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Belde? Bjelde had been charged with three counts of murder and one of aggravated assault. Thank you, Angela Voss, for courageously sharing your experience, your pain and your hopes. (His assignment there ran from 1975 to 1978). Too bad Church HQ did not listen to the local leaders who,after all, knew Christensen best. Political, not religious factors motivated the assassinations, and politics soon became involved. The next day, the First Presidency issued a statement reading in part: We are grieved to learn of the assassination of two of our missionaries . We regret that anyone would think that these , who have been sent to preach the gospel of peace, would be characterized as enemies of any group. The driver of the other vehicle is hospitalized. This is not to criticize Reed Benson, but only to question the "inspiration" component in this context. Who was this murderer missionary? [28][33][34][35][36] Mylroie was the first to find them. Thank you Steve for all of your hard work at bringing light to the many little known perversities of Mormonism. In this respect Elder Belde was a victim of Mormonism too. Its gut-wrenching, Marla said. He went on a mission. A twenty one year old LDS missionary from Bountiful, Utah, was shot and killed, and his companion wounded, by an as yet unidentified assailant Monday evening. Soon thereafter, asked how he was doing, Creed raised his left hand and made the OK gesture and was later able to make the thumbs-up gesture. He had been an honor student at Carbon High School, and had begun attending the College of Eastern Utah, while working as the night manager at Wendy's Restaurant in Price. While walking to an appointment on March 2, Elder Mason Lewis Bailey, 19, was struck by a vehicle and killed. Moody, who lives in Lubbock, Texas, posts the daily outpourings of love and support the family receives on the site and sends the most inspirational messages to Marla. I just can't get behind Elder Belde not serving any time whatsoever the loss of a life. This should not be a chance to complain or gossip about your companion; use this time to receive inspiration on how to help them best. "[3][71][72][73], Following on the heels of this tragedy, Oscar Zapata of Piura, Peru, who had been serving in the Peru Lima East Mission for just two weeks, was shot on March 6, 1991 after getting off a bus in the remote town of Tarma, Peru. Whether youre serving in your own country or one foreign to you, its always nice to have someone you can rely on. Elder Carter began his missionary service in November 2020. So one of our men went to speak with them, and immediately they both ran away. [38], Consequently, as is permitted any time an American citizen is killed by terrorists, an FBI probe was sent to Bolivia on May 30 to investigate the slayings. A third missionary who was in the car, 19-year-old Britton Jeremie Berrett of Roberts, Idaho, suffered serious injuries but is in stable condition and being treated at a hospital in Albuquerque, according to church spokesperson Sam Penrod. At least it was more than the pathetically meager reference offered up by the Louisville KY mission's reunion website--although the list of dead on the "Mahonri" memorial webpage was followed by a bizarre observation from Apostle M. Russell Ballard: "Since the day of the Prophet Joseph Smith, we've had approximately 447,969 missionaries serve in the world,' Elder M. Russell Ballard said in 1989. I'm not concerned about violence, but more convinced that there will be a lot of unnecessary suffering because of these unreasonable cultural expectations. Chad and Marla are somewhat uncomfortable with receiving help but realize that there will likely be a lot of unforeseen expenses that insurance will not cover. Knowing Reed Benson as I came to--I was his missionary assistant for 8 months, and one of his closest advisors--I have no doubt that he was genuinely traumatized by this episode. He knew both the murder victim, Elder James Christensen, and James killer, and has shared particulars about the case here. Joseph Standing - New Georgia Encyclopedia He was a country boy at heart, so it was natural for him to want to be back in the country. If he can snap and kill one person, then he can do it to another. Donate to the newsroom now. Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter. To give her son the best chance possible, Marla spends every day with him, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. She rents a nearby apartment in Boston, where she is currently living with her daughter Sway and son Cross. Before his junior year of high school he decided to move to Richfield to live with an aunt and uncle and their three children. No doubt he got some bad advise in going on a mission, but I also understand that within the Mormon culture, missionary pressures, from prospective missionaries, their families, local ward members and leaders, etc. Still, the initial diagnosis wasnt good. They are unforgivable under any circumstances but seem especially so when the victims are young men who have made great personal sacrifices and dedicated themselves to serve their church and fellow man." Re: Coming Forward: Years After the Killing of a Family Member at the Hands of the Victim's Companion and in My Uncle's Mission Field, a Courageous Woman Speaks Out for Justice & Truth There is probably a lot of personal blame to go around, including some in my own direction. Dont forget that he or she is a child of God, just like you! The a Elder Belde was not put in an impossible position, other companions served with Elder Christensen without abusing him. [36] Members brought in their meals. It sounds like Elder Christensen only had a few months to go on his mission and that's just tragic. When Creed was in fifth grade, for example, Chad said he arose every morning at 5:30 to do planks and push-ups to get in shape. It can be hard to resolve conflicts and discuss any challenges that might be keeping your companionship from working together in unity, so you should approach these conversations with humility and the desire to improve together. God always wants you to find joy and happiness, especially on a mission. Elder JeffreyR. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has taught that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. I recently received email correspondence from a family member of a Mormon missionary who was horribly and tragically killed by his companion while serving in the Louisville-Kentucky mission--which, at the time, was headed by my uncle, Reed Benson, as its president. We didn't know who they were, but afterwards they turned out to be Felix and Nelson Encinas. Was he some kind of relative of the LDS royalty? It occurred during a heavy rainstorm. Ten Latter-day Saints have died this year while serving full-time missions for the Salt Lake City-based faith. More than 1,500 people attended this meeting, including 120 missionaries. [41] The investigation included five or six members who brought ballistics laboratory equipment, polygraphs, and other equipment. Since our physical health can affect our mental health, you should always make sure that youre eating a healthy diet, getting enough exercise (its built right into the missionary schedule, after all! "It's pure Cuban terrorism, I don't think there is any question about it," said Ambassador Robert Gelbard. I would ask all about the person whose grave we were at and she would tell me stories of all the charming things she remembered or knew about our relatives. To this day, my younger brother feels guilty and less-worthy than others because he wasn't able to go on a real mission. JeffreyR. Holland, Missionary Work and the Atonement, 15. He clearly understood what he was doing on a mission, and wanted to be there. As a result, the prisoners protested their innocence, and began staging a hunger strike on March 31. That means he had companions that were able to work with him. Elder Mason Bailey, 19, died after being hit by a vehicle while serving in the Sweden Stockholm Mission. [32], Jeffrey Ball and Todd Wilson shared an apartment with two other missionaries, Thayne Carlson and V. Shane Mylroie. Todd had a friendly, gregarious personality and an exceptional academic aptitude, especially excelling in accounting. I can't imagine anyone staying in the Church after such an event. By any metric, it has been a difficult fight for both him and his family ever since the 20-year-old missionary from St. George and his companion were struck by a car on Nov. 30 while serving a Spanish-speaking mission in Boston for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was one of the first missionaries who was able to go at 18, said Kenneth D. Thomas, president of the Richfield Utah East Stake. As far as I can tell, Bjelde is now 56 years old, and still lives in his native Wisconsin. 11 March 2014. Church leaders and former companions expressed condolences and renewed their dedication to missionary work. The cause of the accident is being investigated by local law enforcement, Penrod continued. Missionaries were pulled out over the Fourth of July in Huanuni, Oruro, a "hot spot," where in an unreported incident in the mid- 1970s the Elders' home was blown up in their absence, killing the members who were staying there.[61](88). Usually a rejection just means that the person isnt ready yet, and there is always the potential for that person to listen to missionaries at the right time. As a result of this tragedy and a subsequent sickness, where he allegedly "thought he was dying," Johnny Peralta returned to his mother's home, where police promptly arrested him. Ballard told reporters at the airport, "These missionaries returned to us today in these caskets have fulfilled a noble service we pray that hearts will be softened and tragedies like this will never occur again to such wonderful, good men who have devoted their lives to preaching the gospel of peace. Our hatred is implacable, and our war is to the death. If you keep trying to contact people regardless of the possibility that you might be rejected, youll be given power to find those people who are ready for the gospel. I have not been active on the exmormon boards, but am an active reader. Last week, Creed suffered a seizure and has since stopped talking and reading. Leaving just a few months after high school graduation, Elder Bailey had been serving on his mission since July 2013. Cross, a junior at Crimson Cliffs, is finishing out the school year online. The LDS Church views slain missionaries as martyrs. Church spokesman Sam Penrod confirmed the church assists missionaries who become ill or are injured. Yes, he should have spoke up. Two years ago, she lost her mother. Although the culture, food, or people might be different from what youre used to, you can always find things to love. And realizing that doesnt make you a bad missionary. They called an ambulance and notified President Wright.[28][37]. Once the missionaries' safety in these areas was determined, North American missionaries began to return around September 1994. They singularly (and defensively, I might add) focused their energies among themselves on how, after James was injured in his pre-mission accident, his local Church leaders advised him not to go on a mission but that he ignored their advice and went anyway. My heart truly goes out to that family. "I guess it's fear of the unknown. The only thing I found was his obituary, a picture of his grave and your post. As Steve noted, I was the senior assistant to Reed Benson when Elder Christensen and Elder Belde were put together. ', Testimony in the three-day bench trial revealed that Bjelde