Gratitude in the Face of Grand Blanc, Michigan

I've shared before how I feel about thoughts and prayers unattended by real action in the face of gun violence being offensive and meaningless gestures before God. So instead, I want to thank the people who are helping. Specifically, a group of people whose sacrifices might get lost in the days ahead.

 

Image: David Guralnick, Associated Press

 

I want to thank the health care personnel who were on strike in the area, who left the picket line to assist my people when they were in trouble.

They ran into danger to assist my church family. They made an incredible sacrifice to honor their commitment to healing those in need.

Health care personnel know better than anyone what gun shot wounds do to the human body. They took the risk of it happening to them to save the lives of strangers. All my love and gratitude goes out to them and their families, on behalf of my community.

Gun violence is a nightmare that no one in my country can wake up from, due to the corruption and moral cowardice from our elected officials. Our bodies are the price for the money in their pockets. We are all hostages to any selfish act of violence someone may choose to enact with a gun.

That truth can be so discouraging and enraging. We all deserve to live in a world with less violence in it, especially when policy decisions about preventable violence are how we got to where we are.

Never forget that we are not alone in our desire to make the world a better place. There are good people who are committed to doing the right thing, even when it's dangerous and hard.

Let us fill ourselves with love and gratitude when it would be so easy to give ourselves over to hate. Anger and fear are natural human emotions we can't avoid feeling. But we cannot allow them to petrify into hate. This is how we move forward in ways that allow our thoughts and prayers to have power, because we will be prepared to act, to bring about the good in this world through our own efforts, no matter how small.

Please, take care of yourselves. If you need comfort and to mourn with those who mourn, please reach out. Don't stay alone in your pain, grief, and anxiety. Reach out.

The LDS Church is many things. Our community reaches into every corner of the earth, while also remaining small. We know people who were just affected by the two shootings we just experienced as a community. Be watchful for those around you who may be suffering. Be prayerful to know how you can mourn with those who mourn, and comfort those who stand in need of comfort.

We can do this. As a community, we can survive this together. And even in these darkest moments, we will see the hand of God in the hands of those who help. And those hands can be our own if we turn outward instead of inward when tragedy strikes.