The problem is compounded when Mormon leaders come to believe that if they pray hard and live the commandments, both of which Reed Benson did, whatever they might do, or think, can be confidently viewed as inspired; and that the "Lord" will validate such decisions. I'm not concerned about violence, but more convinced that there will be a lot of unnecessary suffering because of these unreasonable cultural expectations. One has to wonder if the killer didn't have some sort of psychiatric disorder. Please lift up your prayers to those most affected.. Who was this murderer missionary? [47][48] This view is further substantiated by the tithes and offerings that go directly to church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, the church's extensive corporate holdings, and the impressive structure and location of its buildings.[14]. Serve them. One former sister missionary reports being accosted by groups of students demanding to know why Bolivia should change its coca culture because the United States had a drug problem. Do not sorrow, father. You should do everything you can to follow mission rules and schedules. While Juan's sister tried to get the order reversed, his mother watched her son die.[15]. He was a country boy at heart, so it was natural for him to want to be back in the country. Was he acquitted? I have seen the harm this creates directly with my younger brother, Brian, who was born with Mosaic Down Syndrome, and who prayed to God every night asking him to be able to go on a mission. Tell that to mentally-disabled Elder James E. Christensen: dead at age 24, due--according to family members of Ezra Taft Benson defending their own--to his failure to obey priesthood authority. Again, thank you again for mentioning James story. An 18-year-old missionary for the LDS Church was killed in Southern \nCalifornia Thursday when he was struck by a . A typical missionary day begins by waking at 6:30 a.m.* for personal study. Both missionaries were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.. If you feel your mental health is suffering beyond your control, reach out to your mission president to get the help you need. The LDS Church in Latin America was attacked in this period more frequently than any other American-based bank, business, church, or other institution. [27] While they were allowed to attend their meetings on Sunday, including the memorial service,[56] and were reported to be "in good spirits," [59] that week was still difficult. When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out and made a hiss and a byword, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. In January, a 24-year-old elder serving in his home country of Haiti died after being admitted to a hospital with health complications; a 19-year-old elder from Utah was killed in a car crash in Arkansas; and a 20-year-old Nigerian serving a mission in his homeland died after a sudden health episode (unrelated to COVID-19).. It was obvious from their dress that those who entered were Bolivians. [30] The other idea is that the assassins lured them out by having someone call them saying that the sisters needed a film projector. Those boys came back changed men, President Thomas said. That August, according to the Salt Lake Tribune (8-13-77,) Bjelde was sentenced to five years probation and fined $3,500. I was not shocked at all when you mentioned the Benson family blamed him. He is relearning how to walk and talk and the right side of his body barely functions. summer Re: Mormonism has a history of being a violent faith. James was [my grandmothers] nephew and my mom and grandmother were quite close to him. 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. That may not sound like a big deal, but it was the first time he moved his eyes to look at me, said Marla, who wrote about it in her journal. I don't know if the killer was required to undergo treatment. Elder Michael Austin Davis, 20, of Corinne, Utah, and Elder Tyson Gene Haycock, 20, of Miles City, Montana, died . M. Russell Ballard, accompanied by Charles Didier of the Seventy, toured nine missions in early June in Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. One thing that probably worked in Bjelde's favor was that the official cause of death was a burst cerebral aneurysm that Christensen had suffered in the crash a decade before. 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 Our hatred is implacable, and our war is to the death. Starting a mission can sometimes feel like youre starting an entirely new life. 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." Belde? As far as I can tell, Bjelde is now 56 years old, and still lives in his native Wisconsin. Assassinations of Jeffrey Brent Ball and Todd Ray Wilson For many missionaries, though, minor mental health challenges can still come up. But everyone still wants to finish their missions. At press time, no funeral arrangements had been made. (By the way, I was later informed that my uncle Reed Benson did not leave the mission field over which he was presiding at the time in order to attend James E. Christensen's Moroni, Utah, funeral. Orrin Hatch (RUT) echoed his colleague, calling the killings "a heinous act" of terrorism; "their service was in no way political, and they were innocents in this despicable act."[16]. Twinker Your last paragraph is excellent and insightful. Church spokesman Sam Penrod confirmed the church assists missionaries who become ill or are injured. We didn't know who they were, but afterwards they turned out to be Felix and Nelson Encinas. My name is Angela Voss and I recently came across one of your contributing posts to exmormon.org. I suppose such a condition could conceivably mitigate criminal charges. 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. Dont take it personally when someone rejects Gods message. Has a missionary ever killed her/his companion? : exmormon - Reddit Sway is taking a hiatus from her studies at Utah Tech University to help out. Less than a week later, during the evening of Monday, July 10, 1989, the Hamacas Ward chapel in Santa Cruz, Bolivia was bombed. That means he had companions that were able to work with him. 