The recent assault of Latter-day Saint missionaries in Mexico by armed robbers has left at least some families feeling afraid for their safety.
On Nov. 12, a routine gathering of 70 missionaries in the Mexico Torreón Mission turned violent when two gunmen invaded a church meetinghouse, robbing and beating some of the proselytizers and attacking their leaders. All of the missionaries have since been removed from the area.
This crime isn’t the first time that missionaries have faced perilous encounters while preaching.
In August 2020, two female missionaries were stabbed after an intruder broke into their Houston apartment. Both survived the attack.
In 2018, former missionaries Maddy Cicotte and Camille Junca described being brutally assaulted while on their missions.
In 2013, two female missionaries were beaten in Kosovo.
The church has recently taken additional steps to improve missionary safety. Last year, the Utah-based faith unveiled a 12-part video series known as “The SafetyZone” to introduce measures that could help protect missionaries.
The Salt Lake Tribune wants to hear from former missionaries. Did you ever feel unsafe on your missions? If so, did you feel the church responded adequately?
Tell us your thoughts in the survey below: