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 As in all situations involving the death of missionaries, the church extends its sympathy to the families and friends of the deceased. [17] These arrests led to the naming of brothers Nelson and Flix Encinas Laguna as prime suspects of the bomb on Parliament, and according to Information Minister Hermn Antelo, there were also "indications of their participation in the murders" of Elders Jeffrey Ball and Todd Wilson. An 18-year-old missionary from Utah and his companion were killed in a car accident in Texas on Tuesday, according to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although missionary companions are essential, some missionaries find it difficult to get along with different companions. You need to know that you are very inspirational to people interested in knowing and understanding the hidden "gospel principles" that are so harmful to the spiritual and physical lives of people and make this religion a veritable C U L T! If a situation has become unbearable, lock yourself in the bathroom for a while and soak in a hot tub. In March, Elder Fernando Antonio Ramos Garcia, age 21 from Juaya, El Salvador, died after drowning in a river in the municipality of Nahulingo, Sonsonate.
Missionary Program - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Others have also buoyed the familys spirits. As a result, the prisoners protested their innocence, and began staging a hunger strike on March 31. According to witnesses, after the act, a commander of the group realized, "it's not him, we were wrong." Church spokesman Sam Penrod confirmed the church assists missionaries who become ill or are injured. This Memorial Park and monument honor the memory of Elder Joseph Standing of Salt Lake City, Utah, a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Mormon) who was killed here by a mob July 21, 1879. As I remember it, the situation involved a collision with a train. Thank you,". How does the Lords wisdom bless our lives? [14][17] Such findings were further confirmed as authorities learned that one or more of the rebels had received bomb training in Cuba. One of our men ran, 'stop, stop, stop,' and threw them both to the ground. 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." They did, however, have the following name and brief biographical information: "James E. Christensen, 24, Kentucky Louisville, Moroni, UT 1977". "I don't think anyone felt secure at the time," expressed Young. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. While that companion has his or her agency, you also have your own agency to choose to be obedient. Several newspapers have written editorials condemning the murders. Re: Response The a 2007, 5456), 14 Ways to Get Your Emotional Health Back on Track (HeatherJ. Johnson, Ensign, Jan. 2019, digital only), Overcoming Discouragement (Self-Reliance Services, Ensign, July 2019, digital only). [70] However, after the resignation of the first two judges, Rivas ordered the five suspects (Yujra, the Encinas brothers, Dr. Rojas, and Simn Tema Mamani) to remain in prison without bail. Not long after, tragedy occurred. In order to save more money for his mission, he dropped his classes and continued to work late at night.
Mission Companions - Latter-day Saint Mission Prep "We're all kind of scared right now," echoed Brad Giles, who served with Wilson. President Thomas recalled a time when the young men in his ward went with the bishop to a cabin during the winter. St. George As a former running back, Creed Leonard was used to fighting for an extra foot or yard, but now a different yardstick is used to measure his forward momentum. Your environment is different, youre away from your friends and family, and you have schedules and demands that are unique. He eventually did go on a mission but it was a local service mission. Mormon Missionary Murdered by his Companion steve benson Feb. 2013 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. At this point, Id like to share--with her personal permission--her thoughts, expressed as a relative of James E. Christensen, the Mormon missionary who was slain at the hands of his own companionand who, in death, was blamed for his death. It was there that they spent two and a half days reading the entire Book of Mormon. was killed Friday when she was hit by a truck while biking. So its not only important but essential for you to find new, mission-appropriate ways to relieve stress and manage your mental health. JeffreyR. Holland, Missionary Work and the Atonement, 15. Reach out to your mission president or his wife, or talk about your concerns with a leader. You have no idea who the person your forced to be with really is. 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. Elder Christensen only had a few months to go on his mission? Utah's senior senator, Jake Garn (R) expressed, "Such wanton and cowardly acts are among the most disgusting and callous actions of which human beings are capable. He was clearly an adult at the time of his mission and it was clearly murder. Reed Smith Of course it's an. "We are saddened to share news of the passing of two young missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who were killed in a head-on traffic collision on Tuesday in Denton,. It simply was a bad match. Their bodies were found with a sign saying, "This is how imperialists' supporters die." I did know your aunt May well. Elders Jeffrey Brent Ball and Todd Ray Wilson, two American missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) were killed in La Paz, Bolivia on May 24, 1989 by members of the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacin-Zarate Willka terrorist group who associated them and the church they represented with perceived American imperialist activities. I was not shocked at all when you mentioned the Benson family blamed him. An 18-year-old missionary for the LDS Church was killed in Southern \nCalifornia Thursday when he was struck by a . Ask a local member to teach you how to cook a new dish, or do an activity unique to the area. An LDS missionary from Benton, Ark. The family left their home and called the police, who came to investigate. This chapel was also vandalized, with graffiti saying "Americans go home." [Mosiac Down Syndrome is a rare condition that afflicts a small percentage of children with Down Syndrome. It's absolutely baffling that he got off with no jail time. Once the missionaries' safety in these areas was determined, North American missionaries began to return around September 1994. The Wilsons chose to attend their Sunday meetings in Wellington, and had asked a family friend, a local mortician, to pick up Todd Wilson's body. He knew both the murder victim, Elder James Christensen, and James killer, and has shared particulars about the case here. Elder Christensen was severely challenged. