Young missionary dies while serving

Elder Mecham had been serving in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission

22 Oct 2026, 3:17 p.m. MDT

Missionaries walk by a bronze sculpture of missionaries on bikes, at the Provo Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. Tom Smart, Deseret News

Ryan Jensen is the editor of Church News.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the death of a missionary on ChurchofJesusChrist.org on Thursday, Oct. 22.

The following information was provided by the Church:

Elder Braxton Blake Mecham, 19, Morgan Utah Stake, died Oct. 17, 2026. Elder Mecham had been serving in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission since July 2026 and was at home temporarily for a medical procedure at the time of his death. Funeral service will be in Morgan, Utah, on Monday, Oct. 26.