Chandler David Hendry, a 27-year-old member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and popular online influencer, died Friday in a car crash in Lehi, Utah. The collision occurred hours after Hendry shared a video on social media discussing the afterlife.
According to reports, Hendry was traveling westbound and ran a red light, colliding with two other vehicles. He was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at a local hospital. No other serious injuries were reported in the incident. Hendry's death came weeks before his second wedding anniversary.
Known online as "Chuck," Hendry had amassed over 70,000 followers across social media platforms. He was also the founder of the Restored Truth podcast, which focused on the belief that God continues to reveal his teachings to humanity. His videos often concluded with the message, "The Restored Truth is that God has never stopped reaching out to humanity. He continues to reveal, guide and pursue a relationship with us today. So remember: Keep your knees on the ground and your eyes toward heaven!"
Hendry's final social media post was a reflection on a presentation about the afterlife given by Anthony Sweat at the FAIR conference, an event addressing questions about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the video, Hendry described an illustration of eternity as a "link of the family unit of God," referencing the doctrine that families can remain together after death.
Before his passing, Hendry had organized an event for young church members preparing for missionary service. This event proceeded on Saturday as a memorial, where relatives shared memories of Hendry. His father, Chad, recounted how his son initially hesitated to speak publicly in high school but embraced public speaking after his first mission in Jackson, Mississippi, citing instructions to "speak in the name of Christ and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ."
Tributes have poured in from fellow church members and influencers. Sarah Clark, a content creator, wrote on X that Hendry "stood firm, and didn’t back down" in his faith. Doltan Williams, founder of the Unashamed Truth platform, stated Hendry "led by example and inspired us all to live our faith more boldly." Hendry's sister, Chaleigh Rowley, remembered him as a supportive brother whose "light here on this earth will be missed."