In front of the Care for Life Learning Center with Elder and Sister Harmon -
Southeast African Area Welfare Agents, Elder and Sister Roberts -
Country Welfare Agents for Mozambique, and Blair & Cindy
Posted on 06/01/2009 7:10:03 AM PDT by restornu
A group of armed robbers attacked the LDS Church's Elder Russell M. Nelson, his wife and four others during a dinner in a Mozambique home Friday evening.
Nelson, 84, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was visiting Maputo, Mozambique, for a church assignment when the assault happened, said LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter.
Nelson and his wife, Wendy Watson Nelson, were dining at the home of Mozambique Maputo Mission President Blair Packard, along with William and Shanna Parmley, of the Africa Southeast Area Presidency, Trotter said.
Robbers entered the home and assaulted the group. Trotter said Packard's wife, Cindy, suffered a broken arm during the attack.
Detailed information about others injured was not available Saturday, but Trotter said others "suffered some superficial injuries, mainly cuts and bruises."
He said it's not clear what was taken from the home during the robbery. Maputo police are investigating the incident.
One of Nelson's daughters, Brenda Miles, of Bountiful, said Nelson's family has been notified that he is OK. Miles said Saturday evening she hadn't had a chance to speak with her father about the robbery.
"We've talked to his secretary and he's fine and that's all we know," she said.
Another daughter, Rosalie Ringwood, of Salt Lake City, said her father passed a message through the secretary to his family asking them "not to worry."
Nelson and his wife will "continue their assignment over the weekend as planned," Trotter said. Nelson was in the African nation for the weekend to visit with missionaries and to attend church meetings. He is expected to return to the U.S. on Monday.
Nelson was ordained as an apostle in 1984. He has a bachelor of arts and medical degrees from the University of Utah and also received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. He is an accomplished surgeon and medical researcher, according to www.lds.org.
His wife was a professor of marriage and family therapy at Brigham Young University before she retired in 2006. She has authored several books, according to www.lds.org. The couple married in 2006.
Nelson's first wife, Dantzel White Nelson, died in 2005. At the time of her death, they shared 10 children, 56 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, according to www.lds.org.
CTR
LDS Church’s Elder Russell Nelson, wife robbed in Mozambique
Deseret News
Published: 2009-05-31 00:33:15
Elder Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve and his wife, Wendy, were among church leaders robbed by armed assailants Friday evening in the Mozambique Maputo Mission home.
On a church assignment in Mozambique, Elder and Sister Nelson were having dinner with Elder William W. Parmley, of the Quorums of the Seventy and the church’s Africa Southeast Presidency, and his wife, Shanna Lee, and mission President Blair J. Packard and his wife, Precinda, said LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter.
“We don’t have complete information yet, but we understand Sister Packard’s arm was broken,” said Trotter. “In addition, she and others suffered some superficial injuries, mainly cuts and bruises.”
Elder and Sister Nelson will continue their assignment over the weekend as planned, he added.
Local authorities are investigating the matter.
The LDS Church was legally recognized in Mozambique, a southeastern Africa nation, in 1996, with the first branch created in the capital city of Maputo. Missionaries arrived in 1999.
The Mozambique Maputo Mission was created on Jan. 1, 2005, the church’s 339th mission.
We’ll keep them all in our prayers.
“Elder Russell M. Nelson of the LDS Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife were attacked Friday evening while on a church assignment in Mozambique.
The Nelsons were having dinner with William W. Parmley of the church’s Africa Southeast Area Presidency and his wife in the home of Blair J. Packard, president of the church’s Mozambique Maputo Mission. According to a statement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spokesman Scott Trotter, armed assailants entered the home and robbed them. Packard’s wife’s arm was broken and others suffered some superficial injuries such as cuts and bruises.
During the attack, the assailants reportedly took the mission president’s Rolex watch and a cell phone, and Nelson was reportedly kicked in the face. The day after the attack, the Nelsons reportedly attended a stake conference meeting in the area as they had planned...............”
http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/article_fd2193f6-9850-53e1-af13-12cc9998c9f6.html
Elder Nelson was reportedly kicked in the face, he is 84 years old!
The day after the attack, the Nelsons reportedly attended a stake conference meeting in the area as they had planned
(What would I do without the Daily Herald???)
Thanks for the link.
:o]
Bad things happening to good people. It is the way of the world unfortunately.
That is why we are exhorted to
... be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
“Nelson and his wife will ‘continue their assignment over the weekend as planned,’ Trotter said.”
Thank goodness it wasn’t worse. Great examples of dedication!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.