Brothers Bryan and Michael Salmon are about to embark on a two-year mission immersed in their faith and their commitment to spreadiing that faith.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly referred to as the LDS church, currently operates around 350 missions throughout the world with more than 50,000 Mormon missionaries serving the needs of the church.

And, in a couple of weeks, the Salmon brothers of Troy will be counted among the 50,000 plus missionaries serving around the world working to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A typical mission for a male member of the LDS church lasts for two years and presents various challenges for the missionary serving, but according to Bryan he and his brother are ready to meet any obstacles they may face head-on.

“We’ve faced obstacles in high school and are ready for the obstacles our mission work will present,” Bryan said. “We’re ready and will respond to any obstacles in whatever form they present themselves in a loving and caring manner.”

Bryan wiil serve in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

“When I first opened my mission call back in October it was just kind of a surprise, and as the time for me to leave for my mission has gotten closer I’ve started to see how big of a responsibility it actually is,” he said.

In preparation for their mission work, Mormon missionaries are encouraged to learn as much as they can about the language, customs and traditions of where they will be ministering.

Michael, being called to serve in Barcelona, Spain, provided some insight into what they might expect during a typical day at their perspective mission locations.

“Wake up time will be around 6:30 a.m.. We’ll study the scriptures for a few hours during the day, spend an hour or two learning the local language, and we’ll go out teaching people more about Christ and His Gospel,” Michael said.

“It feels good to do what’s right,” he added. “As a missionary, you’re representing more than just the Mormon Church, you’re representing the Lord.”

Jannette Salmon, their mother, is no strangers to missionary work. She served a mission and has seen two other sons serve on similar missions.

“I’m really excited about this, because I’ve already had two sons that have gone out and have seen the maturity that has come about because of their mission work,” she said.

Jannette is familiar with the sacrifices that are involved when a child is assigned to do mission work abroad.

“We get one e-mail a week and an hour phone call on Mother’s Day and again on Christmas,” she said.

“You miss them while they’re gone, but you have to have faith that when they’re serving, they’ll literally be in God’s care. You have to have faith that God will care for them when you can’t, as a parent, care for them.”

Bryan is looking forward to the whole mission experience he and his brother Michael are about to have.

“What we hope to gain from this is a greater testimony of Jesus Christ and His atonement,” Bryan said.

And, Bryan said that the influence of his brothers has been tremendous.

“Our brothers have definitely influenced us by the change we’ve seen in them,” he said, “It’s not so much a physical change as it is a mental and spiritual change.”

Bryan will be leaving on Jan. 26 and Michael on March 16.