Apostle visits victims of Grand Blanc chapel tragedy, offers comfort and hope

GRAND BLANC, MI — A senior leader from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visited Grand Blanc, Michigan Tuesday to meet with victims of a violent attack that occurred during Sunday worship services. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles toured the charred remains of the chapel and spent time with those affected by the tragedy. “This is something I will never forget,” Elder Bednar said to KSL TV.  “The pictures and video don’t begin to tell the story of the devastation here.” [gallery ids="826678,826679,826680"] The attack that sent members running for their lives killed four members and left ten injured. Eight with bullet wounds and two with smoke inhalation. Bednar described the scene as “horrific.” “There’s a tremendous immediate reaction of just gut-wrenching," Bednar said. He listened to survivors recount the terrifying moments when a truck crashed through the building, followed by gunfire. “To hear their reactions as they heard the very loud noises, the truck came crashing through the building, a pop, pop, pop of the gunfire,” he said. This marks the first visit by a top church leader from Salt Lake City to the site of the tragedy. Bednar said he felt it was important to be there in person because he said he doesn't think "words are enough." "The Brethren wanted to have one of us come because if we show up, I think that says more about our love for these people and our support than all of the sermons before," he said. "I don’t know if I’ve done any good coming here to be with them, but my coming here, they have blessed me richly.” Bednar also met privately with first responders and victims, later gathering with them at a nearby chapel to offer spiritual support. “The purpose of the Gospel is to strengthen us and help us to become new creatures in Christ and gives us the strength from heaven to be able to deal with these kinds of hard situations and learn the lessons that can be learned,” he said. He shared a message of hope, reminding victims that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, death is not the end. “Some have received personal injuries, some have lost loved ones. The message is really very simple. They have loved ones who may have died, but they're not dead because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ," he said. "Every human being that now lives, ever has or ever will live will be resurrected, and there is hope in that eternal truth.” Police said the investigation remains active and continue to call the incident a targeted act of violence.

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