Elder David A. Bednar and Susan Bednar visited the survivors of the shooting at Grand Blanc, Michigan to provide comfort and share a message of hope on Tuesday, Sept. 30.
On Sunday, Sept. 28, a former Marine drove a truck into a chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, set fire to the building and started shooting, killing four and injuring eight.
The shooter, Thomas Jacob Sanford, was shot by police at the scene.
Elder David A. Bednar and his wife, Susan, visited the survivors on Tuesday to provide comfort and share a message of hope.
According to the Church Newsroom, Elder Bednar acknowledged members’ reactions to this act of violence, which occurred just hours after the passing of President Russell M. Nelson.
“In the midst of this horrible event, what I have seen are faithful Latter-day Saints following the admonition of President Nelson to be peacemakers in how they respond to this episode and how they support and serve each other,” he said.
Elder Bednar said he did not recognize any feelings of bitterness or resentment in the members he visited.
In a video released by the Church Newsroom, Bishop Jeffrey Schaub of the Grand Blanc Ward expressed feeling the love, prayers and support of others. He said his family received letters and gifts from friends of different faiths.
“It was very humbling to see how much good there is in the world today, and that above all, we are all children of the same Father in Heaven,” he said.
Bishop Schaub said members of the ward were shaken “in spirit and in body.” In the midst of the hurt, he shared his belief in the power of Jesus Christ’s healing.
“I know that through our Savior, Jesus Christ, we can find joy again. I know that with His help, there can be healing,” he said.
Multiple GoFundMe donations were started in support of victims’ families.
David Butler, a Latter-day Saint author, started a GiveSendGo donation for the shooter’s wife and children. More than $200,000 has been donated to the fund.
In the GiveSendGo description, Butler explained that the Sanford family tried to raise money in the past for one of their sons who has serious medical challenges. The loss from this week’s events would be an additional burden for the family to carry.
“One of the families that suffered a terrible loss on that day was the family of Thomas Jacob Sanford, the shooter,” Butler’s description said. “Sanford leaves behind a wife and children who must be grieving. They will face financial hardship and psychological trauma as a result of this week’s horrifying events.”
According to the Associated Press, Lisa Louis looked into Sanford’s eyes after he had shot her father, and she forgave him in her heart.
Louis’s sister shared a picture on Facebook of a note Louis wrote to their family, which related her experience.
“Fear breeds anger, anger breeds hate, hate breeds suffering,” the letter said. “If we can stop the hate, we can stop the suffering. But stopping the hate takes all of us.”
