The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released the following press release.
CITY OF SALT LAKE On Saturday, a minibus carrying leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and young women, aged 12 to 17, was involved in a three-vehicle collision while its route to an event in Maseru, Lesotho.
Ten Latter-day Saints from the Maputsoe congregation in Northern Lesotho were among the ten people killed when the vehicles caught fire. There were over twelve and a half more injured.
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According to Area Seventy and regional leader Elder Siyabonga Mkhize, Church members are supporting the people and families affected by the terrible disaster.
Although it has been a trying time, Mkhize believes that their strength, faith, and, of course, the healing that some people are already receiving as a result of Jesus Christ’s atonement, inspire us.
On Sunday, June 22, members of parliament joined Church national communication director for Lesotho, Nelly Makatleho Moorosi, at the Maputsoe congregation.
We had family members present on Sunday, and naturally, as members who knew the fatalities, it was a very somber time. According to Moorosi, we were like brothers and sisters to them.
To those of us who have been impacted by this, two speakers delivered somber yet consoling speeches. The spirit won out in a really (tender-hearted) moment. Even two members of parliament expressed their spiritual views to the congregation.
Elder Mkhize stressed the tremendous outpouring of sorrow and solidarity.
According to Mkhize, the Queen and the prime minister sent condolence letters and offered their assistance to everyone impacted, and the Lesotho government has also been very supportive.
In addition to coordinating care for the injured in close collaboration with the Government of Lesotho, the Church is offering spiritual, emotional, and temporary help to people affected by this disaster. “We are also providing logistical support to enable families to visit their loved ones who are presently in the hospital,” Elder Mkhize added.
“Our faith points us to seek peace in Jesus Christ as we strive to minister to these families in their time of need,” Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Elder Ronald A. Rasband wrote in a social media post over the weekend.
