Clay Stephens served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from October 1999 through September 2001. Clay shared many experiences serving a mission in Scotland, recounting details such as receiving his call while working a wildland fire in Montana and their pre-mission job earning money for the mission. Clay detailed various mission memories, including the MTC experience, cultural shock in Scotland, serving in areas like Dunfermline, Aberdeen, and Ayr, humorous pranks involving Elder Paul Williams, and the distinct leadership styles of President Clyde and President Wilkinson. Clay Stephens reflected that their mission was "the best experience" and a time that "changed the whole trajectory of my life."
Clay currently lives in Paul, Idaho, with his wife and their 3 children.
Jack and Zack provided a health update on President and Sister Vriens from their daughter, Angie, detailing President Vriens' severe health decline since January, including a broken back, hip, and worsening dementia leading to hospice care, while Sister Vriens also experienced significant cognitive decline.
Zack proposed an initiative for individuals to send messages, current and missionary photos to President and Sister Vriens, with Jack and Zack offering to feature people on their podcast to share memories. Jack and Zack shared their fond memories of President and Sister Vriens' Christlike leadership and positive impact on them.
Their address is:
3014 E Shakespeare Place
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
Ian Felton served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from February 2010 through February 2012. He shares his incredible story about being diagnosed with ADHD and Autism early in his life and how his mother was told he would more than likely never serve a mission and more. Ian used that as motivation and had many miracles along his path to his mission. Amazingly, his mission is how he came to meet his wife as well.
Ian currently lives in Gorleston, England, with his wife and their 2 children.
Recorded July 27, 2025
Joe Drewery served in the Scotland, Ireland Mission from September of 2010 through August 2012. His time serving took place shortly after the merger of the two missions and he served half in Ireland and half in Scotland. It was a wonderful conversation.
Joe currently lives in Norfolk, England, with his wife and their 4 children.
Recorded July 13, 2025
Jamie Rasmussen served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from May of 2009 through April 2011. His journey through the mission included the merger with Ireland and so much more. Recorded March 23, 2025
Jeremy Rehm served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from August of 2008 through August of 2010. Jeremy shares his fun memories of the mission, including using his musical talents on the piano in many areas, cleaning up awful messy flats, and connecting with wonderful members in each of his areas. He also shares a moment of breaking the rules by reading a chemistry book at the library to remember scientific formulas!
Jeremy currently lives in Arlington, Virginia.
Recorded October 25, 2023
Demeron Ashton served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from November of 2006 through November of 2008. Demeron wowed Jack and I throughout our conversation and all the great stories he shared with us. He has so many memories from companions, other missionaries, and the members during his time in Scotland. Demeron is our top fan and we are grateful for his support of our podcast.
Demeron currently lives in Tremonton, Utah, with his wife and their 2 sons.
Recorded September 6, 2023
Trey Jenkins served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from November of 2001 through December of 2003. Trey comes on the podcast and shares how his testimony grew a great deal in the MTC in Preston. His first Scottish meal was beans and toast, and his first winter was a dark one to get through. Trey loved the challenges of serving in Scotland and loved all that he learned during his time in Scotland.
Trey currently lives in Cumming, Georgia, with his wife and their 3 children.
Recorded July 13, 2023
Scott Jump served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from December of 2003 through December of 2005. Scott shares about his tough time adjusting to the cold and wet world of Scotland. He mentions his love of the summer months and his feelings of gloom during the winter. Scott also shares how much his time in Scotland helped him prepare for his life beyond the mission. We had a great time reminiscing with him.
Scott currently lives in Florence, Kentucky, with his wife and their 4 children.
