Latter-day Missionary

About Latter-day Missionary

Join us on an intimate journey following a young woman’s call to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From application to farewell, through the MTC and weekly mission updates, experience the hopes, challenges, and daily life of an LDS missionary. Whether you’ve served, are considering service, or simply want to understand what missionaries experience, this candid father-daughter podcast offers a window into faith, sacrifice, and service.

Publisher

Edgar and Hannah Cheney

Category

religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Mar 2026

Latest episode

29 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

8 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Aug 2026

   The First Area

   Welcome to Latter-day Missionary, a weekly podcast that gives you a raw, unscripted look at what it's really like to serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every week, Sister Hannah Cheney will jump on a call with her dad, Edgar, to share stories about the people she's meeting, the lessons she's learning, and the everyday reality of missionary life. Whether you're preparing to serve, have already served, or are simply curious about the 84,000+ missionaries serving around the world, we are so glad you are here. In this episode, Hannah and Edgar finally arrive at the moment so many listeners have been waiting for: Hannah's very first day in the mission field. From a 1 a.m. wake-up call in Mexico City to her first door knock in Texas, this conversation is raw, emotional, and full of the kind of details you won't find anywhere else. In this episode, we dive into: Leaving the MTC: Hannah shares what it was like to pack up in the middle of the night, board a plane on almost no sleep, and touch down in Texas knowing she wouldn't be going home for a year and a half. Arriving in the Mission Field: The sandwiches, the bus ride, the mission home, the orientation, and the overwhelming flood of information that Hannah admits she barely remembers now. Transfer Day: What actually happens when hundreds of missionaries all switch areas and companions on the same chaotic day, and why Hannah describes it as one of the strangest experiences of her life. Meeting Her Trainer: How Hannah's first companion came sprinting across the room to hug her before she even knew her name, and what those first hours together looked like. The First Door and the First Lesson: Hannah shares the memory of knocking her very first door, terrified, in a neighborhood she had never seen before. She also shares the lesson that followed, and the moment that made all the fear suddenly feel worth it. Falling in Love with the Area: Green trees, broken-down houses, a little coffee shop where they did their studies, and a community of Spanish-speaking people so warm and generous it caught Hannah completely off guard. Poverty and Gratitude: Both Hannah and Edgar reflect on what it means to visit people who have almost nothing and watch them try to give you everything. Including a chandelier. The episode closes with Psalm 27:1, a scripture Edgar had been reading in his personal study: "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?" It is a fitting close for an episode all about walking into the unknown and discovering that God was already there. If you have ever been terrified to start something new and wondered whether you would be okay, this episode is for you. Tune in next week for our next episode!

2. 

   10 Aug 2026

   Missionary Tips From Loved Ones

   Welcome to Latter-day Missionary, a weekly podcast that gives you a raw, unscripted look at what it's really like to serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every week, Sister Hannah Cheney will jump on a call with her dad, Edgar, to share stories about the people she's meeting, the lessons she's learning, and the everyday reality of missionary life. Whether you're preparing to serve, have already served, or are simply curious about the 84,000+ missionaries serving around the world, we are so glad you are here. In this episode, Edgar shares a collection of tips he gathered from returned missionaries, family friends, former bishops, and even one very thoughtful sibling. Now that she's actually out there, she reacts to each piece of advice in real time, sharing which ones she needed most and which ones she's already living. In this episode, we dive into: Find a Personal Mission Goal: A returned missionary friend shares how she set a goal to see people the way Christ sees them and why leading with love changed everything about her mission experience. Exercise Is Spiritual: Why one missionary started waking up early just to exercise and how the very first day she did it, she felt the Spirit more than she had in weeks. Have Fun and Relax: The danger of taking on too much responsibility and why the best missionary companionships are often the ones that laugh the most. Focus on Influence, Not Results: A powerful reminder that a 15-second conversation on the street can matter just as much as 15 weeks of teaching and that conversion often happens long after missionaries move on. Keep a Clean Apartment: The simplest tip in the bunch, and maybe the most underrated - the Spirit is easier to feel when your apartment is clean. Take Care of Your Basics: Eat well, exercise, and get enough sleep. Don't Compare Yourself: Why the mission field is one of the easiest places to fall into comparison and why God called you specifically, with your skills and your personality, not someone else's. Take It One Day at a Time: When 18 months feels impossible, remember: you don't have to do all of it today. You just have to do tomorrow. Focus on Your Own Conversion: The one soul you are absolutely responsible for on your mission is your own — and when that's your focus, everything else tends to fall into place. Never Get Bored with the Basics: What Kobe Bryant and missionary work have in common, and why daily prayer, scripture study, and simple obedience are what produce lasting spiritual power. Lose Yourself in the Work: A message from a former bishop on consecrating not just your time, but your whole self and finding that when you stop holding back, God fills in the rest. A Note from Peter: Hannah's brother closes the episode with a letter that just might be the sweetest thing we've aired yet. The episode closes with Alma 37:6 — a reminder that great things are brought to pass by small and simple means, consistently practiced over time. If you're preparing to serve, currently serving, or just need a reminder that showing up every day matters, this episode is for you. Tune in next week for our next episode!

