Today I watched a great 30 for 30 video on Shawn Bradley that described his “lackluster” NBA career. Although his career wasn’t as good as what everyone hyped it up to be when he was drafted, he was an excellent player and lasted over 10 years and finished in the top 15 all-time for shots blocked.
One thing that I always respected from afar with Shawn Bradley was that he always seemed to put his faith first. He did not enter the NBA draft when he could have in order to serve a full-time mission to Australia. Also, when he was a player, he tried his best to be faithful as well. In the short documentary, he describes being fined for not going to a strip club with the team for a meeting because it was against his belief system.
I had a chance to meet him in the early ’90s and say a few words and stand next to him. I was in Jr High and he was attending BYU at the time. He was giving a talk to all the LDS youth in the region and it was very inspiring for me as a youth to hear a famous Mormon standing up for his beliefs.
Other Famous Mormons I’ve Met
Watching the documentary and reflecting on my experience with meeting Shawn Bradley caused me to reflect on other famous Mormons I’ve met. Here are a few more:
Steve Young
When I was in high school I competed in ballroom dance. While I was at a large dance competition at BYU, Steve Young was the MC of the event. I had the privilege of shaking hands with him and asking him a few questions about himself. If it were today, I would have taken a selfie with him!
Gordon B Hinckley
I only met Gordon B Hinckely one time and that was before he became the LDS Church President. It was in the early ’90s at a large conference and I was fortunate enough to be able to shake his hand and say a few words.
When I was 18 and preparing to serve a mission, he was highlighted in 60 minutes and did an excellent job of answering tough questions. It was very inspiring for me as a youth and his great, positive attitude was infectious during the whole time he was President.
When I was getting ready to leave to fly to Germany on my mission, I was companions with his grandson. He had requested that his grandson visit him in his office at temple square and extended the invitation for me to visit with him. The only problem was that my family had traveled hours to come and see me off at the airport and I was afraid that I wouldn’t get to see them if I visited President Hinckley so I declined the offer. When I told my family about it, they said “I would have gone and visited the Prophet!” Looking back on things, I sort of wish I would have done it because I could have seen my family still. But hindsight is always 20/20 as they say!
I volunteered for the Romney presidential campaign in 2012 in Washington State. When he came to visit our state, I wanted to meet him in person, so I took the whole family with me and drove an hour. It was very awesome seeing him in person and although there were a lot of body guards and everything, I was able to go and shake hands with him briefly and say a few words as he thanked me for volunteering for the cause.
Alex Boye
When I was living in Utah I went to a party in Salt Lake City at this huge mansion. I don’t even know whose house it was, but it was one of those things where word spread and a friend invited a friend and so on. The music was going and everyone was dancing when I noticed a big crowd gathering around me…including more girls. I wasn’t doing anything special and wondered what was going on. I then realized it wasn’t me everyone was gathering around for. Rather, it was Alex Boye. I had never heard anything about him at the time and he was basically right behind me. I basically did one of those “What’s up?” deals that guys who don’t know each other do and kept dancing. It wasn’t until after the party that I realized he was a former pop star and since then, he’s become a pretty famous LDS musician.
Here’s a most recent song that I really like that he did in collaboration with The Piano Guys:
Dallin H Oaks
Just a few years ago, Dallin H Oaks came and visited our stake. When he gives official talks at General Conference, he seems very calculated and serious, so I was surprised at how jovial and funny he is in person. He answered a lot of open questions and just had a lot of fun with the crowd and it was great!
L Tom Perry
When I was on my mission, L Tom Perry visited us. Just like with Elder Oaks, I was very impressed with how personable and close to the Spirit he was, while being fun and jovial at the same time. I learned a lot from him in a pretty intimate setting of only about 100 missionaries. We spent about 4 hours together and each one of us had the chance to meet with him afterwards. He’s very tall!
Your Turn!!
I’ve shared with you a few of the most famous Mormons I’ve met. Now it’s your turn. Who are some of the most famous Mormons you’ve met and how did you meet them?
