Latter-Day Saints in Mexico Protest Kidnappings

Published on July 01, 2009 at 05:19PM

(CHIHUAHUA, Mexico)—Thousands of people are expected to protest a recent spate of kidnappings, while demanding their government do more to stop them from happening. Among the protesters are numerous members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who are fed up with the kidnappings. The kidnappings have united all religionists as in May, members of the LDS community joined members of a fundamentalist community and the Mennonites to protest the kidnappings of a 16-year old kidnapped from Colonia LeBaron who was later released unharmed. In June, former LDS temple president Meredith Romney was abducted and later released for a ransom. Wednesday’s demonstrations came as Chihuahua’s governor is expected to unveil anti-kidnapping squads as an effort to stem the violence affecting the border region. Latter-Day Saint Karyn Longhurst said local church leaders have reached out to Mexican government officials and a Church spokesman declined comment on the issue.