Sister Maria Jose Chavez Garcia. 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

The following statement was released on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, by Sam Penrod, a spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

It is with sadness that we share the news of the death of a young missionary assigned to the Honduras San Pedro Sula West Mission. Sister Maria Jose Chavez Garcia, age 20, passed away on the evening of Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Sister Chavez began feeling ill a few days ago and was admitted to the hospital where she was diagnosed with leukemia. Doctors began emergency treatment, but she suffered complications and passed away.

Sister Chavez was from Cuilapa, Guatemala, and began her missionary service in August 2022.

We send our love and prayers to Sister Chavez’s family and the missionaries of the Honduras San Pedro Sula West Mission as we remember her faithful service. We pray they will each feel the love of the Savior during this difficult time.