Recorded July 6, 2023
Ian Wilks served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from January of 1987 through February 1989. Our conversation took us through his conversion to the gospel, his experiences in the mission, and his life since. His story of an early morning visit to the toilet in Inverness is a crack up!Ian currently lives in British Columbia, Canada, near Vancouver. He and his wife have 4 children.Recorded February 23, 2025
Chris Pattenden served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from July of 2003 through July of 2005. Chris shares his unique story of how his mission seemed to continue throughout the last 20 years as his role with the Preston MTC allowed him to share much about his mission for those many years. He shares his love of Scotland and all the great times he had with his companions and friends. Chris also has some great successes from teaching and helping people come unto Christ. He also makes certain to set the record straight on a few stories that have involved his name in podcasts' past.Chris currently lives in Chorley, England with his wife and their 3 children.Recorded October 20, 2024
Kevin Anderson served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from September of 2003 through September of 2005. Kevin comes on and reminisces about his decision to come on the mission in his early 20s and how the mission helped him become more mature. He shares his funny memories of people, how he found balance in the work with the fun times, and his love of the people from Scotland and the U.K. all together!Kevin currently lives in Rexburg, Idaho with his wife and their 4 children.Recorded October 13, 2024
President Gary Griffiths and his wife, Laura, served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from July of 2009 through June of 2012. Together they share their journey of getting their mission call, being assigned as mission president and wife to Scotland, entering a mission that was very obedient, taking on a merger with the Ireland, Dublin Mission 1 year in, and overseeing a combined mission called the Scotland, Ireland Mission that brought two polar opposite missions together and how that posed unique challenges. Their final message is one that you will not want to miss!President and Sister Griffiths currently live in Riverton, Utah.Recorded September 26, 2024
Jason Hensley served in the Scotland, Edinburgh from August of 2008 through August of 2010. Jason shares how he bucked the expectations of a "hard mission" by starting out strong in his first area in Kilmarnock. He spoke specifically of an instance where his trainer needed to use the toilet which led to a miracle. Jason also talks about a couple emergency transfers and training a new missionary for 1 week.Jason currently lives in Olympia, Washington. He has two sons from his first marriage.Recorded September 24, 2024
Clint Smith served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from August of 2005 through August of 2007. Clint takes us on an epic experience of Scotland, including Gregg's, dental visits, and letting unauthorized companions drive their car. From the Borders to the Isle of Lewis, Clint shares some amazing adventures that helped him grow to love Scotland.Clint currently lives in Rigby, Idaho, with his wife and their 3 children.Recorded September 18, 2024
Steve Harward served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from April of 2000 through May of 2002. Steve always had a kinship to Scotland from his seminary teacher sharing about serving his mission there and was overwhelmed with joy when the call came. He shares an epic story about using a trash shoot in a council flat as a toilet in an emergency, his budget-friendly mission gear falling apart early mere moments into the mission, NEDs mooning him, and sending a "Dear Jane" letter to his then girlfriend simultaneously when she mailed her own "Dear John" to him!Steve currently lives in New Albany, Indiana, with his wife and their 4 children.Recorded September 15, 2024
Chad Wilcoxen served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from January of 2006 through January of 2008. Chad shares how much his experience in Scotland has changed his life. His family has been dealt tough times since coming home, but he loved his companions and also had so many fun times. Chad worked hard and found some amazing people that joined the church and also shared his beef with Hammer Time.Chad currently lives in Layton, Utah, with his wife and their 4 children.Recorded September 9, 2024
Tyrell Cellan served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from February of 2008 through January of 2010. Tyrell shares how his upbringing on a horse ranch taught him the importance of obedience and hard work as he got into the mission. His time was filled with the Paisley and Glasgow zones, with so many great successes despite many challenges. Tyrell shares some epic stories and had a great time sharing all of the memories he could recall with us.Tyrell currently lives in Idaho Falls, Idaho, with his wife and their 3 daughters.Recorded September 5, 2024
Chris Rogers served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from March of 1999 through April of 2001. His memories shared included a lot of his time serving in Orkney and his love of serving there. Anna Burton served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from March of 2000 through August of 2001. She shares how her dad served in Scotland and that she actually made a request to her church leaders of her desire to serve there as well. She was elated when the call came to Scotland. She loved serving in the land her father had taught her to love!Anna and Chris met during the mission and they began writing each other once Chris returned home from his mission. They spent time together when Anna returned to Utah and quickly began their relationship that brought Chris to the U.S. for school and work. Chris is now a U.S. citizen.Anna & Chris currently live in Lehi, Utah, with their 4 children.Recorded September 2, 2024
Emily Garnham served in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission from March of 2006 through September of 2007. Coming from a small village in England, she felt most comfortable in the less busy towns in Scotland, but after serving in Edinburgh she learned to love the city. She loved her companions and all they taught her. Her love of Scotland has continued to grow and she is back often.Emily currently lives in Northumberland, England, with her husband and their 2 children.Recorded September 1, 2024