Utahn among 2 LDS missionaries found dead in Taiwan

Utahn among 2 LDS missionaries found dead in Taiwan

By Amy Joi O'Donoghue

August 23rd, 2014 @ 11:16pm

SPRINGVILLE " In every picture that came to Greg and Cindy Thredgold of their son serving a mission in Taiwan, there was something that stood out.

"Connor just never smiled that big," Greg Thredgold said Saturday. "In every photo he is so happy, and he wrote back how he just loved the people of Taiwan and was just so loved by them. We would just get the pictures and go, 'Look how happy he is. He is truly, genuinely happy to be serving the Lord.'"

Connor Benjamin Thredgold, 19, was one of three LDS missionaries " two of them from Utah " who died this weekend in two separate incidents. His mother said she knows he was where he wanted to be.

"He wanted to do this," she said Saturday at her Springville home. "He wanted to make his family proud. He was truly happy doing what he was doing."

Connor Thredgold, of the Church's Springville Utah West Stake, was found dead in his apartment, along with Elder Yu Peng Xiong, of the Kaohsiung Taiwan West Stake.

Authorities have not yet determined the official cause of their deaths, but Church spokeswoman Jessica Moody said no foul play is suspected. The family declined to answer any questions about potential causes, referring questions to Moody. She said late Saturday the church still had not been able to confirm any cause.

"Elder Xiong, age 24, had been serving as a missionary since March of 2013. Elder Thredgold, age 19, began his mission in March of 2014," Moody said. "We pray for their families and for all those who knew them, and express our love and deepest sympathies at this tragic time."

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Utahn among 2 LDS missionaries found dead in Taiwan