Deseret News | 2 LDS missionaries hurt in Tahiti crash

Reader comments
2 LDS missionaries hurt in Tahiti crash

Anonymous | 12:45 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Tahiti is French so they won't be bankrupted paying for health care.

Cats | 1:06 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Since the Church has good health insurance on missionaries, there will be no problem paying the bills...and they won't have to wait in line for months getting follow-up care.

Hit and Run | 1:20 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Crazy driving! I'm glad the elders didn't get hurt worse. Good luck with the crutches!

Comments continue below

John | 1:22 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

What if these were missionaries from another religion, what that make headlines here?

RE: John | 1:45 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Newsflash, John...this newspaper is owned by the LDS Church, and the vast majority of its readers are genuinely concerned with the missionaries. You don't see the DNews publishing stories on Florida A&M's football team, because its readers are not concerned. With missionaries, the newspaper appeals to its customers interests, which is what any other newspaper in the country does. If you're looking for "fair" and unreligious news, read the New York TImes.

Biker 100 | 1:46 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Geez John. No, it probably wouldn't make headlines here. But Salt Lake isn't the world headquarters for another religion. Get a grip.

Tim | 1:48 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

"what that make headlines here?" John, you may want to look at you post before posting it. Also, the headline obviously made you want to read it so the headline served its purpose.

RE John | 1:49 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

News Flash! You're reading a news paper that is OWNED by the Church. Stick to another paper if you have a problem with what they concider news worthy

Cosmo | 1:49 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Ok everyone: For those that were interested in reading about the missionaries being injured, in an
LDS publication, and wishing them well, thank you.
For those that simply cannot stand it when any article is written in the same LDS publication; to make you feel better, the missionaries, will be flogged for damaging the paint on the cars, after they have recovered! :-)

Bill Baumgardner Sr. | 1:52 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Hey john, do you have your head in a gunny sack or what? You are talking about a paper in SL City! If it was a paper in Rome & two of the Catholic Church's Priests were hit, do you think it would be headlines in their paper? THINK!

Re: John | 1:53 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Since one of the missionaries is from Orem, the honest answer is 'maybe'. But since they are missionaries from the dominant local religion, it would be interesting to a major portion of the state (read that 'newspaper customers') regardless of where they were from.

hayengirl | 1:59 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Thanks for the support, and I would hardly call this headline news. I am the mother of the missionary from Orem and he has received the best care available anywhere. He will be returning home for 5-6 months to recover before completing his mission. I've been reading a few boards and thank you for not letting this one be as offensive as some have been. And yes we are relieved that nothing worse happened, because the situation could have been a whole lot worse.

hayengirl | 2:03 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

I posted earlier but it didn't show up. I am the mother of the missionary from Orem and I would hardly call this headline news. I have been dealing with it since 3:30 am, Sunday morning. He has received the best treatment available anywhere, but will have to return home 5-6 months to recuperate before completing his mission. We are very grateful that my son and his comp did not have more serious injuries, because there were many ways the outcome of this accident could have happened.

kenny | 2:21 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Two missionaries are hurt while serving in the Lords work,but pick themselves up and continue inspite of it all.Makes for good reading.I know there are many missionaries accross the world who do put themselves in harms way.

Anonymous | 2:22 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Not only is it news here because of the church connection, but it is also news because one of those missionaries is from Orem. Deseret News covers the news for the entire state. If it happened to a missionary from West Virginia, it would appear in some of the newspapers there, a decidely un-Mormon state.
to John:

The newspaper would certainly be thin if it only covered thing non-Mormon and didn't cover anything occurring to Utah residents when they were out of state.

I recently read an article about a Utah resident being killed by a drunk driver while running a race in Nevada. Do you object to Utah newspapers reporting that, too?

Anonymous | 2:30 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Glad to hear a full recovery is expected.

To hayengirl | 2:36 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Please accept our good wishes for the recovery of your son. Those of us anywhere in the mission field are always saddened when something bad happens to a missionary. We who are converts to the LDS church will always be grateful to all missionaries, wherever they may be. We love to feed the missionaries and have them in our home.

kenny | 2:37 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

To Hayengirl: Thanks mom.Behind every great missionary is a GREAT mom.

yes | 3:58 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

as a Christian, a non-Mormon, let me say that my prayers are for the youth to fully recover. God is not a God of pain and hurt.

amanda | 4:25 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Thankgoodness these missionaries are alive, I feel for the moms who gets the phone call.

Fred | 5:09 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

These 2 missionaries are serving in my ward here in Tahiti. We were stunned by the news. The 1st counselor of the mission presidency has told us about the accident @ our stake conference last Sunday. Both are good missionaries.

True | 6:17 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Best prayers and wishes for a speedy recovery. I appreciate the many who serve so faithfully and charitably. Thank you.

MM | 6:18 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Dear Hayengirl: Being a "missionary mom" at the present time, I am so relieved that your son and his companion are OK. Best of luck to you and to your son for a speedy recovery.

to Hayengirl | 6:36 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Ia ora na - Thanks for your post to let us know about your son. My husband served in Tahiti many years ago and it is a wonderful, beautiful place to serve with many devout, loving members. I hope your son gets to return to finish out his mission. Make sure you get to go back with him someday!

Ed | 6:50 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

IA orana
faaitoito to the two Elders.

Christian | 7:55 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

To the mother of the missionary, my son is also in Tahiti on a mission at this time. I'm glad to hear that your son and the other elder are okay. I can't imagine the panic you must have been feeling. It's comforting to know that for the most part,the people of Tahiti love the missionaries and treat them with love. I am amazed and appalled at the negative comments. I rarely read the comments but because of my persosnal connection with this incident I did. For those of you who have such a bitter attitude towards the lds community I suggest moving or just quit reading the deseret news. AT the least, go and find happiness somewhere you sound very unhappy. TEll your missionary we are thinking of him.

KMS | 9:09 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Wish the two missionaries a speedy recovery. My son is on the tailend of a broken leg (a soccer injury) but none-the-less, it has been 8 weeks full of surgery, wearing a cast, using crutches, and having physical therapy. Full recoveries still take time but keep your spirits up and continue doing the work of the Lord as best you can!

Leonard | 6:20 p.m. Oct. 14, 2009

I went 2 visit the 2 Elders this afternoon @ the hospital. They are doing good.They both going home for recovering. The Tahitian is leaving on Monday for Bora Bora and the American in about 2 weeks for Orem, UT. He's been in the fiels for 7 months and 4 months in his first area (Tiarei and Hitiaa). The police is still investigating. But don't worry they will find him. Tahiti is an island. There's nowhere to hide indefinitely.

JAYEG | 12:27 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

Fearing the worst for these two young men upon seeing the headline, I am relieved that their injuries were not life threatening. My prayers go out for them as they recover from their injuries, and to their families who, no doubt, had the poodgies scared out of them when they were contacted.

Re: Leonard...is the young man from Orem going to return to Tahiti to complete his mission term after his injuries are completely healed? Or will he serve out the term in Utah?

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