Russel M. Nelson and his second wife, Wendy, were involved in an altercation in Mozambique, Africa while visiting the mission home in 2009. The mission home is alarmingly robbed by assailants. When first reported there is nothing involving criminals targeting church leaders. The only injuries mentioned in the reports were the Mission President’s wife having a broken arm and others having minor cuts and bruises. The couple continued their tour of the mission and held their scheduled meetings and even attended a stake conference meeting.
Years later, the story is embellished and now involves attempted murder, a gun that miraculously wouldn’t fire on President Nelson, attempted kidnapping of Sister Nelson, as well as angelic intervention!
The Initial Story
News reports at the time reported on the incident as one would expect. The story comes out and over the next few days a couple more details are learned and shared as part of the story. These stories are reported in real news but also in the church-owned news. Here are a few news stories with the main details bolded.
Armed assailants attacked and robbed a Latter-day Saint Apostle, his wife and two other couples in the African nation of Mozambique. Elder Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Wendy, were on a Church assignment when the incident happened.
According to Church spokesman Scott Trotter, the wife of the mission president, Blair Packard, suffered a broken arm. She and others also have cuts and bruises.
An official Church Statement says: “On Friday evening they were having dinner together in the mission president’s home when armed assailants entered the home and robbed them. We don’t have complete information yet, but we understand that Sister Packard’s arm was broken. In addition, she and others suffered some superficial injuries, mainly cuts and bruises. Elder and Sister Nelson will continue their assignment over the weekend as planned.“
KSL: LDS Church Apostle, his wife and 2 other couples attacked in Mozambique, May 30, 2009
https://www.ksl.com/article/6660347
According to a statement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spokesman Scott Trotter, armed assailants entered the home and robbed them. Packard’s wife’s arm was broken and others suffered some superficial injuries such as cuts and bruises.
During the attack, the assailants reportedly took the mission president’s Rolex watch and a cell phone, and Nelson was reportedly kicked in the face. The day after the attack, the Nelsons reportedly attended a stake conference meeting in the area as they had planned.
Trotter said the church doesn’t have complete information yet and that local authorities are looking into the incident. But he said the Nelsons will continue their assignment over the weekend as planned.
Daily Herald, Sunday, May 31, 2009. LDS leaders attacked in Africa
https://web.archive.org/web/20090605155116/https://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/article_fd2193f6-9850-53e1-af13-12cc9998c9f6.html
As Latter-day Saint Apostle Elder Russell M. Nelson is shaking off a weekend attack and robbery by armed gunmen in Mozambique, he’s telling missionaries “this type of thing happens all over the world.”
During the attack, the mission president’s wife suffered a broken arm; others have cuts and bruises. KSL has now learned details of the incident from an e-mail that the mission president sent to the families of missionaries serving in the area.
President Blair and Sister Cindy Packard are assuring family and friends of about 70 missionaries that they feel what happened in the mission home in Maputo, Mozambique was “an isolated armed robbery” and that they will be “reviewing all security and safety procedures”
Elder Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Wendy, were on Church assignment in that African nation, having dinner with the area president, his wife and the Packards the incident happened.
In a statement, the Packards said, “Four armed gunmen overpowered our one guard … We were threatened verbally and physically. Cindy was roughed up but finally did get away to warn other guards and neighbors who came to our assistance. She suffered a fracture in her left elbow … other bruises and skinned knees. Elder Nelson was accosted as well but is fine with minimal injury.”
The Packards also wrote that they feel, “Elder and Sister Nelson were not specifically targeted or that this was any act against the Church. Some have speculated that our guards were involved. They were not.”
After the incident, Elder and Sister Nelson held meetings with all of the missionaries. The Packards describe them as wonderful, spiritual experiences.
KSL: Mission president and wife describe weekend attack and robbery, June 1st, 2009.
https://web.archive.org/web/20090605152607/https://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6679683
As the details of the story come out they show a few key points. Here are the consistent details gathered from each report:
- Four armed assailants enter the home by overcoming a single guard and threaten those present.
- Elder Russell M Nelson and his wife Wendy.
- Mission President Blair J Packard (Mozambique Maputo Mission) and his wife Cindy.
- William W. Parmley of the church’s Africa Southeast Area Presidency and his wife.
