How ‘cold, tough mission’ helped Utah State’s Abel Porter become stronger person and basketball player

LOGAN — It comes as no surprise that Utah State guards Abel Porter and Sam Merrill are competitive — on the basketball court and off.

But the two Aggie teammates, who have been friends since they were 10 years old, have engaged in a rather unique running argument the past few years: Who served in a tougher mission?

As a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Porter left his native Farmington for a two-year stint in the Russia Samara Mission, while Merrill, who grew up in Bountiful, served in Nicaragua. Continue Reading–>