From Deseret News archives:

LDS missionary dies in England

Published: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 8:07 p.m. MDT
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A Farmington woman collapsed while jogging and died Saturday near Birmingham, England, where she was serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Sister Lindsey Spjute, 23, "loved life as she loved people and had a work ethic that didn't quit," said Richard McKenna, Spjute's LDS stake president in Farmington. "She was an incredibly fun-loving, energetic person. This young lady had a depth of character that goes far beyond her age."

An autopsy could not determine the cause of death, according to a statement from the LDS Church. Spjute's family was grieving but remained strong even through the uncertainty surrounding the woman's death, McKenna said.

"Clearly they're mourning her loss," McKenna said. "They recognize the emptiness and the loneliness and the concern. But they're also solid in their belief that there is life after this life."

Just hours after her death, Spjute's family received a call from the woman's mission president in England. He called Spjute "the perfect missionary," McKenna said.

"They could not identify the cause of death, but the family is at peace with that," he said. "They believe God's hand was involved in this. She extended her mission."

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Spjute attended Brigham Young University-Idaho and later Utah State University, where she planned to complete her schooling in special education when she returned from her mission.

"She was well into her schooling when she decided she had to go on her mission," McKenna said. "The family takes great comfort in that. She was doing exactly what she wanted to do, exactly what she knew she needed to be doing."


E-mail: afalk@desnews.com

Recent comments

Lindsey spjute was my cousin, so don't talk about her or about this...

Heidi Spjute | Feb. 27, 2009 at 2:54 p.m.

My son has just started his mission in the Birmingham field in...

Irene Sullivan | Oct. 11, 2008 at 12:09 p.m.

I live in the Greater Phoenix area and I have a son serving in the...

AlphaFemale | May 23, 2008 at 12:34 p.m.

Image
Spjute Family Photo

Lindsey Spjute

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