- The Mission President’s wife, Cindy Packer suffered a broken arm (fractured elbow).
- The others suffered some superficial injuries such as cuts and bruises.
- Elder and Sister Nelson were not specifically targeted.
- However, one report does mention Nelson reportedly received a kick to the face.
- The assailants stole the Mission President’s Rolex watch and cell phone.
- The Nelsons will continue their assignment over the weekend as planned.
The Story Grows
Wendy Nelson shared her own version of the story at Time Out for Women later in the same year. Her story differs in that she specifically notes that these armed robbers’ only intention was to harm her husband and take her hostage. Other than this fairly minor dramatic embellishment, the story seems to remain the same. She does extensively credit Cindy Packard, the mission president’s wife, as a hero. She details how she was able to alert everyone and even though she received a broken arm, her alert summoned help bringing the situation to a close. Sister Nelson then elaborates on the “attempted robbery and abduction” and uses it as a teaching moment comparing these assailants to “the adversary” who “saunters” into our homes. This was inspiring enough that it made its way into an article in LDS Living:
The wife of Elder Russell M. Nelson said she felt a comforting peace that helped her remain calm during an attack by armed robbers last spring.
Sister Wendy Watson Nelson described the experience Friday during a speech to 3,300 women at the Time Out for Women event in Salt Lake City. The robbery occurred in May at an LDS mission home in Mozambique.
“The four armed robbers had one intention,” Sister Nelson said, “to (harm) my husband and to take me hostage.”
Sister Nelson said she and her husband, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were on a church assignment in the African country. She described finishing taco salads with Mozambique Maputo Mission President Blair Packard and his wife and two other couples when a man suddenly walked into the mission home.
“I expected the president to greet him like a friend, but he stood by the door, and instead, the mission president’s wife — who I call a hero — said, ‘This is a robbery!'”
After she informed her guests of the situation, Cindy Packard, the mission president’s wife, ran outside to shout, “Robber! Robber!” in Portuguese. She was the only one in the group who could speak the language well, Sister Nelson said, and her efforts summoned help and “brought the hideous situation to a close.”
Cindy Packard, however, suffered a broken arm during the attack. Others in the group suffered some superficial injuries, mainly cuts and bruises.
Sister Nelson said the attempted robbery and abduction was a sobering experience that confirms that “life is a spook alley,” but she said she takes comfort in the scripture that advises the righteous to “fear not what man can do.”
Her account of the attack helped illustrate several points. She said the first of the four armed men didn’t barge into the home, but casually entered almost unnoticed, exactly like the adversary does.
Unbeknownst to those inside eating dinner, the intruders overcame the unarmed guard outside the mission home, she said. They then watched Elder Nelson and the others through the windows of the mission home, waiting for the right moment to attack.
“The adversary knows your whereabouts,” Sister Nelson said. “The robbers didn’t barge in, they just sauntered right on in exactly like the adversary. It struck me as well that we, therefore, as women need to be hypervigilant about what’s coming into our home, on the Internet, the computer and the TV.”
Apostle’s wife felt comfort despite attack, Nov 15, 2009.
https://www.deseret.com/2009/11/15/20352883/apostle-s-wife-felt-comfort-despite-attack
This is the first time the assailants are referenced as abductors. Understandably, Sister Nelson was terrified in the event, and we can likely excuse the embellishment as the event was traumatic. She felt her life was in danger facing armed assailants as they took a watch and cell phone.
The Tale Gets Even Taller
President Nelson furthers the embellishment when he published a book in 2015 called Accomplishing the Impossible: What God Does, What We Can Do with Deseret Book. This book is mainly regurgitated talks he’s given at conferences, but it’s a nice way to monetize and earn some extra on the side of his General Authority living allowance stipends. He retells this same story in his book though, and this version has even more claims to share.
