Mormonism and Mercy: Takeaways from LDS Response to Hate Crime

On September 28, 2025, a peaceful morning of worship in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, turned into a scene of horror and tragedy. A gunman, later identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, rammed his truck through the entrance of a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as Mormonism), opened fire on congregants, and set the building ablaze. Four worshippers lost their lives, and eight more were wounded. 

In the wake of this deeply shocking and targeted act of violence, the Latter-day Saint community’s response has been marked not by bitterness, but by Christlike love, mercy, and strength. Their example offers powerful lessons to members of their faith and to the wider world about what it means to be peacemakers, giving a definitive answer to the question: are Mormons Christian?

A Targeted Act of Hate

Investigations by the FBI confirmed what many feared: the massacre was a targeted attack rooted in anti-Mormon animosity. Friends and acquaintances of Sanford say he harbored a longstanding grudge against the Church, including calling Latter-day Saints “the antichrist.” (KUTV) 

An attack against a congregation during worship is a brutal violation of both people’s physical safety and the sanctity of a place of spiritual refuge. The assailant’s actions threatened not just lives, but the very sense of security that places of worship are meant to provide.

Bereaved but Not Broken: A Faithful Response

In the days following the tragedy, church leaders and congregants refused to let hatred define their response, showing what Mormonism explained looks like through example.

In an official statement, the Church confirmed its communication with law enforcement as the investigation continued and expressed sorrow for the tragedy. Local Church leaders have drawn on the words of late Church President Russell M. Nelson, reminding Latter-day Saints that “anger never persuades, hostility builds no one, contention never leads to inspired solutions.” (Church News)

Apostle David A. Bednar, during a pastoral visit to Grand Blanc, commended the inspiring faithfulness of the members, even amid destruction and grief. He expressed confidence that through prayer, the influence of the Holy Spirit, and their foundation in Jesus Christ, survivors would find strength to remain “firm and steadfast and true.”

Acts of Mercy: Forgiveness in Action

Perhaps one of the most striking demonstrations of Christlike mercy came in the unexpected but deeply meaningful outpouring of financial support from the Mormon people not only for the victims’ families, but also for the gunman’s family. One Latter-day Saint raised more than $300,000 to help the Sanfords, extending compassion in a moment when many would have recoiled in revenge. (CBS News)

This was not a decision made lightly. In calling for forgiveness, leaders reminded congregants and the public that peacemaking is not weakness—it is a strength born from faith. In doing so, they embodied the teachings of Christ, who instructed his followers to love even their enemies, and pray for those who persecute them.

Practical Mercy: Healing the Wounded Soul

Beyond words and gestures, the LDS Church mobilized its emotional and spiritual care infrastructure to help those most deeply affected. In collaboration with professional counselors, the church deployed Psychological First Aid, an evidence-informed crisis intervention designed to reduce trauma’s immediate impact and help people cope. 

The Church’s Family Services also make available longer-term resources: self-reliance courses, emotional resilience training, and guides for ministering to individuals in crisis. Leaders have emphasized that recovery is not just about rebuilding what is a Mormon chapel, but about tending to wounds of the soul.

Community Solidarity

The response in Grand Blanc rippled beyond the walls of the chapel. Neighbors, congregations of other faiths, and civic leaders came together in solidarity. Community members offered meals to the affected families, held vigils, and prayed in unison. Even as the physical Latter-day Saint chapel lay in charred ruin, the spirit of reconciliation was alive.

Lessons in Mercy

The response of Mormon people to this hate crime offers enduring lessons for all:

1. Love wins over hate. When targeted for practicing their religious beliefs, the Latter-day Saints responded with compassion, not retaliation.
   
2. Forgiveness isn’t easy, but it’s possible. The Latter-day Saints’ willingness to support the shooter’s family, even in grief, speaks volumes about the power of faith-driven mercy.
   
3. Faith matters. Members of the Church grounded their response in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the prophets, allowing their beliefs to shape their healing in a tangible, practical way.
   
4. Service is powerful. From financial support to counseling, the church mobilized practical help immediately and sustainably. Support from the larger community in Michigan also contributed to an environment of human love without regard to differences in belief.
   
5. Strength under pressure. Even amid trauma, the Latter-day Saint community showed resilience, refusing to succumb to hatred, calling for unity, and rebuilding hope.

A Future of Hope

In the ashes of the Grand Blanc meetinghouse, the Latter-day Saints bore witness to a transcendent kind of love. Their actions are a reminder that mercy is not passive: it requires courage, conviction, and a willingness to forgive, even when it hurts.

They have not denied the darkness of what happened, but their response shines as a beacon in a frightening world of hate. For the broader world, Mormonism offers a powerful counter-narrative to cycles of vengeance: when evil strikes, kindness can answer. When violence tries to divide, love can unite.

In a time of heartbreak, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc showed what it means to be peacemakers in a broken world. Their merciful response offers a hopeful reminder: even in tragedy, we can choose light.

About Mormonism Explained

Mormonism Explained is a resource that was designed to provide objective and factual information about Mormonism, its history, doctrines, and policies. Our team of researchers consults experts and primary sources to present factual information on a variety of topics relevant to the Mormon Church.

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