We’ve all seen young Mormon missionaries or been visited by them. They are such a common sight in our community that our eyes might slide over them without really taking notice of them.

Traveling in pairs in white shirts and ties, short-clipped, neatly-combed hair, they bring their messages of strong families and dedication to any who care to listen. And those who care to inquire will find they sincerely live their message.

This year, Athens is visited by two missionaries, Elder Thomas Waite, 20, of Bountiful, Utah, and Elder Junior Kerby, 20, of Gilbert, Arizona. Kerby recently came to replace Elder Austin Hadley, who has relocated to Magnolia, Alabama.

Becoming a Mormon missionary can begin as early as 18 and is a two-year voluntary commitment to the furthering of their beliefs. But, they say they are not in the community to convert anyone to Mormonism.

“My main goal is to make people happy,” said Kerby. “If I can make someone’s life better, whether it is to help them with a task or to help them in their need to increase their faith in Jesus Christ, then I’ve done my job.”

Waite said the variety of people they meet in their mission work is one of the greatest rewards.

“Our mission is to serve God and our fellow man, and the bonus is the people I get to meet, meeting people and the many things to see and the blessings for it.”

The men hasten to say that their comments are based solely on their personal experiences in the faith and they are not spokesmen for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

“We focus on families and family relationships,” said Kerby. “Our messages are about improving relationships and that families can be together forever.”

Hadley, who recently moved to Magnolia to live with a church member and work in the tiny community of 300, spent three winter months in Athens.

In an email, Hadley described his experiences here: “I really enjoyed talking and getting to know the people of the Tennessee Valley. We spent some very cold days knocking on doors and talking to the few people on the streets. A few good Samaritans let us in and gave us rides, both of which were much appreciated. Some even gave us a bite to eat.

“It was an interesting time in my mission and I had some unique experiences, one of which was seeing 8 inches of snow in Alabama. That was something to write home about.

“All in all, I enjoyed my time in Athens. I learned some very important lessons, and met some great people. I was able to work alongside the members of our church and some very influential people in the community.

“We spent most of our time out and about sharing the Savior’s words and doing His works. Our goal was to build on the faith in Christ that most people already have. Hopefully, we succeeded.”

Waite, who has been in Athens since June, said this community is the third stop in his two-year mission. He said their “territory” is from Montgomery north, Tupelo and Starkville, Mississippi, and “a little chunk of Tennessee.”

Waite is the youngest of five children and Kerby is the second eldest of six. Athens is the sixth community for Kerby over the past 16 months.

A typical day for the pair begins at 6:30 a.m., when they arise and put in a half-hour of exercise, eat breakfast and devote two hours to scripture study to get ready for the day.

“We get out the door by 10 a.m.,” said Waite. “Every day is different. We might visit members of the church or visit others and invite people.”

“We also do community service that anyone might need,” said Kerby. “We moved some furniture for someone just this morning.”

“We duct-taped dustpans to broomsticks to shovel sidewalks so people wouldn’t slip on the ice or snow,” said Waite.

All work the pair performs for private individuals is totally voluntary. They neither seek remuneration nor will they accept payment. They consider it part of their mission.

The pair travels by foot or by bicycle. Waite said they had covered some 17 miles the day before.

“It’s good exercise,” said Kerby. “With the Southern food, it helps.”

If the pair is consuming much local cuisine it doesn’t show. Both have slender, athletic builds. However, with a food allowance of just $5 per day, they graciously accept dinner invitations. There are those in the community, who are not Mormon, who have a history of regularly hosting missionaries.

On the day of this interview the men were offered Snickerdoodle cookies, for which they eagerly accepted.

“Snickerdoodles are not in our food allowance,” said Waite.

The daily Spartan regimen does not only apply to diet. Once a young Mormon commits to a two-year mission, his family supplies $400 per month to the church. Out of that amount, the missionary is allotted $150 for food with the rest going to rent a modest apartment. While some opt to begin their missions right out of high school, others might work a year or so to save up for the mission. Some missionaries receive no family financial support at all.

“We go back to the apartment by 9:30 p.m., and that’s pretty much every day of the week,” said Kerby.

“We might take our nametags off, but we are never off duty,” said Waite.

A missionary does not go back home for a visit during the entire two years. They are allowed one email per week and two phone calls per year, unless there is an emergency.

“The separation helps me really focus,” said Waite. “Otherwise, I would get too homesick.”

They do not own a television, which they said would be an unnecessary distraction, but also after a full day of walking and bike riding they are physically exhausted when they return home and usually go straight to bed.

“We do ask people about current news,” said Kerby. “For a long time I didn’t know who ISIS was.”

Becoming a missionary is a voluntary duty, but it is a matter on which both say they prayed before accepting.

“When I was a little kid I really wanted to be a missionary,” said Waite. “But then I went through a phase that I didn’t want to do anything church related. Then I began to pray about it and knew this was the way I wanted to serve.”

Kerby said he had to, “find what God wanted me to do. I prayed about it. Instead of being something that is just expected, it is your decision. The commitment has to be really strong.”

Once their two-year mission is completed, they come together with other former missionaries and young adult singles for activities, which are to encourage courtship. Kerby said there is no dictate among Mormons to marry within the church, but for him, his wife must be a Christian.

“We are our own free agents,” said Kerby. “We can marry whomever we want. I do know that marriage must be built on the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Polygamy, as depicted in the cable TV show, “Sister Wives,” has not been tolerated by mainstream Mormons for 125 years.

“If someone practices polygamy they can’t be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,” said Kerby.

He advises those wanting further information about the church’s position on this and other mattters, to visit LDS.org or Mormon.org.

When Waite’s mission is completed he said he will return to the University of Utah to seek a degree in business. Kerby will also seek a degree in business from Arizona State University, where he hopes to play basketball. He gave up a basketball scholarship to Arizona State to go on his mission.