In this retelling, we learn that the assailants announce their purpose when coming in: they are there to kidnap Wendy and kill then Elder Nelson. This aligns with the addition Wendy shared at Time Out For Women that the assailant’s purpose was to do them harm. But this does not at all match what the Mission President who was present or the official reports at the time which specifically state the Nelsons were not targeted. Nelson states in his book that they were “maliciously molested” but then the assailants became “totally foiled”. He states for the first time that a gun to his head failed to fire in the incident. He continues by saying they then “disappeared as quickly as they had appeared”. He credits angels for protecting them. His story doesn’t mention the others present or the injuries they received. Sorry Sister Packer, with Sister Nelson you were hailed as a hero, but from President Nelson, your heroism and broken arm are replaced with a gun to his head in his version of the story.
My wife Wendy and I are the beneficiaries of that promise. On one occasion, we were attacked by armed men with malicious intent. They announced their purpose: to kidnap her, and to kill me. After they maliciously molested us in those evil objectives, they became totally foiled. A gun to my head failed to fire. And my wife was suddenly released from their hideous grasp. Then they disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. We were mercifully rescued from potential disaster. We know we were protected by angels round about us. Yes, the Lord’s precious promise had been invoked in our behalf.
LDSLiving, April 02, 2018: When Angels Saved President Russell M. Nelson’s Life (+What We Know About Heavenly Messengers): quoting from his book, Accomplishing the Impossible: What God Does, What We Can Do, President Russell M. Nelson shares a powerful personal experience with angels.
http://www.ldsliving.com/When-Angels-Saved-President-Russell-M-Nelson-s-Life-What-We-Know-About-Heavenly-Messengers/s/80645
This embellishment feels oddly Mormon though, right? This is reminiscent of Joseph Smith’s storytelling regarding the first vision, or receiving the priesthood. With the first vision, a decade later he begins to share the story. As he tells the story some major details are added. We can reasonably expect that these major details would have been included in the first place had they been true. How could Joseph’s first accounts not include the point that he saw God the Father and His Son? At the time he believed them to be the same, so the idea that they both appeared to him would have been very remarkable. Similarly, these first reports of the robbery in Mozambique only one mentions any infraction with Russell Nelson, he is reportedly kicked in the head and the others only mention he may have received minor scratches or bruises, and the mission president specifically stated afterward that “Elder and Sister Nelson were not specifically targeted.” The hero of the story is Cindy Packard who alerts everyone with her shouting and she receives a broken arm. But later, when he retells the story, Nelson has a gun to his head and the trigger is pulled, but the gun does not fire. They are saved by angels though as the assailants leave as quickly as they arrive and conveniently there is no mention of the mission president or her wife.
Just like Joseph Smith’s first vision story, this tale grows considerably over time. We can see that the purpose of this dramatic retelling is to promote faith, rather than share an accurate account of what truly happened.
Later, in the October 2024 General Conference, Nelson reiterates this latest addition to the story:
I have learned that the most crucial question we each must answer is this: To whom or to what will I give my life?
My decision to follow Jesus Christ is the most important decision I have ever made. During medical school, I gained a testimony of the Divinity of God, the Father, and his son Jesus Christ.
Since then, our Savior has been the Rock upon which I have built my life. That choice has made all the difference. That decision has made so many other decisions easier. That decision has given me purpose and direction. It has also helped me weather the storms of life.
Let me share two examples. First, when my wife Dantzel unexpectedly passed away. I could not reach any of our children. There I was. Alone. Devastated. Crying out for help. Gratefully through his Spirit, the Lord has taught me why my dear Dantzel has been taken home. With that understanding, I was comforted. Over time, I was better able to cope with my grief.
Later, I married my beloved wife, Wendy. She was a central part of my second example. When Wendy and I were on an assignment, in a distant land, armed robbers put a gun to my head, and pulled the trigger, but the gun didn’t fire.
Throughout that experience, both of our lives were threatened. Yet Wendy and I felt an undeniable peace. It was the peace which passeth all understanding. Brothers and sisters, the Lord will comfort you, too. He will strengthen you. He will bless you with peace, even amidst chaos.
President Russell M. Nelson, October 2024 General Conference
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/10/sunday-afternoon-session
He starts the story with his grief when his first wife, Dantzel passes away. He is devastated but finds solace in understanding through the spirit why his wife was taken from him. He visibly brightens, and happily states that later (which is to say, a mere 14 months later) he marries his second “beloved wife,” as a segue to his next example of how his choice to follow Jesus made his life easier. He references what must be the same story, though he only refers to Mozambique as a “distant land,” and states that “armed robbers put a gun to [his] head, and pulled the trigger, but the gun didn’t fire.” He uses this miraculous example in passing to praise himself and his second wife Wendy for the peace they felt and promises that the Lord will bless us all with peace, even amidst chaos.
