Pro Athletes Share Insights on Serving LDS Missions

Sam Merrill and Jackson Cluff discuss how their missionary experiences shaped their lives and careers.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Two professional athletes, Sam Merrill and Jackson Cluff, recently shared insights about their experiences serving missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Merrill, a former Utah State basketball player, spoke on a podcast about the challenges he faced, including being attacked in Nicaragua. Cluff, a former BYU baseball player, discussed how he put his career on hold to serve in Atlanta, Georgia, and the positive impact it had on his life and perspective.

Why it matters

The stories of Merrill and Cluff provide a rare glimpse into the lives of professional athletes who have taken time away from their sports to serve religious missions, shedding light on the sacrifices and experiences of young Latter-day Saints in this tradition.

The details

Merrill, who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, shared a harrowing story from his mission in Nicaragua, where he was robbed and hit in the face with a rock, resulting in dental work and two fake teeth. Cluff, who is currently competing for a spot on the New York Mets' roster, put his baseball career on hold for two years to serve a mission in Atlanta, Georgia, an experience he says gave him valuable direction and perspective.

  • Merrill left for his mission in Nicaragua a week and a half after his high school graduation.
  • Cluff served his mission in Atlanta, Georgia, from 2016 to 2018, after his freshman season at BYU.
  • In 2019, the Washington Nationals drafted Cluff in the sixth round with the 183rd overall pick.

The players

Sam Merrill

A former Utah State basketball player who currently plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA.

Jackson Cluff

A former BYU baseball player who is currently competing for a spot on the New York Mets' roster.

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What they’re saying

“I think that story's incredible, how he just goes there for two years on the mission, comes back fluent in Spanish.”

— Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers teammate (The Young Man and the Three podcast)

“Unbelievable. Attacked in Nicaragua. Sam Merrill.”

— Larry Nance Jr., Cleveland Cavaliers teammate (The Young Man and the Three podcast)

“The only time my religion comes up in the clubhouse is when people ask if I really took two years off. I don't have any regrets. How the mission impacted me personally and helped my faith and perspective on life is much more important than baseball. It's given me so much direction.”

— Jackson Cluff (New York Post)

What’s next

Merrill and Cluff's stories provide a unique perspective on the role of religious missions in the lives of professional athletes, and their experiences could inspire further discussions and understanding within the sports community.

The takeaway

The mission experiences of Merrill and Cluff demonstrate the profound impact that serving a religious mission can have on an individual's personal growth, faith, and perspective, even for those pursuing professional sports careers.