Zone Conference in Torreón assaulted

[Subcomandante]

This came out of the Church News section; apparently two armed robbers entered into a stake center where a multi-zone conference was being held, with 70 missionaries and the Mission President and wife present.

They demanded their electronic devices and wallets and some of the missionaries were hit and kicked, though no medical care was needed.

https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2 ... nce-233019

This has no precedents in Mexico; though Torreón (as well as several of the northern cities) is a very restive area.

[JK4Woods]

Good grief..!
At first I thought it was the Torrejon in Spain (where my brother and his family live).

But then saw it was in Mexico, and that raises a huge red flag.

If this sets a precedent that easily identifiable LDS missionaries can become targets, what will that do to the cadre of highly visible missionaries in the field..??

It will be very interesting what HQ does, what policies are enacted. Even what kind of follow up facts come forth.

Subcomandante, perhaps you can keep us abreast of developments regarding this incident.

I am sure Salt Lake will sweep it under the rug, so as to minimize its impact.

But Mexican papers might continue reporting for awhile.

[TrueFaith]

So what is the problem? Oaks says the members need to get used to losing their freedom in some countries.

[Thinker]

I imagine that shook up many missionaries & their families… by intent?
Mexican mafia interviewed suggested they get “sponsored” by people in the US. And religion is being used as a weapon of influence - toward 1-world-government & religion.

”There will have to be a godly cease-fire, a temporary truce where the absolute exclusive claims of each religion will be honored but an agreed-upon neutrality will be exercised in terms of proselytizing, condemning, murdering or dominating.  These will not be tolerated in the United Religions zone.”
—Bishop William Swing, United Religions Initiative president, New York, August 2000

[tribrac]

It will be very interesting what HQ does, what policies are enacted. Even what kind of follow up facts come forth.

Probably announce:

"Although people have a fundamental right to worship including a right to assemble, sometimes we need to give up our religious rights for the good and health of the community particularly when it involves members of communitires that have historically been labeled 'bad' by insensitive people who were not following the scriptural admonition that "all are alike unto God".

We encourage missionaries to participate in shared cultural experiences with groups and individuals who are exercising their free expression in ways that have historically been excluded from the accepted societal norms.

As we build bridges and expand our circles of love we invite other revolutuonary groups to participate in our meetings and introduce our members to a broad range of diverse experiences."

[4Joshua8]

It will be very interesting what HQ does, what policies are enacted. Even what kind of follow up facts come forth.

Probably announce:

"Although people have a fundamental right to worship including a right to assemble, sometimes we need to give up our religious rights for the good and health of the community particularly when it involves members of communitires that have historically been labeled 'bad' by insensitive people who were not following the scriptural admonition that "all are alike unto God".

We encourage missionaries to participate in shared cultural experiences with groups and individuals who are exercising their free expression in ways that have historically been excluded from the accepted societal norms.

As we build bridges and expand our circles of love we invite other revolutuonary groups to participate in our meetings and introduce our members to a broad range of diverse experiences."

lol

[h_p]

So what is the problem? Oaks says the members need to get used to losing their freedom in some countries.

Absolutely. Good thing nobody fought back and threatened the safety of those robbers. And the robbery most certainly benefited their welfare. Double win! The PTSD the missionaries have to go through in the aftermath is but a small price to pay.

[Subcomandante]

Good grief..!
At first I thought it was the Torrejon in Spain (where my brother and his family live).

But then saw it was in Mexico, and that raises a huge red flag.

If this sets a precedent that easily identifiable LDS missionaries can become targets, what will that do to the cadre of highly visible missionaries in the field..??

It will be very interesting what HQ does, what policies are enacted. Even what kind of follow up facts come forth.

Subcomandante, perhaps you can keep us abreast of developments regarding this incident.

I am sure Salt Lake will sweep it under the rug, so as to minimize its impact.

But Mexican papers might continue reporting for awhile.

It's in the local papers there, pretty much the same headline and article but in Spanish. They added that a person in charge of facilities security in Mexico is analyzing the situation.

Maybe they will have to lock all the accesses after the meetings begin. We did that for a few months after a cartel threatened some members in our ward some years back.

[Subcomandante]

El Sol de Torreón (another paper there) had this to report:

The First Delegation of Laguna of Coahuila Fiscal Authority (another way of referring to a police department) confirmed the assault against 70 missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in the Ampliación Los Ángeles (name of the neighborhood, a Google Maps SS will follow below).

According to witnesses, on Friday afternoon during a conference, two armed men came in demanding their belongings.

They were also beat up and after the criminals took everything they fled the scene.

Maurilio Ochoa Rivera, the head of the department, informed that the suspects had crossed over to Gomez Palacio (a neighboring city to Torreon, located in Durango state).

They were also doing investigations there. In the afternoon, movement was detected in one of the stolen debit cards and assistance was sought with HSBC to obtain images given that he had gone to an ATM to remove money.

13 sisters and 57 elders were affected.

The report from the Directorate of Municipal Security indicated that the call for help happened at 12:29 local time.

"Two men have entered with small arms."

[Subcomandante]

Here is the chapel that was affected. Right next door to the Mission Offices for Torreón.

And very close to the Navas River which divides Torreón from Gomez Palacio.