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Shall
the Youth of Zion Falter: Commitment to a Commandment
by
Kelly L. Martinez
Another
in a periodic series spotlighting LDS youth in the sporting world
who are making valiant decisions and giving heed to President Hinckley’s
counsel to “stand a little taller.”
Leslie
Clarke
Photo Credit: Clarke Family
I’ve never been
to Boise, but if ever I drive through Idaho’s capital city on a
Sunday, I know I won’t find Leslie Clarke on any of its soccer
fields.
Since she played
in her first soccer game as a child, Leslie has made it a point
to keep God first in her life, which includes the decision to never
play sports on Sunday. Once she was chosen to play on a soccer
team that would, if it advanced far enough into a tournament, require
Sunday play. She decided then that no matter what, she would
not play on the Sabbath. That particular team didn’t play
on Sunday, but the decision young Leslie had made set a foundation
for the future.
Back to the
Future
Over the years, Leslie’s dad has had the opportunity to coach
Leslie’s soccer teams. One season, their team advanced to
a tournament championship that was to be played on Sunday, but father
and daughter joined forces and along with other LDS players on
the team did not participate in the title game. The team
won without them, and as a result, teammates became supporters of
Leslie and her Sabbath decision.
In subsequent
seasons, coaches have learned to accept the fact that Leslie will
help take the team as far as she can on any of the other six days,
but on Sunday, the team will have to play without her.
Not everyone
has been supportive of Leslie’s absence from Sunday play.
One coach told her she couldn’t play for his team because of her
stand. He was unwilling for his team to be forced to play
without one of its best players in crucial games that may be played
on Sunday. Others including a member of the Church have
been critical of Leslie, claiming she’s not a true team player and
she lacks commitment. These things are difficult for her to
hear, but she has stuck to her convictions.
Clarke
Sisters
Photo Credit: Clarke Family
Circle of
Sisters
Michael and Sue Clarke have five daughters: Casey,
30, Lindsay, 27, Heather, 24, Jesse, 21, and
Leslie, 17. Casey, Lindsay and Heather are married, and Jesse
is serving a full-time mission in Venezuela.
“My sisters
are so supportive of everything I do,” says Leslie. “They
are such wonderful examples to me. I want to be just like
them. They are my best friends.”
“We’ve really
been very blessed,” says Michael, who played club soccer at Ricks
College during the early 70s. “Our daughters are such wonderful
young women. I feel humbled by the examples they are to me.”
Leslie
in Action
Photo Credit: Jay Yeggy
Patriotic
Footwork
This fall, Leslie will be entering her senior year at Centennial
High in Boise, where she earned a letter last season helping the
Patriots to a 6-6-2 overall record. Additionally, she
plays on club teams, which puts her in the position to make the
decision regarding the Sabbath that she has.
Prior to leaving
for the mission field, Jesse was invited to play soccer at Southern
Virginia University. Leslie made a trip to Buena Vista, Va.,
with her older sister and got to practice with the Knights’ women’s
soccer team. With one season of prep soccer remaining, Leslie
is hopeful that she will have the opportunity to play collegiate
soccer.
Soccer is her
first love, but Leslie has also recently finished her first season
of track and field at CHS, competing in the mile, 4x200, 4x400,
pole vault and her main event, the 400-meter.
Sports are not
all that is important to Leslie; she also attends seminary, serves
as first counselor in her Laurels class and is a member of the Key
Club.
Role Players
During the Winter Games in Salt Lake, Leslie had the opportunity
to meet and have her picture taken with her favorite athlete: track
star Marion Jones. “Marion is such a hard worker,” says Leslie.
“She’s not cocky and seems to be a very humble person.”
Leslie also
admires soccer star Mia Hamm, whose jersey number (9) adorns the
back of her own soccer jerseys.
She also looks
to the scriptures for models of righteous living, listing Nephi
as one of the prophets that she admires most and D&C
121: 45 as a scripture that provides her with the standard she
strives to live by.
Daaaaaaad!
Leslie is the first of the Clarke girls to be playing soccer
at such a competitive level, making her the first to be faced with
the decision about Sunday play. She seems to have a disposition
to do what is right, says her father.
“Leslie’s third
grade teacher once told me that she was the most righteous child
she had ever taught,” remembers Michael. “Leslie is a wonderful
young lady that hates to do the wrong thing. I hope I haven’t
embarrassed her.”
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