19-year-old LDS missionary dies from ‘sudden medical emergency’

A 19-year-old missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has died from what is believed to be a “sudden medical emergency,” the Utah-based faith said Sunday.

Mack Jared Chappell of Sugar City, Idaho, had been serving in the New Jersey Morristown Mission since July 2023 when he “became unresponsive” Saturday morning, church spokesperson Sam Penrod wrote in an email. “Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.”

Penrod said the cause of death is “yet to be determined.”

Chappell’s death was the first publicly reported death of a full-time Latter-day Saint missionary this year.

“Our prayers are with Elder Chappell’s family, friends and fellow missionaries during this difficult time,” Penrod said. “May they each find solace and comfort in the Savior and his gospel as they remember this faithful missionary.”

In 2023, seven Latter-day Saint missionaries were known to have died while filling volunteer proselytizing assignments for the church.