Cover image via the Church Newsroom.

Seventy full-time missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were robbed by two gunmen, and the mission president and his wife, were assaulted at a multi-zone conference meeting in Torreón, Mexico, Friday, November 12, 2021. All are safe.

According to Church spokesman, Sam Penrod, the two men, armed with guns, entered the meeting house where 13 sisters and 57 elders were meeting and demanded cell phones, tablets and wallets. Some of the missionaries were hit or kicked to intimidate them and the mission president, Alfredo Zanudo, and his wife, Guadalupe Zanudo were threatened with a knife.

The press release from the Church noted, “Local police were immediately called after the men fled the scene and no one needed additional medical care. A Church counselor is traveling from Mexico City to assist with emotional needs, and other counseling options are also being made available. Parents are being contacted by the Church and missionaries are being encouraged to contact their families.

“Missionaries have been removed from the area where the incident occurred and instructed to be extra cautious. A Church security officer is in Torreón to evaluate the situation.

“Our prayers are with these missionaries and their families as they recover from the frightening and traumatic experience,” President Zanudo wrote to the missionaries’ parents on Facebook. “We know that this has been a very scary and emotional time for your missionary and is alarming to you. Many of the missionaries lost their electronic devices and may not be able to respond immediately to your messages, however, we are asking them to communicate with you so that you can know how they are doing. … We hope that you can offer them reassurance and listen to their concerns.

“We are grateful that our Heavenly Father was watching over us today and ask that the Spirit will help to comfort all of us as we recover from this upsetting incident. We love your faithful sons and daughters who are serving their Lord with all of their heart, might, mind and strength and our prayers are always with them.”

At this point, no further information is available on the gun men.