If you want more embellished stories from President Nelson, check out his plane incident when the engine allegedly exploded and he remains calm! In the meantime, consider joining the “I was a Mormon” movement and create a profile on wasmormon.org. Tell your own Mormon story in your own words.
More Reading:
- https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comments/9hmfny/nelsons_ever_changing_story_2009_version_robbery/
- https://www.ldsaliveinchrist.com/robber-holds-gun-to-apostles-head-and-pulls-the-trigger/
- https://www.ksl.com/article/6660347
- https://web.archive.org/web/20090605155116/https://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/article_fd2193f6-9850-53e1-af13-12cc9998c9f6.html
- https://web.archive.org/web/20090605152607/https://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6679683
- https://www.deseret.com/2009/11/15/20352883/apostle-s-wife-felt-comfort-despite-attack
- http://www.ldsliving.com/When-Angels-Saved-President-Russell-M-Nelson-s-Life-What-We-Know-About-Heavenly-Messengers/s/80645
- https://www.amazon.com/Accomplishing-Impossible-What-God-Does/dp/1629721255?tag=circubstu-20
- https://radiofreemormon.org/2019/06/radio-free-mormon-072-the-miracle-making-of-president-nelson/
- https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/nelson
- Russell Nelson Embellishing Stories Again – Exploding Engines and Free Fall Death Spirals
Clearly the author of the piece has never been the victim of an extremely violent crime such as the home invasion described in the attack. As someone who has been and has responded to such incidents later in life as an emergency responder, the idea that the story “evolves” over time or gains new and expanded details as the trauma recedes and the victims have time to further consider the events of the time are not surprising. Trauma response experts will tell you, that in fact, such developmental recalls are normal and expected.
The author of the piece straight up insinuates that the Nelsons are lying, without any evidence at all to support such a contention. They do not cite a single emergency responder or other eyewitness account anyway contradicts this account. It is base character assassination and transparently obvious at that.
The author of the piece also ignores the many legitimate reasons that the full details of the attack might not have been revealed at the time, including suppressed trauma response, political considerations to not embarrass the host nation who would have been made to look back in light of the details of such an attack on a prominent person happening in a major city of their country, a desire for personal privacy and even a desire to not cause faithful members of the church distress at the thought of such an incident.
My bias, of course, is obvious but then, unlike the author of the piece I don’t make the pretension of trying to pretend to an objectivism they clearly don’t embrace.
I joined the Church in 1979 and later was inactive and aggressively so. I held much of the same animosity and hostility your site is full of so I’ve seen the “story” from both sides. Eventually, the spirit led me back and I feel a sadness that your desire to tear down things important to others has become a driving force in your lives. How sad that you can not find satisfaction without such personal and dark destructiveness.
I sincerely hope that neither of the author of this piece nor anybody who reads it nodding their head in agreement ever has an experience like the Nelsons describe And comes to realize how mistaken they actually are.
Clearly the author of this comment didn’t read the article. Thanks for coming to share your opinions, but please read the article before trying to summarize what it contains.
The article quotes multiple church news sources and eyewitnesses to the incident, and none state that there was a gun that failed to fire at Nelson’s head or that this was an attempted kidnapping. In fact, they all stated that the Nelsons continued their assignment over the weekend as planned, and that Elder and Sister Nelson were not specifically targeted. One even stated that Nelson was kicked in the face, but that’s a far cry from a gun trigger being pulled but being saved by God by a faulty gun.
While I don’t wish anyone with an experience like this, I do hope that anyone that does experience something like it, can refrain from embellishing the story to increase their own standing. This is a pattern we see from Russell M. Nelson, we’re simply documenting them here.
We are not insinuating that the Nelson’s are lying, we are calling them out point blank for embellishing and exaggerating stories for dramatic effect and to promote faith in their listeners. They somehow do not understand that basing testimony on false statements does not lead to sound testimonies, but no surprise there, that’s the standard operating procedure for church history since the beginning.