3. 

   20 Jul 2026

   Mexico MTC

   Welcome to Latter-day Missionary, a weekly podcast that gives you a raw, unscripted look at what it's really like to serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every week, Sister Hannah Cheney will jump on a call with her dad, Edgar, to share stories about the people she's meeting, the lessons she's learning, and the everyday reality of missionary life. Whether you're preparing to serve, have already served, or are simply curious about the 84,000+ missionaries serving around the world, we are so glad you are here. In this episode, Hannah and Edgar cover one of the most significant transitions in any missionary's journey — leaving home for the last time and arriving at the in-person MTC. From a tearful airport goodbye to five weeks inside a converted college campus in the heart of Mexico City, this episode is emotional, funny, and deeply honest about what it takes to become a missionary. In this episode, we dive into: The Airport Goodbye: Hannah and Edgar share their memories of that early morning send-off — the nerves, the tears, and the unexpected moment when the whole family found a window to wave goodbye one last time. Flying Solo for the First Time: What it felt like for Hannah to navigate an international airport alone, stressed and sleep-deprived, before finding familiar faces from her Home MTC district at the gate. Life Inside the CCM: A full look at the daily schedule — 6:30 AM wake-ups, long language and teaching classes, daily exercise, weekly temple visits, and devotionals that Hannah says she'll never forget. The Moment That Hit Differently: Hannah shares the experience of singing a beloved childhood hymn with her entire missionary cohort, changing one line to reflect that they were finally, actually, the Lord's missionaries. The Hard Parts: Navigating anxiety, adjusting to a strict schedule, and feeling the weight of a year and a half stretched out ahead of her — and how Hannah used the MTC's counseling resources to get through it. The episode closes with Proverbs 1:5 — a reminder that seeking wisdom and wise counsel is itself an act of faith — and Edgar's reflection on what it means to be surrounded by hundreds of people all striving to learn and serve at the same time. If you've ever wondered what really happens inside a Missionary Training Center, or what it feels like to finally become the thing you've been preparing for your whole life, this episode is for you. Tune in next week as Hannah and Edgar head into the mission field!

4. 

