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SALT LAKE CITY — Elder Siosiua Andrew Taufa, 20, of Salt Lake City, a missionary serving in the Guatemala Retalhuleu Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died Wednesday after coming into contact with a high-voltage wire atop a building.

LDS Church officials confirmed the death late Friday afternoon, noting that Elder Taufa had been serving as a missionary for 18 months.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Elder Taufa's family and friends during this difficult time," said LDS spokeswoman Ruth Todd.

A source close to the family indicated that Elder Taufa, who was known by friends and family as Josh, was performing an act of service, trying to patch a Guatamalan family's leaky roof in the middle of a rain storm at the time he came in contact with the high-voltage wire.

He was a 2011 graduate of Salt Lake City's Skyline High School.

Funeral services are pending.

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