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SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Monday it will pull its remaining missionaries out of Nicaragua because of political instability in the country.
The decision comes less than two weeks after it pulled 169 missionaries out of the country.
"In light of continued violence and deteriorating conditions in Nicaragua, the church has decided to transfer the remaining 158 missionaries out of that country," LDS Church spokesman Daniel Woodruff said. "Those missionaries are being moved to temporary assignments in North America, South America, the Caribbean and New Zealand. Most of these missionaries have already left the country."
Woodruff said other missionaries who haven't left yet "are in a safe location and will arrive at their new assignments in the next several days."
Woodruff added the Nicaragua Managua South Mission president has returned home along with his "young family." Mark Steven Brown and Lisa Marie Derrick Brown, of Bountiful, were called to the mission in 2016, according to LDS.org.
The couple also has four children, according to their bio on the church article.
The Nicaragua Managua North Mission president and his companion will stay in Nicaragua "for the time being to take care of some ecclesiastical responsibilities over local church members."
"The Church will continue to monitor developments in Nicaragua and make a decision in the future regarding the eventual return of missionaries," Woodruff added. "In the meantime, we pray for peace and stability for all who live there during this uncertain time."