   23 Jun 2026

   Home MTC

   Welcome to Latter-day Missionary, a weekly podcast that gives you a raw, unscripted look at what it's really like to serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every week, Sister Hannah Cheney will jump on a call with her dad, Edgar, to share stories about the people she's meeting, the lessons she's learning, and the everyday reality of missionary life. Whether you're preparing to serve, have already served, or are simply curious about the 84,000+ missionaries serving around the world, we are so glad you are here. In this episode, Hannah and Edgar back up a step in the timeline to cover the night Hannah was set apart as a missionary, and the week of Home MTC that followed. From a powerful blessing to four-hour Zoom calls to one very secret trip to the movies, this episode is honest about just how strange it is to become a missionary while still living at home. In this episode, we dive into: Set Apart: Hannah remembers the night her stake president set her apart as a missionary, surrounded by her immediate family, and the peace that came from a blessing that eased her fears before leaving. What Home MTC Actually Looks Like: A real breakdown of the schedule — early mornings, hours of Zoom classes, learning Spanish at night, and trying to fit in personal and companionship study while still living at home. Meeting Her Companion Online: Hannah shares what it was like to start a missionary companionship over Zoom before ever meeting her companion in person. The Hardest and Best Parts: From the intimidation of learning a new language on a screen to a surprise family trip to the movies before mission rules fully kicked in, Hannah opens up about the highs and lows of that week. Lessons from a Hard Week: Hannah and Edgar reflect on what Home MTC did and didn't prepare her for, plus a few honest suggestions for how it could be improved. The episode closes with Hannah's testimony from Mosiah 7:33, on trusting the Lord through hard and scary seasons, and how she's seen Him deliver her through them. Tune in next time, where Hannah and Edgar head to the in-person MTC!

5. 

   4 Jun 2026

   The Mission Farewell

   Welcome to Latter-day Missionary, a weekly podcast that gives you a raw, unscripted look at what it's really like to serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every week, Sister Hannah Cheney will jump on a call with her dad, Edgar, to share stories about the people she's meeting, the lessons she's learning, and the everyday reality of missionary life. Whether you're preparing to serve, have already served, or are simply curious about the 84,000+ missionaries serving around the world, we are so glad you are here. In this episode, Hannah and Edgar take a step back in the timeline to revisit Hannah's missionary farewell, one of the most meaningful milestones before leaving for the mission field. From the nerves of speaking in front of everyone you love to the tearful hugs that followed, this episode is warm, honest, and a little chaotic in the best way. In this episode, we dive into: The Farewell Sunday: Hannah walks through what the day looked like from sacrament meeting to the moment her sister sang "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," the spiritual highlight of the whole day. The Nerves of It All: Hannah opens up about why giving a farewell talk feels so much more personal than a regular Sunday talk, and what the morning of actually felt like. Advice from the Ward: A memorable moment when a fellow ward member pulled Hannah aside with simple but sobering advice: listen to the Spirit, because where you're going isn't always safe. Hannah's Full Farewell Talk: Hannah shares her complete farewell address on faith and courage, which is a deeply personal message about fear, doubt, and what it really means to get out of the boat. Featuring the story of Peter walking on water, a parable from Tuesdays with Morrie, and Hannah's own winding journey to the mission field. The episode closes with Hannah's testimony that Christ is her source of courage, and an invitation to do one thing this week that scares you. If you've ever been afraid to take a leap of faith, or wondered what missionaries are thinking and feeling in those final days before they leave, this episode is for you. Tune in next week, where Hannah and Edgar will be diving into the At-Home MTC experience and what virtual missionary training is really like!

6. 

   29 Mar 2026

   The Call

   Welcome to Latter-day Missionary, a weekly podcast that gives you a raw, unscripted look at what it's really like to serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every week, Sister Cheney will jump on a call with her dad, Edgar, to share stories about the people she's meeting, the lessons she's learning, and the everyday reality of missionary life. Whether you're preparing to serve, have already served, or are simply curious about the 84,000+ missionaries serving around the world, we are so glad you are here. In this episode, Hannah and Edgar walk through one of the most anticipated moments in any missionary's journey — receiving a mission call. From lots of paperwork to the email that changes everything, this conversation is candid, emotional, and full of unexpected turns. In this episode, we dive into: The Application Process: From meeting with the bishop to doctor's appointments, language tests, and lengthy paperwork, Hannah breaks down just how thorough and meaningful the process of applying for a mission really is. How Missions Are Assigned: Edgar and Hannah share a fascinating clip from a Church leader describing what it's actually like to sit in the room where an Apostle prayerfully assigns each missionary to their field of labor, one by one, by revelation. The Moment of Truth: Hannah opens and reads her actual mission call letter live on the podcast and shares what was going through her mind as she read it. The Crushing Disappointment: In a refreshingly honest moment, Hannah admits she was heartbroken by her assignment to the Texas Houston East Mission. The Turning Point: How Hannah's perspective slowly shifted over the months that followed through small but undeniable signs that her Heavenly Father had been orchestrating this all along, including a remarkable coincidence involving a close friend. The episode closes with a scripture from Alma 26:3–8, the story of Ammon rejoicing over the souls he helped bring to the gospel, which serves as a reminder that the work missionaries do has the power to protect and strengthen people through every storm life brings. If you've ever opened a mission call, watched someone open one, or simply wondered what that moment really feels like, this episode is for you. Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss next week's episode, where Hannah and Edgar share tips and advice heading into the mission field!