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Letting Go of Contention (Afton Nelson, Ensign, Jan. 2018, 2223), Three Things to Remember before You Judge (Chakell Wardleigh, Ensign, Jan. 2020, 7679), Bearing One Anothers Burdens (JeffreyR. Holland, Ensign, June 2018, 2429), Turning Rejection into Hope (Molly Holt, YA Weekly, Jan. 2021, digital only), How Can I Be a Successful Missionary? (Lauren Bangerter Wilde, Ensign, Oct. 2013, 3235), If I Had Known at 19 (Roger Terry, New Era, Mar. Political, not religious factors motivated the assassinations, and politics soon became involved. On the plane, I kept thinking that Creed has a need of angels in my mom and his dad, Marla recalled. But, if that were the case, you would think he would have been required to undergo psychiatric treatment and/or commitment, rather than simply given over to his parents. While most people are polite when they dont want to learn more about the gospel, it can still be frustrating and discouraging when your message is rejected. The whole situation makes me furious--and I sincerely blame the religious leaders for his death. He could communicate and express himself. They were then followed back to their apartment as they returned at about 10:20p.m.[31]. I noticed that although I never got mad at my companions or told them they were going over our time limit, they would usually start using less time and trying to be more aware of the rules. Other missions in Bolivia and Peru saw similar patterns as the missions were reintegrated with American and Latin missionaries. [11], The bodies of the missionaries arrived in Salt Lake City on Delta Flight 705 on Sunday, May 28. This is one of the more horrific things I have read on RfM. [20][46], FAL Zarate Willka attacked religious targets, such as the LDS Church, because they viewed the church as an imperialist agent of U.S. interests. Vallow and her husband, doomsday . I can't imagine anyone staying in the Church after such an event. Ball's funeral was attended by President Ezra Taft Benson and his counselor Thomas S. Monson, as well as Ballard and Monte J. Brough of the Seventy and over one thousand guests. [68] The second judge also resigned because he anticipated the trial to be thrown out of court for lack of evidence. Also suspected were two individuals known as "Horacio" and "El Sapo" (the toad), presumably the leaders of the group. McPheters hit the streets with a Bolivian policeman, where they "went through it with a fine-tooth comb and developed witnesses who saw and heard things," in an effort to reconstruct the chronology of the crime. Dont be afraid to call down miracles for you and the work in your area. You can submit your own article, ideas, or feedback at liahona.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Our deepest sympathies go to the families of these faithful missionaries, and we express our love and condolences to all who love them, he said in the release. Although you both might have different ideas or expectations about missionary work, you both also have the same desire to serve God as missionaries. 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. [18][19][26][38][42][27] While this may have helped, Robert Wharten, press attach at the U.S. Embassy said that the arrests were "the result of good, solid police work on the part of the Bolivians. Fides uses the term "missionary" for all the baptized, aware of what Pope Francis explains in his Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii gaudium: "In virtue of their baptism, all the members of the People of God . Lets also look at a few other ways you could relieve stress on your mission: Write letters to your friends and family on preparation day, Journal about trials, questions, miracles, or blessings, Exercise with your companion as directed in the daily schedule, Listen to relaxing Church music at appropriate times, Plan activities with members and those you are teaching. But the Mormon church in its wisdom paired him up with a mean, abusive, untrained and unvetted missionary companion. When youre turned away, remember that everyone has their agency to choose to learn about or reject the gospel. 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. In March, a 21-year-old missionary drowned in his homeland of El Salvador, and a 48-year-old mission president in the Philippines died of an apparent heart attack. It appeared that his limitations were mostly physical. Sometimes these challenges can culminate in serious mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression. There are two theories explaining why they left. WHY did the local leaders send in Brother Christensens papers in the first place???? A schizophrenic was expected to take over the care of a handicapped missionary companion. I'm likely as frustrated with them for not seeing the truth as they are with me for not seeing THEIR truth. It's a futile situation but I hope they are able to find a truth that doesn't harm them someday. [5], Some assassinations of missionaries are because of anti-Mormon hostility, some are due to political reasons, and some are simply random attacks. Political statement against the perceived violations of the national sovereignty of Bolivia by the United States. I envisioned the temple that will someday be built in Bolivia. Glo Later that year on December 20, 1989, protesting American intervention in Panama, they attacked the U.S. Embassy in a failed attempt to assassinate U.S. The circumstances of James death were shocking. This page is not available in other languages. Angela then proceeded to explain more about the killing of her mothers cousin, James E. Christensen, and how her mother has not been forthcoming about the particulars of the court proceedings that ensued in the wake of his death: What I can't figure