Today's Deseret News reads, "Two LDS Church missionaries were killed while riding their bikes in this southeast Texas town [of Donna] Tuesday, and a third was critically injured in the same apparent hit-and-run accident" ("Two LDS missionaries killed in Texas", Deseret News, Wednesday 9 November 2011, A1"). The Elders who were killed were Elder Trevor Reinhold Strong of Taylorsville, Utah, and Elder Derek Jason Walker of Fairfield, Idaho. The third Elder in the group, Elder ZacharyTodd Harris of Huntsville, Alabama, was taken to a nearby hospital where he is expected to have a full recovery.
The families of the slain Elders Trevor Strong and Derek Walker need not mourn, for as the Prophet hath said, "If you are called to lay down your lives, die like men . . . Should you have to walk right into danger and the jaws of death, fear no evil; Jesus Christ has died before you" ("Declaration of the Twelve, circa 1844", LDS Archives, www.josephsmith.net). Even the Lord stated the most important things anyone could ever be doing in this life. Saith He, "And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen" (D&C 15:6).
The Mormon Eagle expresses its condolences to the family of the slain Elders, and declares that all will be made well. President Joseph Smith, Jun. taught, "Those who have died in Jesus Christ may expect to enter into all that fruition of joy when they come forth, which they possessed or anticipated here. . . . All your losses will be made up to you in the resurrection, provided you continue faithful. By the vision of the Almighty I have seen it" (History of the Church, 5:361–62).
I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and through Him all things consist, have a meaning, and the true purposes and missions of the children of men are fulfilled. Search the scriptures, the words of the Prophets and Apostles, and pray unto God continually for comfort at the time of mourning. The Spirit of the Lord will whisper and answer those strained prayers, questions, and desires the body has not power to express. May the families of the slain Elders find consolation through this essay. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
The families of the slain Elders Trevor Strong and Derek Walker need not mourn, for as the Prophet hath said, "If you are called to lay down your lives, die like men . . . Should you have to walk right into danger and the jaws of death, fear no evil; Jesus Christ has died before you" ("Declaration of the Twelve, circa 1844", LDS Archives, www.josephsmith.net). Even the Lord stated the most important things anyone could ever be doing in this life. Saith He, "And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen" (D&C 15:6).
The Mormon Eagle expresses its condolences to the family of the slain Elders, and declares that all will be made well. President Joseph Smith, Jun. taught, "Those who have died in Jesus Christ may expect to enter into all that fruition of joy when they come forth, which they possessed or anticipated here. . . . All your losses will be made up to you in the resurrection, provided you continue faithful. By the vision of the Almighty I have seen it" (History of the Church, 5:361–62).
I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and through Him all things consist, have a meaning, and the true purposes and missions of the children of men are fulfilled. Search the scriptures, the words of the Prophets and Apostles, and pray unto God continually for comfort at the time of mourning. The Spirit of the Lord will whisper and answer those strained prayers, questions, and desires the body has not power to express. May the families of the slain Elders find consolation through this essay. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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