The recent, horrific attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Grand Blanc, Michigan, stunned the nation — even in an era when mass shootings have become heartbreakingly common in America. As with every tragedy, we search for a reason: Why would anyone hate so deeply as to kill?
In this case, the violence stemmed from a troubled man with a gun, blaming the LDS Church for a personal heartbreak. Yet, this act unfolded against a long, complicated backdrop — one that reveals the fraught history between the Latter-day Saints and their neighbors.
A History Written in Conflict and Change
During the 19th century, the U.S. Army fought battles against the Mormon militia; Christians, outraged by LDS polygamy, murdered Mormons — and the LDS retaliated with massacres of their own.
Even 40 years ago, many Christians dismissed the Saints as a “cult” or a “heresy.”
But religions, like people, evolve. The LDS Church abandoned polygamy in 1890 and gradually became one of America’s most organized and widespread faiths. Today, it stands as the largest homegrown religion in the United States, with millions of members across the world.
Yet, deep theological differences persist between the LDS and mainstream Christianity — but these are no justification for hate.
The Roots of Religious Difference
When Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he claimed to restore the original faith — implying that Christianity had gone astray and needed renewal.
To this day, the LDS view cooperation or marriage with Catholics, Protestants, or Orthodox Christians as interfaith or multifaith efforts, while referring to all non-LDS individuals as gentiles.
Some LDS beliefs can appear unusual to outsiders:
- The Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants are part of their Scripture.
- God, according to LDS belief, has a wife — a Heavenly Mother.
- Joseph Smith, Jr. is revered as the Prophet of the Restoration.
- Smith “corrected” the Bible using divine inspiration.
- Members can perform proxy baptisms to help deceased relatives enter heaven.
- The LDS Church sees itself as the one true church, declaring all other baptisms invalid.
Many Christians are bothered, even offended, by these teachings; many Saints, in turn, find it hurtful when their Christian identity is denied. Such tensions mirror the broader challenge of living peacefully in a religiously diverse world.
Faith, Flaws, and the Human Condition
Every faith tradition wrestles with its imperfections. Within the LDS community, women often occupy secondary roles — though the same can be said of many religions.
Racial prejudice has also cast long shadows. Joseph Smith once claimed Native Americans were descendants of a “Lost Tribe of Israel” cursed with dark skin. Brigham Young (the 2nd President of the LDS Church) permitted the enslavement of indigenous people until 1872. Until 1978, Black members could not enter LDS temples or hold leadership positions.
To his credit, in 2020, LDS President Russell M. Nelson boldly declared, “God does not love one race more than another.” Like many traditions, the LDS Church continues to wrestle with racism, sexism, and homophobia — but it is not alone in that struggle.
The Folly of Religious Superiority
History is filled with Christians who killed those they branded heretics, only to realize later that their enemies’ beliefs were not so alien after all.
Perhaps Christianity has suffered more from divisions over minor differences than from outright heresy.
The Saints’ belief that Native Americans once spoke Egyptian may seem fantastical, but parts of the Bible — such as the Book of Revelation — are equally enigmatic. As Saint Gregory the Theologian once warned, “Trying to go further to comprehend… leads to insanity.”
Learning from Those We Don’t Understand
Even if one disagrees with LDS teachings, getting to know the Saints can be an act of spiritual growth. Many Christians shun or condemn those with differing beliefs — but as Abraham Lincoln wisely said, “I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.”
Our journey with the Divine often calls us to learn from those who challenge us — not just those who mirror our own convictions.
Joseph Smith, Jr. founded the religion from New York in 1830 following his claims of receiving divine revelations, including the translation of the ‘Book of Mormon’ from golden plates delivered by an angel. He was murdered by a mob in 1844.
The Strengths of the Saints
There is much to admire in LDS practice:
- Empowered laity: Every member receives “callings” that entrust them with genuine responsibility.
- Youth engagement: Young adults are sent on missions worldwide, fostering resilience and service.
- Community care: Members prepare for disasters, support one another in hardship, and offer generous aid to those in need.
In fact, conservative Utah — and the LDS Church — provide more assistance to the poor than they receive from wealthier, liberal states like California and New York.
The LDS have also contributed meaningfully to the American ideal of religious freedom. Remembering the persecution of their ancestors, they became early advocates for the separation of church and state and often welcomed refugees when others turned them away.
Toward Compassion and Coexistence
The story of the Latter-day Saints reminds us how faiths evolve, how divisions heal, and how essential empathy is in a pluralistic world.
We may not share the same scriptures or beliefs, but we share a longing for truth, belonging, and peace. And that, perhaps, is what makes us all part of the same sacred human story.