out, and what my mother will not tell me, are the details of the criminal proceedings. Jeffrey Ball and Todd Wilson worked in a particularly poor, rough section of La Paz that was "well known for its brothels and bars, and the fact that most of the people in that part of town wouldn't say anything about what they saw. Mentally, he was O.K. Thank you, Angela Voss, for courageously sharing your experience, your pain and your hopes. Assassinations of Jeffrey Brent Ball and Todd Ray Wilson, Learn how and when to remove this template message, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacin-Zarate Willka, Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacin Zarate Willka, United States House Foreign Affairs Committee, the temple that will someday be built in Bolivia, Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA), "Missionaries and Terror: The Assassination of Two Elders in Bolivia", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Assassinations_of_Jeffrey_Brent_Ball_and_Todd_Ray_Wilson&oldid=1148001877. Her mother is a cousin of James E. Christensen, the Mormon missionary who was killed by his companion iwhile in my uncles mission. Re: Response We didn't know who they were. One might assume from this obit that he was killed in an accident. According to the LDS Church, there are about 53,000 full-time missionaries around the world, in more than 400 locations. So obviously, I don't have any inside information on what happened. [2][3][4], Government officials of both the United States and Bolivia employed their resources in bringing the assassins to justice, and the accused assassins suffered deprivations to their persons and families, including the murder of a brother. At the time, Judge German Urquiza had been scheduled to decide whether the defendants had been accessories to the shooting. Was he some kind of relative of the LDS royalty? Facebook friends are sharing the news stories and sympathies as well. "[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. What was brought to bear upon the LOCAL leaders? You were called to serve and help people come unto Christ, and that includes your companion. I was Facebook friends with both Elder Luke Carter and Elder Eli Fowler. I'm so glad we all left the church. I only recently found out about all of this because for so many years, it was too painful for my mother to talk about. Many worried about their investigators, who would not receive regular contact, and who, if the missionaries were transferred or redeployed, might not be contacted again for "quite some time. We cant wait to hear from you! The Governments of Bolivia and the United States both responded with outrage shortly following the attack. He was placed on five years probation, and ordered to seek psychiatric care. However, a judge was appointed in 1991, and by June the case was predicted to conclude sometime over the next few months. This action resulted in the suspension of the trial for the other five defendants. Without excusing his behavior, this companion was expected to not only do missionary work but to look after James. Later, three Peruvians, Elders Manuel Hidalgo, Cristian Ugarte, and Oscar Zapata were killed in Peru for similar reasons on August 22, 1990, and March 6, 1991. Does anyone know the details of the trial? Montero was killed by a stray bullet in Cali, Colombia, according to a statement from Ruth Todd, LDS Church spokeswoman. Southern ExMo [39] Years later, graffiti asserting that "Coca is not cocaine nor Coca-Cola" could be seen on walls in Bolivia. Too bad Church HQ did not listen to the local leaders who,after all, knew Christensen best. The families of these individuals considered them to have disappeared. Christenson should have been kept in the mission offices or sent home. Marla remembers Creeds dedication to football, saying he studied film, attended every workout and did additional workouts on his own. LDS Church Spokesman Sam Penrod released the following statement on the incident: We are saddened to share news of the passing of two young missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who were killed in a head-on traffic collision on Tuesday in Denton, Texas. In the event of a long-term recovery, the Church will work with the missionarys family and their health insurance provider to evaluate needs with the missionarys care.. I just can't see him as a victim. [24], Police continued to watch the homes of the remaining members of FAL Zarate Willka. Memorial Day last year, I was with my parents in Moroni [Utah], at a Christensen family reunion (my paternal grandmother is a Christensen). Missionary work can be hard. "[11] His desire to serve a mission was manifested by his selling his Jeep that he "dearly loved" to finance it. Nothing should surprise me anymore. Don LeFevre, spokesman for the LDS Church, commended "the Bolivian authorities for their persistence in the pursuit of justice. This is not a time to nitpick your companions personality or habits, but rather a time to lovingly identify things you can work on together to improve your companionship with the goal of becoming better missionaries. Angela has stepped up to confront and face down the Mormon Church for the deep suffering it has brought to her and her family. Photo courtesy of Rex and Nicole Persons family. For many missionaries, though, minor mental health challenges can still come up. He was laid to rest in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the Latter-day Saints erected a monument bearing the words: "There is no law in Georgia for the Mormons." [42] Finally, while some have speculated that Jeffrey Ball and Todd Wilson were not the intended targets, that "the group made a mistake and then decided to run with it" and the assassination was "nothing but a tragic error," [37] the evidence suggesting that the missionaries were staked out, might have been lured from their apartment, as well as the fact that the group particularly targeted the LDS Church, and had even bombed a chapel in the area, combined with the assertion of the U.S. Consul in Bolivia that the terrorists could have assassinated practically any member of the U.S. diplomatic mission had they merely desired an American target[14] overwhelmingly suggests that Jeffrey Ball and Todd Wilson were specifically marked by the terrorists for assassination.