Jeff Hartings is not from Utah. He didn't play college football here. His wife isn't from Salt Lake. His in-laws don't live here. He's not LDS. His job didn't require a move. He's not a winter sports fanatic. His car didn't break down on the way to Vegas and leave him stranded.
So exactly why is the starting center for the Pittsburgh Steelers living in Salt Lake?
He's witnessing, of course.
A devout born-again Christian could probably find easier territory to work than Salt Lake. But, he says, he's supposed to be here.
The well-known hymn "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go" isn't the sole property of Mormons. Hartings says he's in Salt Lake because he was called here. He loves the place. He loves its beauty, his neighbors and his church. He wants to be a friend to all. Just don't try busting past him to tackle Ben Roethlisberger. That's where he gets stubborn. He'll hunker in like David in the face of Goliath and the Philistine army.
Except in this story, Hartings, at 6-foot-3, 300 pounds, is the giant.
"I'm going to go where God wants me to go, and the answer right now is Salt Lake City," said Hartings, only recently removed from the Super Bowl hysteria, the celebratory parade in Pittsburgh and the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. "There is a possibility we'll be here the rest of our lives, but there's an equal possibility that we could leave and become part of another church somewhere else. So the future is definitely uncertain and it always will be, because we welcome going where God wants us to go."
For now he's happy to invite any interested parties to visit his church in Sugar House.
He might even tell you if Roethlisberger really did score on that goal-line play in the Super Bowl.
Hartings' journey to Salt Lake came about in an unexpected way. (Don't most missionary stories?) After an all-American career at Penn State, he was playing for the Detroit Lions, where he teamed with former Ute Luther Elliss, a devout Christian. Hartings had been struggling with an injury, trying to get perspective in his life, and they became fast friends.
In the process, Hartings was converted and began attending Kensington Community Church, near Detroit. Some of its members started discussing places to move where they could spread the word. Elliss knew of at least one place where there were nice people and the scenery spectacular. Soon enough, Hartings was on a plane to Utah.
The fact he and Elliss would be helping to open a nondenominational church in the heart of Mormondom didn't daunt them at all. They knew all about challenges — they played for the Lions. So Hartings and 50 or 60 other church members moved. In September 2004, they hung out the shingle on K2, the church, an extension of the original Kensington church. Now they have congregations of up to 700 people.
Hartings' emigration to Utah didn't come without soul searching. Although he had visited Salt Lake before his move, he says he "didn't want to see the beauty of the area and the city and then have that influence my decision." He didn't want negative factors to rule his decision, either.
So he just moved.
Since then, Hartings says he and his wife have made many friends of different faiths. "I feel there's a mission to proclaim the gospel in all parts of the world, everywhere," said Hartings.
Sometimes, he admits, differences on religion can prevent neighbors from becoming close. "But," he said, "it does not prevent people from becoming friends. Religion should never keep people from loving each other and being friends."
Hartings says at this year's Super Bowl, many players were extremely nervous. He, however, had no such apprehension.
"I wasn't nervous at all on game day. . . . I had a godly perspective about the whole purpose for living. It's really not about winning and losing football games. It's about something bigger than that, and it gave me peace."
So don't be surprised if you see Hartings at the local grocery or getting his oil changed. He's now your neighbor. But if you miss him, he can usually be found at church. He'll be the one insisting that winning the Super Bowl isn't the purpose of life, just a little piece of heaven.
E-mail: rock@desnews.com