Shooting at church in Grand Blanc Michigan. Pray

[Devobah]

1 hour ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

American flags? Sounds like somebody that might've drunk Mark Driscoll's kool-aid about the Church somehow being responsible for Charlie Kirk's assassination. 😡

Wait where did Mark Driscoll say that?

[Calm]

One more victim is in critical condition, the rest are stable.

Lots of pictures, mostly of emergency services…I suggesting using the “Reader” view to avoid all the ads

https://www.freep.com/picture-gallery/news/local/michigan/2025/09/28/shooting-fire-at-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-in-grand-blanc/86407096007/

Edited September 28, 2025 by Calm

[ZealouslyStriving]

13 minutes ago, Devobah said:

Wait where did Mark Driscoll say that?

Starting about 3:50

 

[Devobah]

57 minutes ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

Starting about 3:50

 

Oh great. That's just great. I see Mark didn't do any other research outside of the fact that the guy was on the records of the Church.

[Pyreaux]

3 hours ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

American flags? Sounds like somebody that might've drunk Mark Driscoll's kool-aid about the Church somehow being responsible for Charlie Kirk's assassination. 😡

I fear that most, I just hope it's plain old anti-Mormon hate, not some misguided fool thinking he's avenging Kirk.

There was a "Columbine Shooting"-Level planned attack. And I read about 8 were shot including children, 2 of the 8 are dead (I'm not sure if they are repeating the old number counting the shooter), there could be as many as 20-30 people under the burning rubble.

Edited September 28, 2025 by Pyreaux

[InCognitus]

The church has posted a "Statement on Violence at a Chapel in Grand Blanc, Michigan" in the church newsroom site.

“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of prayers and concern from so many people around the world. In moments of sorrow and uncertainty, we find strength and comfort through our faith in Jesus Christ. Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”

I noticed that the U.S. president in his statement about the incident called us Christian.  At least he got that right.  I'm wondering if that will cause any backlash for him.

[ZealouslyStriving]

1 hour ago, InCognitus said:

I'm wondering if that will cause any backlash for him.

It already has for Jewish commentator M.A Rothman:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1G7HTzLSQr/

I normally don't comment much on Trump's posts and just copy them here for those who don't see his social media account, but I did want to say something about some of the comments I've seen regarding Mormons - mostly coming from other so-called Christians.

 

I'm a Jew, I don't have a dog in this fight between Christian sects, but the idiocy I'm seeing aimed toward Mormons/LDS is just retarded.

 

You guys are in effect on the same team, and I know the LDS folk have historically been burned (figuratively and literally) by non-LDS, but they aren't anyone's problem other than a bunch of butt-hurt folks who think they aren't worshipping right.

 

We all have a common enemy in radical Islam and none of you are being endangered by some folks who worship differently under the LDS banner, so stop being idiots and looking for fights where none are needed. It's just dumb, and some of you guys are acting like Leftists when you're doing this.

 

Some of you might not have a clue what I'm talking about, but I've blocked at least 20 different accounts responsible for hundreds of comments on this topic, and I'm just annoyed about it. You guys are brothers and sisters in Christ, act like it. It shouldn't require a Jew such as myself to say that.

 

Anyway, I'm saying this more because I know Trump's message below is gonna trigger a bunch of you crazy people... 

 

Act like you're civilized and not like the radical idiots who are the enemy...

 

𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: Looking at the comments I realize you guys can't help yourself, can you? I'll note that it's the so-called Christians that aren't LDS who are attacking, and the LDS wondering what the heck is going on that they deserve to be denigrated. All the while, the Muslims are laughing at all of you. Congrats on that.

 

 

Edited September 29, 2025 by ZealouslyStriving

[Emily]

9 minutes ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

It already has for Jewish commentator M.A Rothman:

That's a shame but I'm not surprised. Exclusionist ideologies rarely stop at excluding just one group, and people with that mindset are always seeing differences to justify their hatred instead of looking for common ground. I wonder if Rothmann understands his lumping of all Islamic practitioners into one "enemy" basket isn't any different from the behavior he's complaining about? 

The discussion should be about what we can do to reduce the violent rhetoric in social media and increase access to mental healthcare (we are going in the opposite direction, making it more difficult and more expensive to receive mental health treatment in a time period when it's needed more than ever) so that people who are mentally ill aren't triggered into these kind of actions. 

That and praying for comfort for the victims. 

 

[ZealouslyStriving]

2 additional victims found inside the Stake Center.

[ZealouslyStriving]

Multiple bomb threats throughout the area being investigated.

[Tacenda]

I'm heart sick about this. 😪

I watched the CBS News Sunday Morning show this morning and it had the brother of the Unabomber on it and he is the one that turned the bomber in. One of the bombings' victims is now very good friends with the brother of the Unabomber. It did my heart good to see what was able to be born out of the terrible situation of the bombings. I hope some good can come out of all these horrible shootings we've had lately.

 

[Calm]

Off topic, but just a note to be careful with AI….

The AI headline on my google was “Church fire in Michigan leaves multiple casualties”. Think it’s missed the point.

[Calm]

2 hours ago, Emily said:

wonder if Rothmann understands his lumping of all Islamic practitioners into one "enemy" basket isn't any different from the behavior he's complaining about? 

He did identify “radical Islam” first, but then just used “Muslims” at the end, so my response was the same as yours.

 The mote (or chip if you prefer) and beam advice seems particularly applicable lately.  If only we had built in alarms when we messed up ourselves what we criticize in others.

[Calm]

2 hours ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

2 additional victims found inside the Stake Center.

And possibly more to come.

