RELIGIOUS FREEDOM | SEPTEMBER 28, 2025

STAND Denounces Michigan Church Shooting as an Act of Religious Violence, Affirms Solidarity with Latter-day Saints

On Sunday morning, a mass shooting unfolded at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, when a 40-year-old man drove his vehicle through the church’s front doors and opened fire on hundreds of worshippers inside. That same attacker is reported to have set the building ablaze immediately afterward.

At least four people were confirmed dead, while authorities warn more victims may be found in the ruins. The suspect was killed in an exchange of gunfire with responding officers.

STAND League denounced the violence and expressed its solidarity with the Latter-day Saints community. “Our hearts go out to Latter-day Saints everywhere—we stand with you. Every individual deserves the right to practice their religion in safety, in freedom and in peace. This appalling act of violence is an affront to all people of faith and all people of goodwill, who must together stand up and say: Enough is enough. The anti-religious hate and violence must stop.”

“Confronting this hatred requires a united response from people of all faiths, which is why we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Latter-day Saints community.”

STAND, the leading global coalition exposing bigotry and championing religious freedom worldwide, pointed to recent attacks on houses of worship as “the tragic consequence of unchecked hate speech and the normalization of religious discrimination.”

“Hate and misinformation can erupt into violent attacks, as we have seen too many times,” STAND continued. “A woman, fueled by anti-Scientology propaganda and bigotry, rammed her car into our Austin Church—citing the founder of the Aftermath anti-religious hate group, Leah Remini, as her ‘inspiration.’

“We also witnessed—as recently as the last several weeks—how Aftermath president Claire Headley turned her attacks toward Latter-day Saints. Confronting this hatred requires a united response from people of all faiths, which is why we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Latter-day Saints community.”

Officials—including Michigan’s governor and federal law enforcement agencies—have condemned the violence and are assisting in the ongoing investigation.

“My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community. Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable,” Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement. “We will continue to monitor this situation and hold the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc close.”

“I am receiving briefings about what appears to be a horrific shooting and fire at an LDS church in Grand Blanc, Michigan,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi in a post on X. “Such violence at a place of worship is heartbreaking and chilling.”

“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of prayers and concern from so many people around the world,” the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wrote in a statement on its newsroom. “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.”

STAND League is the leading global coalition exposing bigotry and championing religious freedom worldwide. Through education, advocacy and partnership, STAND promotes religious literacy, demands corporate accountability, advances honest journalism and safeguards equality, justice and human rights for all.

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