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ALBUQUERQUE — Two missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were apparently held captive and assaulted last week by a man they were trying to teach.

Elders Michael Whitaker and Mark Delgado didn't suffer any serious injuries, but the two told police they felt like they were in real danger when Erwin Smith wouldn't let them leave his apartment. They said Smith, 29, was physically violent with them for about three hours, until they were able to escape.

On Friday, the two missionaries shared their experience with KOAT-TV, a CNN affiliate in Albuquerque.

Whitaker and Delgado said they met Smith at a bus stop on Feb. 10 and offered to help him move. A police report obtained by KOAT-TV shows when the missionaries stopped by Smith's apartment complex off of Montgomery Boulevard NE that night, Smith began making suicidal statements and drinking alcohol.

Detectives said the missionaries tried to console Smith and started showing him an LDS Church video. That's when Smith allegedly began punching, kicking and elbowing them.

At one point, police documents say Smith got a knife and made stabbing motions toward the back of the missionaries' heads as if he was going to stab them. According to documents, Smith also told the men, "I'm going to kill you guys and hide your bodies in the bathtub."

It's the nature of the work. Sometimes, yeah, it doesn't turn out pleasant, but in all honesty it's those people that we're trying to help the most. –Elder Michael Whitaker, LDS missionary

"The Spirit really comforted us," Whitaker told KOAT-TV. "Really, what we did at that point was just try to calm him down and tried to understand him."

Eventually, the missionaries made a break for the front door.

"We saw him go into the kitchen to get the knife again, (and) we went to the front door and walked out," Delgado said.

Fortunately, an Albuquerque police officer was in the area investigating a stolen vehicle report. Whitaker and Delgado flagged him down, and the officer eventually arrested Smith at his apartment.

LDS Church spokesman Eric Hawkins issued this response to the incident: "We are grateful these two missionaries did not sustain any serious injury during this incident. Missionary safety is a top priority, and thankfully, such incidents are very rare."

Smith now faces charges of kidnapping and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

As for Whitaker and Delgado, they declined any medical treatment at the scene. In fact, they continued on with their missionary service as usual the next day.

Whitaker said the situation only strengthened his calling.

"It's the nature of the work," he said. "Sometimes, yeah, it doesn't turn out pleasant, but in all honesty it's those people that we're trying to help the most."

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