14 comments
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May 24, 2014 at 9:04 pm
Brother Jon
I know Abe Mills from Jericho Road. His in-laws are members in my Ward back home. (I’m from Missouri, but live in Texas now) I played in the Turkey Bowl with him a couple of years ago.
That’s all I got. Recent convert of 2011 though, so hopefully more to come.
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May 25, 2014 at 4:26 am
wonderdog
Elder Monson walked into my room in the LTM (yes, that long ago). We were in the Catholic school on 9th east. He asked if we could talk about the LTM and “things”.
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May 25, 2014 at 7:23 am
graceforgrace
Brother Jon,
I haven’t met any of the Jerico Road guys other than Alex Boye. What is Abe Mills doing these days?
Also, congratulations on the recent baptism! How are things going so far?
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May 25, 2014 at 6:53 pm
Brother Jon
He’s actually had a show with them this weekend. I think he lives in Florida with his family.
Thanks! Things are going great. Just moved to DFW area Texas and also just been called as an Assistant Ward Clerk. Going great.
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May 25, 2014 at 7:24 am
graceforgrace
Wonderdog,
Awesome you met President Monson!
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May 25, 2014 at 3:01 pm
Mormon Heretic
I’ve met Shawn Bradley, Steve Young, Pres Monson, Danny Ainge.
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May 25, 2014 at 5:21 pm
Cal
I had forgotten Steve Y. was a Mormon, and never knew Danny Ainge was. Being a Boston Celtic fan from New England, this is interesting news to me.
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May 25, 2014 at 10:11 pm
Yet Another John
Just passing through your blog here, but I thought I’d throw out a few. I was in the same ward as Elder Oaks when he was President of BYU, the Provo Ninth Ward. I remember his wife once telling him to put his book down and listen to the speaker!
I also met Paul Dunn at he LTM. Does that still count?
My family and I met Elder Perry several years ago in Kirtland, Ohio. I’m not sure what the occasion was, but he was dressed in casual clothes. We said hello and shook hands and went on our way, and you are right, he is tall!
Elder Holland’s nephew is in our ward and my high school football coach grew up with him in St. George. My mom and dad, also from St. George were about 8-10 years older and he was just a bratty kid to them!
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May 27, 2014 at 6:55 am
Cal
Hi John. What’s the LTM?
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May 27, 2014 at 7:26 pm
KLC
LTM stands for Language Training Mission, which was the precursor to the MTC.
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May 28, 2014 at 9:46 am
Yet Another John
Language Training Mission, precursor to the MTC
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May 28, 2014 at 12:22 am
Hedgehog
Met astronaut Don Lind at a fireside whilst a teen.
I was in the same ward as Alex Boye as a YSA in London. Didn’t realise he was so famous at the time though, as I never really paid much attention to the pop scene.
Was part of the choir when Pres Hinckley spoke (he walked directly in front of me, and looked at us all as he passed) at a conference around the time the London Temple was rededicated.
Was dragged up by a friend to meet Ardeth Kapp following a fireside in London (I didn’t especially want to as I had been quite ticked off at having to change PP books part way through when I was in YW, the whole recite a theme in unison thing, etc. My husband was later in the mission where her husband was president, and found her to be a big influence).
Steve Young also did a fireside I attended in London.
Russell M Nelson came to a stake conference around 15 years ago, and back when I was a kid/early teen Neal A Maxwell did a fireside (leastways, I think it was him, it was one of them!).
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August 11, 2014 at 2:23 pm
Doug
Romney. My sons dragged me to a rally a few days before election day and we joined with 30,000 people to welcome him and his lovely wife to PA. I was sitting in the VIP section and we wore t-shirts that formed the Keystone State (I know-pretty corny!).It was so cold and windy-I froze waiting for him!
When he arrived I was just a few feet from him as he spoke about his hope and vision for America. So often I think how sad we don’t have him in the White House-things would have been different. I’m sure some of your readers will not agree-but there it is! I think he would have made a terrific president!
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August 12, 2014 at 5:37 pm
Cal
I agree.
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