‘Their resolve is remarkable’: Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visits Michigan

GRAND BLANC, Michigan (ABC4) — Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visited the victims of the deadly Church shooting in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

Four Latter-day Saints are dead, and several others sustained injuries, after a man identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, drove through the front doors of the church, fired an assault rifle at hundreds of people gathered inside, and deliberately started the building on fire on Sept. 28, the same day the Church Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson passed away.

According to a church press release, Elder Bednar visited the remains of the destroyed chapel on Tuesday afternoon. “This is no easy task to see beyond the immediate separation, the injury, the anguish — even the separation through death.”

Elder Bednar said he spoke to the people about Jesus Christ, with the hope that God would give each of them a message of comfort that transcended any of his own words. “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.

Church leaders also visited members recovering in local hospitals from injuries sustained during the attack.

What we know so far

On Sept. 28, Police say an enraged Thomas Sanford plowed his pickup truck into the church, began shooting, and set the building ablaze, ultimately killing four people and wounding eight more.

New details reveal that while Sanford was in Utah, he was dating a woman who was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he wanted to learn more about the faith. After the two experienced a breakup, friends said that Sanford moved back to Michigan in 2010 after spending a couple of years in Utah. When he came back, they said he struggled with meth, which affected his mind.

No motive has yet been identified in the deadly shooting and fire on Sunday. The FBI is still investigating the incident.

Dallin H. Oaks, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said Monday that the tragedy is a reminder of “our sacred responsibilities as followers of Jesus Christ.” Elder Bednar promised continued prayer for these Latter-day Saints and the larger Grand Blanc community.