"I was called on a mission when I was on a honeymoon. It wasn’t as astounding as it sounds in that it had been sort of planned. I became engaged to my former mate after one year at Brigham Young University. I always planned on a mission. I’d grown up in such a totally Mormon environment that one didn’t even think of a choice. It was not would you go, but when would you go. On my honeymoon I got a mission call to England. And in that two-week honeymoon I read all the standard works."
http://signaturebookslibrary.org/leaving-the-fold-–-17/

This example always rings in my mind how connections and money make the exceptions.

My father's first cousin (I know, I have a lot of cousins) is Ed. I never cared for him and he always talked down to my father when I was in their presence.

But he was from a rich family and related to an important leader as Hugh B. Brown's grandson.