This will be a sad conference.  I anticipate uplifting talks reminding us of God’s heavenly promises for family and friends and an emphasis on peacemaking and finding peace in God.

Edited September 29, 2025 by Calm

[Chum]

1 hour ago, Calm said:

Off topic, but just a note to be careful with AI….

The AI headline on my google was “Church fire in Michigan leaves multiple casualties”. Think it’s missed the point.

Offer topic. EQ sent an email letting me know my ward was split today. Except the dividing line is a road that doesn't exist; no idea what ward I'm in. Also the building is still 45min away so meh.  I'm pretty sure the ward has never been split in it's long history. Overall, it's been a very Churchy day. 

Edited September 29, 2025 by Chum

[Chum]

A church member from the adjacent ward posted about it on FB. I was able to read it w/o being logged into FB. She indicated the two wards were intertwined and she was providing some after-action support for the victims. 

Quote

My family are safe and alive, but traumatized. Someone attacked our Stake Center (next church building closest to us, and full of friends and family members of our ward members). It was a hate crime, and people were shot and killed during sacrament meeting. The building was burned down. People escaped to hide in the woods. I held a woman who couldn't find her husband, escorted her to her car and asked the police to let her out so she could go to the hospital once they located him, praying he was still alive. I held my seminary kid while they sobbed because Grandma was shot...

 

[Calm]

9 minutes ago, Chum said:

Also the building is still 45min away so meh.

Move to Utah….

[Chum]

1 minute ago, Calm said:

Move to Utah….

I'll need jobs for 5 first. Also a stack of cash to burn for moving expenses. A barebones interstate move was more than $10k a few years back.

[bsjkki]

My friends and family are in mourning for those lost. So much heartbreak. 

The textiles on the walls help spread the fire quickly. 

[bsjkki]

I’ve lived this dichotomy with evangelical Christian’s my entire life. I really enjoyed the music and talk of Christ at Charlie Kirk’s funeral. We would love allies but so many fear us and our doctrine. 
 

Even before the shooting, there were posts pleading with those to be kind after President Nelson’s death. Be decent. Not a time for doctrinal disputes. 
 

Then the shooting and it continued. I love and appreciate my evangelical/LDS roots but wish more wanted to be friends. 

Edited September 29, 2025 by bsjkki

[The Nehor]

3 hours ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

It already has for Jewish commentator M.A Rothman:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1G7HTzLSQr/

I normally don't comment much on Trump's posts and just copy them here for those who don't see his social media account, but I did want to say something about some of the comments I've seen regarding Mormons - mostly coming from other so-called Christians.

 

I'm a Jew, I don't have a dog in this fight between Christian sects, but the idiocy I'm seeing aimed toward Mormons/LDS is just retarded.

 

You guys are in effect on the same team, and I know the LDS folk have historically been burned (figuratively and literally) by non-LDS, but they aren't anyone's problem other than a bunch of butt-hurt folks who think they aren't worshipping right.

 

We all have a common enemy in radical Islam and none of you are being endangered by some folks who worship differently under the LDS banner, so stop being idiots and looking for fights where none are needed. It's just dumb, and some of you guys are acting like Leftists when you're doing this.

 

Some of you might not have a clue what I'm talking about, but I've blocked at least 20 different accounts responsible for hundreds of comments on this topic, and I'm just annoyed about it. You guys are brothers and sisters in Christ, act like it. It shouldn't require a Jew such as myself to say that.

 

Anyway, I'm saying this more because I know Trump's message below is gonna trigger a bunch of you crazy people... 

 

Act like you're civilized and not like the radical idiots who are the enemy...

 

𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: Looking at the comments I realize you guys can't help yourself, can you? I'll note that it's the so-called Christians that aren't LDS who are attacking, and the LDS wondering what the heck is going on that they deserve to be denigrated. All the while, the Muslims are laughing at all of you. Congrats on that.

I don’t like this guy. His main complaint is that people are hating the wrong religion. The bigotry is justified but it just needs to be aimed at the right target? Really?

[bsjkki]

2nd counselor is the one in critical. He needs prayers. Needs multiple surgeries. 

[Chum]

3 minutes ago, bsjkki said:

I love and appreciate by evangelical/LDS roots but wish more wanted to be friends. 

I thought my Evangelical, Baptist, etc backgrounds would help me form relationships but nope. Established friends wound up being counseled away by their pastors. I was universally dismissed and hung up on, trying to do community things. Accepted gifts were refused when they sussed out I was LDS. 

I think the problem is similar to rural inter-family feuds where mistrust is taught from parent to child. Except with born-agains, it's taught from theology to pastor to congregation. The difference being that fueders know what they're about. I've found countless Christians who are in full denial they're demonizing us even while they demonize us ("I love you but you're evil and are going to hell because God hates what you are [Smile!]". The disconnection and lack of awareness is psychologically striking. 

[JAHS]

Before and after.

[Chum]

27 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

The bigotry is justified but it just needs to be aimed at the right target? Really?

Johnny Lee Clary is the poster child retargeted bigotry. He was a KKK grand dragon who was converted to Christianity by a very patient black pastor. After his conversion he was held up as an example of a change in heart.  

Twenty years ago I heard his conversion story and tuned into his sermonizing - where I learned all he changed was his target.  Before he attacked African Americans. After he directed that same animosity toward us, toward Jehovah Witnesses, toward Muslims, etc.  Although when Mitt Romney was running against Obama and Bill Keller (then the reigning king of religious bigotry) was in full steam against Church members, JLC sorta backhandedly came to our defense to help the Republican cause. 

Edited September 29, 2025 by Chum