7. 

   9 Mar 2026

   The Decision to Serve

   Welcome to Latter-day Missionary, a weekly podcast that gives you a raw, unscripted look at what it's really like to serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every week, Sister Hannah Cheney will jump on a call with her dad, Edgar, to share stories about the people she's meeting, the lessons she's learning, and the everyday reality of missionary life. Whether you're preparing to serve, have already served, or are simply curious about the 84,000+ missionaries serving around the world, we are so glad you are here. In this episode, Hannah and Edgar open up about one of the most personal parts of the missionary journey — the decision to go. From Edgar's unwavering conviction as a 19-year-old to Hannah's long, winding road of doubt, fear, and faith, this conversation is honest, relatable, and deeply moving. In this episode, we dive into: Edgar's "Why": How the missionaries who brought the gospel to his family in Guatemala shaped his desire to serve — and why going on a mission never felt like a choice, just the next step. Hannah's Honest Struggle: From childhood certainty to real fear, Hannah shares how the closer her mission got, the harder the decision became — and why leaving BYU and the life she loved made it even more complicated. What Fasting Is: A brief, accessible explanation of fasting as a spiritual practice and why Hannah turned to it while seeking answers. The Age Change: A discussion of the Church's recent policy change allowing both young men and young women to serve beginning at age 18, and why Hannah feels it was divinely inspired. A Leap of Faith: Hannah shares how she didn't feel fully convicted until after submitting her papers and receiving her call to the Houston, Texas Spanish-speaking mission. The episode closes with a scripture from Proverbs 3:5–6 — "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" — a reminder that even when you can't see the full picture, He can.

8. 

   1 Mar 2026

   Come and See

   Welcome to The Latterday Missionary, a weekly podcast that gives you a raw, unscripted look at what it’s really like to serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every week, Sister Hannah Cheney will jump on a call with her dad, Edgar, to share stories about the people she’s meeting, the lessons she’s learning, and the everyday reality of missionary life. Whether you’re preparing to serve, have already served, or are simply curious about the 84,000+ missionaries serving around the world, we are so glad you are here. In this debut episode, get to know the hosts before Sister Cheney officially ships out to the Houston, Texas Spanish-speaking mission in a few months! Right now, she's still at home, so this episode is all about introductions. In this episode, we dive into: Meet the Hosts: Learn about Sister Cheney's background as a recent high school graduate and BYU student, and Edgar's background as a product manager and father of five. Missionary Roots: Edgar shares his own life-changing experiences with the missionaries who introduced his mother to the gospel in Guatemala, as well as stories from his own mission in McAllen, Texas. What is a Missionary?: A brief, approachable overview of what it really means to dedicate 18 to 24 months to serving, teaching, and living by specific missionary guidelines. The episode wraps up with a special spiritual thought centered around Philip's invitation to Nathaniel to "come and see" from John 1:45-46. Make sure to follow the podcast on Spotify to join us every week as we document Sister Cheney’s journey in real-time. Next week, we’ll be discussing the big decision: how and why we both made the choice to serve a mission!

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Contact Latter-day Missionary

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.