From Soldier to Shepherd

January 2025

Since middle school, Thomas Garsnett has dreamed of a career in the military. He envisioned himself “knocking down doors and blowing things up.”

He pursued his goal at the University of South Carolina, where he studied criminal justice and military science with the unexpected addition of religious studies—a subject dear to his heart. During one of his religion classes, Garsnett became interested in the Book of Mormon, which answered some of his deep spiritual questions. He was subsequently baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

With a new start on life, Garsnett called Church headquarters and talked to the person who endorses military chaplains. “He recommended that I attend BYU,” says Garsnett. He did and was quickly impressed by the teachers in the program. “Spending time with them was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The donor-funded chaplaincy program gives recipients full-tuition coverage and a book stipend, which came in handy as Garsnett and his wife started a family.

They now have two young daughters. Garsnett recently graduated from BYU with a master’s degree in military chaplaincy and has been commissioned as an active-duty chaplain.