In an outpouring of support, people in the south Texas communities of Weslaco and McAllen attended a memorial service honoring two Mormon missionaries. Elder Trevor Reinholds Strong, of Taylorsville, Utah, and Elder Derek Jason Walker, of Fairfield, Idaho, were remembered at the service Sunday, 20 November.
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“Many people in the community have encouraged that a memorial service be held for the two missionaries,” said Stephen J. Trayner, president of the Texas McAllen Mission. “We hope that through this service we can offer the peace and comfort that comes through the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
The memorial originated at a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Weslaco, Texas. The service was also broadcast to Church meetinghouses in neighboring McAllen, Texas to accommodate all of those who attended. Church leader Elder J. Romeo Villarreal of the Seventy presided at the service.
Elder Strong and Elder Walker were killed and a third missionary was injured in a tragic accident while riding their bikes in Donna, Texas Tuesday, 8 November.
Funeral services were held earlier this week in the missionaries’ hometowns.
Church statement regarding missionary deaths in Texas released 9 November