BOUNTIFUL, Utah — Why a young man in the prime of life — out in the world doing good — would be struck down by an assailant's bullet is "difficult to understand," said President Gordon B. Hinckley on Jan. 10 during the funeral service of Elder Morgan W. Young who was slain while proselyting in Virginia.

Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred/Deseret Morning News

Pallbearers carry casket of Elder Morgan Young following funeral where he was eulogized for his love of preaching the gospel.

"We wonder why these things happen," President Hinckley continued. "But we know the wisdom of God is greater than the wisdom of man and these things happen according to His eternal purposes.

"This is not the end. . . . We go on to a more glorious life than this one."

Hundreds of mourners, including family, friends and former missionaries from the mission, filled the chapel and cultural hall of the Bountiful 31st Ward, Bountiful Utah Stake, where Elder Young would have reported when released from the Virginia Richmond Mission in early March.

He and his companion, Elder Joshua Heidbrink, were tracting door-to-door on the evening of Jan. 2 in the Deep Creek area of Chesapeake, Va., when they were approached by a man who shot them and fled on foot. Chesapeake police believe the missionaries witnessed a crime shortly before.

Fatally wounded, Elder Young died during the night — in the early hours of Jan. 3 — an hour before his parents arrived from Utah.

Elder Heidbrink was struck in the neck, but was able to run to a nearby nursing home to call for help. He has returned home to Greeley, Colo., to recuperate. He attended the funeral with his right arm immobilized beneath his suit coat.

President Hinckley and Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve were among those who spoke.

"I came to convey the love and respect and sympathy and kindness of the entire Church," said President Hinckley. "Whenever a missionary dies, the entire Church grieves."

President Hinckley expressed the hope that Elder Young's parents, Mark and Kathy Young, could derive some comfort in the fact that their son "could not have been engaged in a more worthy service than spreading peace and love. I hope this will sustain you in this tender time of parting," he said.

"I am impressed," continued President Hinckley, "with the thought that Elder Young has joined the ranks of a very select group who stands so very, very high in the estimate of God; martyrs to this cause, those who have given their lives in defense of the truth."

President Hinckley spoke of David W. Patten, who died in a skirmish at the battle of Crooked River, the first to die as a martyr in this dispensation. President Hinckley quoted the revelation given in Doctrine and Covenants 124:130: "David Patten I have taken unto myself."

"I feel the same with Elder Young," President Hinckley said. "The Lord has taken him unto Himself."

President Hinckley cited others who died as martyrs such as Joseph and Hyrum Smith and the approximately 6,000 who died along the trail coming West, and then said, "When you think of the millions who have joined this Church and the few thousands who have laid down their lives in testimony, you must know there is some special place and some special work for them to do.

"I am satisfied, with all my heart, that this is the work in which Elder Young is engaged."

Closing his comments by quoting the Lord's words of peace and comfort from the New Testament, President Hinckley said, "May the memory of your son remain evergreen with you to comfort and sustain. May you walk with pride as a servant of the living God to an unknowing world."

In his comments, Elder Ballard said, "All missionaries are precious. We do all we can to protect them. . . . Serving a mission is still many times safer for a young man than other things he could do."

Elder Ballard called Elder Heidbrink out of the congregation to stand beside him at the lectern. Speaking of his companion, Elder Heidbrink said, "He loved teaching the gospel to all he saw, not just the ones who would talk with him, but to everyone he saw. That's why it took half an hour or an hour to get out of the parking lot."

Elder Ballard related a conversation with President Spencer Kirk of the Virginia Richmond Mission. Elder Young loved his mission so much that after a few months he asked to extend to four years. Awhile later he asked to extend to six years.

"We have the absolute doctrinal assurance that he is teaching the gospel in the great world of the spirits," he said, quoting from Section 138 of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Envisioning Elder Young's new assignment in the eternal worlds, Elder Ballard said, "I would think there would be great excitement when Elder Young showed up on the scene. Can't you see his enthusiasm, his smile?"

Elder Ballard read a portion of Elder Young's last letter to his mission president written 24 hours prior to the incident. "My testimony is increasing daily. Right now, I'm focusing on fulfilling one of my covenants that I made with God, to always remember Jesus Christ," he wrote. He noted how certain challenges and temptations go away "when my mind is focused on the Master," and then wrote, "I love Him and I want to serve Him the best I can. I know that our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, are pleased with me trying and doing my best to obey their commandments and to serve them."

"Every young man," added Elder Ballard, "ought to take advantage of the opportunity to go into the mission field and (undergo) this kind of transformation.

"Your son's testimony was the greatest gift he could have given you," Elder Ballard said, speaking to Elder Young's parents. "Think what he has learned through his obedience and willingness and desire to serve."

Elder Ballard told of a man who contacted the mission home the night of the shooting.

Elder Young had spoken to him that morning. The man called to say how impressed he was with Elder Young. He said there was something about Elder Young that made him listen more intently. There was something about his big smile and happy face that made him feel comfortable. He wanted the Young family to know he had been touched for good because of their son.

"Have no fear," Elder Ballard said, speaking to parents of all missionaries, and to those contemplating missions. "Trust as the parents and family of Elder Young have demonstrated through these difficult days."

This work will continue to roll forward, Elder Ballard said. He quoted Joseph Smith's stirring declaration, saying this work "will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent," until "the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

"He has not said the work is done," continued Elder Ballard.

Elder Young "was on the Savior's errand," said Elder Ballard. "Now he is no stranger to the Savior of the world."

Also participating in the funeral was Brennan Young, a younger brother preparing to serve a mission. He recounted anecdotal moments in their lives that demonstrated Elder Young's wit, humor, capacity to love and excitement for life.

After Morgan received his mission call, Brennan said he noticed his brother walking taller, then spiritually running.

Contrary to news reports that stated Elder Young and his companion happened onto a crime scene by accident and were coincidentally in the wrong place at the wrong time, Brennan said, "they were in the right place at the right time."

Virginia police report finding a handgun they believe was used in the slaying and have charged a 19-year-old male, arrested two days after the shooting, with first-degree murder.

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