Elder W. Mark Bassett, a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has passed away at 59 following a traumatic brain injury. He was with his family in St. George, Utah, at the time of the tragic event.
Bassett had been serving as a General Authority Seventy since April 2016 and was in charge of the church's worldwide missionary initiatives during a period of significant expansion.
Under his guidance, the Missionary Department reported record-breaking numbers of young individuals opting to serve, indicating a revitalized passion for the church's outreach efforts.
Just days prior to his death, Bassett gave a devotional at the Provo Missionary Training Center, encouraging missionaries to teach the doctrine of Christ and invite everyone to come and enter the gate to eternal life.
Bassett was born on August 14, 1966, in Carmichael, California, and was raised in a home centered around the gospel. He frequently acknowledged his parents for assisting him in establishing a personal foundation of belief.
Following the announcement of his passing, church leaders, missionaries, and members worldwide honored Bassett's humility, kindness, and commitment to service.
