serving here, that’s for sure. The people are nice, even if they’re not interested,” Anderson said.

“Occasionally, you run into the not-so-friendly person, but you run into that anywhere,” Hunziker said. “We’re not here to push our beliefs or pressure people into it,” he added. “We want them to find out for themselves if it’s true.”

Anderson said he was raised with four brothers and four sisters in Cardston, Alberta. “I grew up on a farm, so I know a lot about service and working hard,” he said.

Anderson is in his second year of the church’s two-year missionary program. He spent his first year in Twin Falls and Caldwell, Idaho.

Hunziker has 22 months to go in his service and spent two months in La Grande before coming here. He grew up in Ridgefield, Wash., with five older sisters. He said he had planned to go into the U.S. Air Force after high school, and actually signed up.

While working with other church members in a motorcycle shop, he became convinced of “the happiness that this (missionary) work can bring to people,” and changed his mind.

Hunziker would still like to serve his country, too, he said, but he hasn’t decided whether he’ll go into the Air Force when his service is complete. “It’s still there. It’ll be there when I’m done,” he said.

The men are staying with other church members while in the county. They get up each morning at 6:30 and exercise until 7. Next comes breakfast and then personal study in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. At 9 a.m. they team up for “companionship study,” and then from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m., they are out working.

Once a week, on Tuesdays, they take off from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. for “preparation day,” when they can e-mail home, do their shopping, and take care of other business.

They are not paid for their service, nor are any other members of the LDS clergy. Rather, elders pay into the church’s missionary fund prior to their service, and receive monthly distributions for their basic living expenses, based on the cost of living in their area of service.

The elders noted that many people have misconceptions about Mormons and they appreciate the opportunity to clear those up while doing their service. For example, polygamy is still associated with the church in many people’s minds, but the church officially dropped it in 1890. The importance of family remains a core concept.

Anderson and Hunziker are two of 53,000 Mormon missionaries worldwide. They operate out of the Boise missionary office, which is one of the church’s 334 mission offices.

During their stay here, they may be reached on their cell phone at (541) 663-6853; or through the church’s local bishop, Ken Nash, at 426-3481. At any time, interested parties may also call (888) 537-2200, and their information will be routed through the Boise office to the nearest missionaries.

Wallowa County church members number 669 and 13 million members worldwide. Information about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints may be found online at (www.lds.org) or (www.mormon.org).