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Senior LDS missionary is killed in lawn mower crash

Accident took place at church historic site.

(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Senior missionary Brent Blackburn — with his wife, Carolyn — was killed in a lawn mower accident.

A senior missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was killed Saturday after the riding lawn mower he was operating overturned.

Brent Blackburn, 68, from the faith’s Helper Stake in Utah, had been serving with his wife, Carolyn, at the church’s Adam-ondi-Ahman historic site in Missouri since April.

Blackburn was operating the mower on a side hill when it rolled, church spokesperson Sam Penrod said in a Monday news release. He died on the grounds near Gallatin.

“Our condolences and prayers are with Sister Blackburn and their family at this difficult time,” Penrod said. “We pray that all who are affected by this will feel the peace and comfort of our loving Heavenly Father as they honor the life and faithful service of Elder Blackburn.”

In 1835, church founder Joseph Smith identified Adam-ondi-Ahman as the place where the biblical Adam blessed his posterity after he and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden.

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