Faith, forgiveness urged at funeral services for Mormon missionaries killed in Texas accident

KEARNS — Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints told some 600 mourners gathered at the Kearns Utah Stake Center Monday that Elder Trevor R. Strong "has been transferred — he is still a missionary."

Elder Strong was one of two LDS missionaries killed in a traffic accident last Tuesday in Donna, Texas. Funeral services for Elder Derek Jason Walker were held later in the day Monday in Fairfield, Idaho.

Elder Nelson said that Elder Strong "was dutifully and completely on his errand from the Lord. He was a missionary in the loftiest sense of the word."

For Elder Strong, missionary work continues on the other side of the veil, Elder Nelson said. Still, the Lord understands the pain of those mourning the loss of Elder Strong. "Our tears testify of our love for this wonderful, exemplary elder," Elder Nelson said. "Your Redeemer knows exactly how you feel."

Although Elder Strong was killed a week after he was originally scheduled to return home from his mission, Elder Nelson urged the Strong family to "not torture yourself with 'what if' questions."

"To get through this," he said, "we need to couple forgiveness with faith … be faithful … live our religion … and one day you will see Trevor as he is: a brother, a saint, and a son of the living God."

Elder Don R. Clarke of the Seventy read a letter from the First Presidency of the church to the Strong family, which indicated that "our hearts go out to you in sympathy and love ... Our missionaries are so loved by the entire church that the loss of one affects us all deeply."

The funeral service also featured a chorus of 60 returned missionaries from the Texas McAllen Mission singing "Called to Serve," and remarks from all six of Elder Strong's brothers and sisters.

"People have very kindly and compassionately expressed their love and sympathy to us about our loss," said Davis J. Strong, Elder Strong's eldest brother. "I have to assume they mean 'delay.' Because of our Heavenly Father's plan, we haven't lost anything. It will be just a little while longer before we see Trevor again. But we know where he is, and what he is doing."