Blind paralympian receives mission call without sending an application

A legally blind paralympian who competed at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics received an unexpected mission call without submitting an application.

BYUI Radio reported that Taylor Talbot wanted to serve a mission for the Church for years, but after praying about it, she felt God told her not to.

“I got the answer and it said, ‘No. Don’t put in your papers. You need to wait. Not yet,’” Talbot said.

Now Talbot lives at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California. As soon as she arrived, she found herself telling others about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Even the first day I started having all these crazy missionary experiences, and I was just preaching the gospel almost every single day because people had so many questions,” Talbot said, “It was just kind of insane and I was able to see a lot of miracles and stuff so I was just thinking, ‘Am I on my mission?’”

She continued to pray to receive a clearer answer.

“I asked Heavenly Father if it was possible to run track and field and serve a mission at the same time, that I would do my very best and that I would serve him forever,” Talbot said.

Shortly after, President Nelson, gave a devotional for Latter-day Saints in California.

“He said, ‘No matter where you are, whether you’re in northern California or all the way down to Chula Vista, you’re here to preach the gospel,’ that’s when it hit me, ‘oh my gosh, I’m on my mission!’” Talbot said.

She was prompted to mail President Nelson, thanking him for the devotional. A few months after, her stake called her. She was told that they sent back the letter.

A few months later, her stake president called her again.

“He said, ‘The apostles and the prophet would like to extend an amazing opportunity for you to do a service mission as you continue to train, travel and compete for track and field,’” Talbot said.

“I had asked for this mission and I received it and it’s definitely not what I expected but it’s better than what I could have ever imagined,” Talbot said.

She’ll report on November 7 and will be set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.