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. Their idea of imperialism is not limited to territorial expansion, but "involves a whole series of political, cultural, and religious means,"[14] including the LDS Church. This is not to criticize Reed Benson, but only to question the "inspiration" component in this context. I had a friend whose companion (they served in San Francisco in the mid 70s) who kept insisting his companion must "Stop the car Elder, we're dragging a body" and other odd things. The killer was ultimately remanded by the courts to the custody of his parents and served no prison time. 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. Elder Belde was not put in an impossible position, other companions served with Elder Christensen without abusing him. 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). They were then followed back to their apartment as they returned at about 10:20p.m.[31]. We cant wait to hear from you! 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.. The full, ugly details of that murder need to be brought into the bright light of day. Vallow and her husband, doomsday . Assisted by two therapists, she wrote, Creed recently walked the length of the hallway, and he is gaining some movement in his right side. Courtesy Rex and Nicole Persons family 16 of 19 Mason Bailey, 19, lived with family in Richfield before leaving on his LDS mission in July. Photo courtesy of Rex and Nicole Persons family. We're real scared," said Mark Huffaker, a former companion of Ball to Deseret News reporters. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions.2. Elder Eli Jon Fowler, 20, of Pueblo West, Colorado. [Mosiac Down Syndrome is a rare condition that afflicts a small percentage of children with Down Syndrome. [14] Between 1984 and 1989, targets of the LDS Church in Latin America were hit by terrorists sixty-two times. DebbiePA I'm so glad we all left the church. Marla remembers Creeds dedication to football, saying he studied film, attended every workout and did additional workouts on his own. On your preparation day, play sports with other missionaries or visit some of the historical or tourist sites in your mission, as appropriate and directed by your mission leaders. Why Utahs independent bookstore network is thriving, Utah hydrologic outlook warns of rising waterways due to snowmelt as temperatures heat up, Higher densities may be coming soon to your SLC neighborhood, 24-year-old elder serving in his home country of Haiti died, 20-year-old Nigerian serving a mission in his homeland died. Two years ago, she lost her mother. But there is no question that as a companion, Elder Christensen would be, and was, a huge challenge, requiring great patience. "[63] These changes reduced the ratio of North American missionaries to their Latin counterparts to about 30/70. It was the post about James Christensen, the mentally-disabled young man who was killed by his companion while on his mission. Still, the initial diagnosis wasnt good. Dont forget that he or she is a child of God, just like you! Adjusting to any type of change can affect your mental health, including becoming a missionary. 2001, 15. [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. Both of his parents are from Richfield, so both sets of grandparents were from here, said President Thomas. "[31] Another mother expressed of her son, "I just don't know how I'm going to live through the next year if he stays there. Take advantage of companionship inventory. 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. Graffiti on the side of the chapel said "Americans go home. Damn cult! My companion and I would sometimes sit there after a day of teaching to ponder and stargaze. An LDS missionary was killed by a hit-and-run driver as he and a companion walked along a dark section of Connecticut 63 on Friday night, police said. Rhetorical question: How does a Mormon missionary get "called" to serve a mission against the advice of local LDS authorities? But does Mormonism allow that? From what I understand he had a positive influence and impact on those that he served with as well as those that he worked with.. He was still in high school when he put in his mission papers, and so he was part of that wave of young men who first desired to go when they could at 18.. [5], Some assassinations of missionaries are because of anti-Mormon hostility, some are due to political reasons, and some are simply random attacks. [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. Your companion helps you navigate the new culture, learn the area, and talk to members and other people. Mormon missionary Joseph Standing, an an elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), was murdered in Whitfield County in 1879 at the hands of a mob comprising twelve local residents. You were called to serve and help people come unto Christ, and that includes your companion. It's something that happens somewhere else to someone else's kids. Despite such moments, Creed has experienced some setbacks. I took that message from the embassy as a type of blackmail, pressure, and action with respect to my person. [58], Following the assassinations, all missionaries were ordered to remain in their rooms for one full week. But rather than being what you would call "spiritual," he was driven. "Bjelde, who took Christensen to the hospital, reportedly told If they can help their son get well enough to channel the determination he showed in football and school, his parents say, they believe Creeds willpower and abiding faith in God will help him in his battle to heal and recover. I was astounded to hear members of my family essentially holding this dead missionary responsible for his own demise, caused--as they perversely saw it--by his failure to follow local LDS priesthood authority. And people talk about a loving god? They didn't have cars and they didn't have many guns either. Mormon Missionary Murdered by his Companion He could communicate and express himself. I don't understand how this missionary was not prosecuted at all. "[2][27][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26], Other chapels were robbed, and another nearby chapel was nearly bombed. There is probably a lot of personal blame to go around, including some in my own direction. Christenson should have been kept in the mission offices or sent home. A middle finger goes to that god from me. The circumstances of James death were shocking. Not long after, tragedy occurred. Sometimes these challenges can culminate in serious mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression.
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