LINDON — A small hand-painted plaque in the Acerson family's living room reads: "Get up in the morning. Load your handcart. Head to Zion."

The saying is telltale of the family's attitude toward serving the community. Come this summer, though, Jeff Acerson, mayor of Lindon, and his wife, Karen, president of the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, will be serving in a different way.

Acerson has been called to be president of a mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and his wife will report to their new home — at least for the next three years — in July.

"We are excited," Jeff Acerson said. "It's going to be the journey of a lifetime. The (blessings) that come from serving others can't compare with (anything else)."

Jeff Acerson will step down as Lindon's mayor in June and trade the City Council agendas for a copy of "Preach My Gospel," the teaching manual used by men and women who serve LDS Church missions.

The church's missionary department has asked the Acersons not to broadcast their destination. Details could still change among all the newly called mission presidents.

But wherever it is there will be a lot of adjustments to make, especially for the Acersons' six children, who range in age from 22 to 10. The eldest two will stay behind to continue their schooling at Brigham Young University, but the younger children will pack up and head off with Mom and Dad.

"Whatever they're giving up, it won't compare to what they'll gain," Karen Acerson said about her children's future experiences.

She said the kids were excited at first. After a few minutes, though, the reality of spending three years away from friends and school set in and there were a few tears.

Ten-year-old Stephanie says she's sad to leave behind her bunnies Pepper and Snowball, as well as two cats and two horses that will be watched over by friends and family.

"But that is what sacrifice is," Karen said, "(and) we have been called to do something we know is very possible."

Jeff Acerson said he'll miss the association with good people in Lindon and throughout Utah County, especially the men and women with whom he serves on the Lindon City Council.

"I'll miss (them), but I'll have yet another group of people to work with," Jeff Acerson said. "And I'll be trying to help people make their lives better — that's the same thing you do as a mayor."

Lindon City Councilman Bruce Carpenter said he will miss Acerson's great skill of keeping City Council conversations positive and carefully listening to residents' con- cerns.

"He is sincerely interested in what people's ... needs are," Carpenter said. "He and his wife are two of the finest examples of community service. They simply look for opportunities to contri- bute."

Karen Acerson won't leave the storytelling festival without a leader, however.

Festival founder Karen Ashton, whose husband, Alan, was one of the founders of WordPerfect, will have returned from an LDS mission in Toronto she is serving with her husband. She will resume her work with the festival.

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E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com