Kordin McKay Hatch of Ringgold has been called to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fort Collins, Co.
Kordin is 18 years old. He graduated with high honors from Ringgold High School where he played varsity soccer. While attending Ringgold High, he also spent four years attending early morning seminary – a program where Mormon youth are provided the opportunity to study the scriptures on a daily basis.
In the greater Chattanooga area, seminary is held at 6 a.m., five days a week, and coincides with the school calendar.
During this time, young Latter-day Saints of high school age gather to study The Old Testament, New Testament, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. According to Church information, “seminary classes are held in every state in the United States and in 140 countries around the world. More than a million young Latter-day Saints have benefited from early-morning seminary since its beginnings some 65 years ago.”
Kordin sayd seminary, along with weekly attendance at Sunday services, has helped him prepare spiritually for his call to serve. Kordin says he has followed the words of the prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, who admonished young men “to keep yourselves clean and pure and worthy to represent The Lord.”
Kordin has also prepared financially. He has worked at Chick-Fil-A since he was 14 years old, saving the majority of his earnings for his mission. As President Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles teaches, “A mission is a voluntary act of service to God and humankind. Missionaries support that privilege with their personal savings. Parents, families, friends and donors to the General Missionary Fund may also assist. All missionaries, younger and older, serve with the sole hope of making life better for other people.”
This is why Kordin says is leaving everything behind to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
He will enter the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Ut. on Aug. 16 for additional training for a period of three weeks, before departing for Fort Collins, Co. As The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches, “Every missionary who is called and assigned to a particular mission is called by revelation through the Lord’s servants, the prophets. A member of the Quorum of the Twelve assigns prospective missionaries to one of more than four hundred missions of the Church.”
Answering a prophet’s call, Kordin says he is very happy to share the good news and glad tidings of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which has been restored in its fullness. "During his mission, Kordin will devote himself full-time to inviting all to come unto Christ. Like the more than 70 thousand LDS missionaries serving around the world, he will communicate with family and friends only one day a week, through letters and emails. He may also call home on Christmas and one other time, usually Mother’s Day. He will forego dating, movies, tv, radio, etc and will uphold the high standards the Lord expects of Him and each of us – including adherence to the Ten Commandments," officials said.
Kordin is the son of Sam and Shauna Hatch. He is the oldest of six. His siblings are Chayson, Abby, Jadyn, Savannah, and Kendrick. Kordin and his family attend the Brainerd ward (congregation) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kordin will give his farewell talk this Sunday at 9 a.m. at the LDS chapel, 3067 Ooltewah Ringgold Road in Ooltewah. All are welcome to attend.