Jeffrey R. Holland was born on December 3, 1940, and grew up in St. George, Utah. As a boy he enjoyed sports (especially baseball) and played on every kind of team he could. He attended Dixie High School where he was on the state championship football and basketball teams and lettered in football, basketball, track, and baseball. Patricia Terry, who later became his wife, was a cheerleader there. They dated for two years before Elder Holland was called on a mission to England. While on his mission, Elder Holland realized that he wanted to pursue a profession in teaching. His parents were called on a mission to England at the same time he was serving there. His mother noted that he claimed to be the only missionary who ever said farewell to his parents at both ends of his mission.