Robber Holds Gun to Apostle’s Head and Pulls the Trigger

The following statement was printed in the Deseret News on May 30, 2009

Statement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

Elder and Sister Russell M. Nelson were on a church assignment in Mozambique, where they were accompanied by Elder William W. and Sister Parmley of the Africa Southeast Area Presidency and President Blair J. and Sister Packard, mission president of the Mozambique Maputo Mission.

On Friday evening they were having dinner together in the mission president’s home when armed assailants entered the home and robbed them. We don’t have complete information yet, but we understand that Sister Packard’s arm was broken. In addition, she and others suffered some superficial injuries, mainly cuts and bruises.

Elder and Sister Nelson will continue their assignment over the weekend as planned. Local authorities are investigating the matter.

The Rest of the Story

A few days ago (about 2010), I learned that Elder Nelson recently spoke at a regional conference in Utah county and related more details about the robbery. Elder Nelson spoke about angels and how they watch over us. Elder Nelson then applied his teachings about angels to what happened during the robbery. He said that when the robber held the gun to his head and pulled the trigger the gun didn’t discharge.

 I would say this experience is an important part of church history. I decided to look into it further and contacted someone who is close to Elder Nelson and they verified the account.

Update: In Elder Nelson newest book, Accomplishing the Impossible, on page 25, he provides more details about what happened at the mission home.

He begins his account with the following scripture. “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up (3 Nephi 28:30).

“My wife Wendy and I are the beneficiaries of that promise. On one occasion, we were attacked by armed men with malicious intent. They announced their purpose: to kidnap her, and to kill me. After they maliciously molested us in those evil objectives, they became totally foiled. A gun to my head failed to fire. And my wife was suddenly released from their hideous grasp. Then they disappeared as quickly as they had appeared.”

Update Oct. 2024. Since this post was written a new book provides additional details. I added this because thousands of people have come to this post since President Nelson spoke about it in Oct. 2024 General Conference.

From “Insights From A Prophet’s Life” by Sherri Dew published in 2019, beginning on page 255 we learn more about what happened.

“In all the mayhem, one robber went directly to Elder Nelson, put a gun to his head, announced that they were going to kill him and kidnap his wife, and then pulled the trigger. The gun made a clicking noise but didn’t fire. The misfire infuriated the robber, who then backed up a couple of steps, got a run at Elder Nelson to use the full force and strength of his leg, and kicked Elder Nelson to the floor where he lay almost lifeless, though his mind was spinning. He was certain he was about to die. ‘I thought myself, ‘I am going to pass out of this life and into the next, and this is going to be a very interesting experience’, Elder Nelson remembered, ‘most interesting of all is that I was calm.’…I honestly don’t remember even feeling it when they knocked me to the ground. And the misfire on the gun, well, that had to be angels watching over us. Both Wendy and I know there were angels there to help us.

Sister Nelson could see the print of the boot on her husband’s face, and she immediately began to attend to him. But by the next morning, he didn’t look any the worse for wear.”

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