Young Service Missionary Warms 1000+ Heads and Hearts

A young service missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints whose mission ends in December has made 1000 hats and 101 scarves during his 2-year mission. The items were made for families who receive food from the Bishops Storehouse in Springville. Elder Jason Hallock from the Provo Utah South Stake has spent the last two years faithfully helping those experiencing food insecurity. These handmade gifts that are placed by the entrance, warm hearts and heads throughout the valley.

Elder Hallock makes knit hats on various sized looms in a wide variety of colors and patterns. He has paid for about 75% of the yarn needed to make the hats out of his savings or tax rebates, and has had some donations from various ward members in his ward and others. He has taught other missionaries how to make hats as well.

Elder Hallock freely shares his talents with others. He speaks Spanish and can be found assisting Spanish speaking patrons. He takes his turn leading the “Come Follow Me” lessons before missionaries began to hand out patron orders at the storehouse. He also took it upon himself to make a Kahoots game for that week’s lesson that the missionaries really enjoy every Thursday. He plays the piano and shares his talent with the Storehouse staff, as well as being the Primary accompanist in his home ward. He truly puts the service into Service Missionary.

Provo Utah South Stake President Benjamin Larson said that Elder Hallock’s story is one he loves to tell.

Elder Rodney and Sister Kristine Amussen, the managers at the Bishops Storehouse, love seeing the children’s faces light up when they can choose one of Elder Hallock’s hats to take home.

“Elder Hallock loves the gospel and the Lord, and often expresses his desire to become more like the Savior. He has been so dedicated and faithful in fulfilling his calling as a missionary,” Sister Cheryl Esplin who serves with her husband as his service mission leaders said. “He is very disciplined and organized. Besides serving at the Bishop’s Storehouse, he has served at Deseret Industries and Beehive Clothing Manufacturing. He plays the piano and leads insightful gospel discussions for missionary district meetings.”

Elder Hallock earned his Eagle Scout award making 50 hats for the American Fork Hospital as his Eagle Project before he started his mission. Elder Hallock doesn’t drive but he has learned how to get where he needs to be on his electric scooter and the bus whether it is to his service sites, institute, or district meetings. He says that the Lord has blessed him for being a missionary and protected him many times as he rides his scooter to and from his home in Provo to the Bishops Storehouse in Springville. After his mission, he is looking forward to traveling with his parents to visit family in Mexico City, then he will begin his college journey at Mountainland Technical College studying digital media.