To our Latter-day Saint friends and neighbours

On behalf of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada, I offer condolences and solidarity with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints both in Canada and around the world on this sad day, as first they mourned the death of the president of the church, Russell M. Nelson, and then as we learned of the horrific violence at the meetinghouse in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

The loss of a global leader, even when we hold hope in a loving God's eternal plans, is a time of grief and challenge under the best of circumstances. I pray for President Nelson's loved ones as they mourn, and for the whole Latter-day Saints community as they transition to new leadership.

We are a church with significant common heritage with Latter-day Saints, and are a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world who work with those differing beliefs everywhere we can. Our own Johnston Christian Park in Nova Scotia has been a longtime host for LDS youth.

This afternoon, we witnessed the additional news of a violent attack of faithful gathered at Sunday worship in Grand Blanc, Michigan. We enjoyed the freedom to worship in peace and safety today, a simple blessing we wish for everyone in the world. Even across international and denominational lines, a threat on the freedom of worship anywhere is a threat on the freedom of worship anywhere.

I invite Canadian Disciples to reach out to Latter-day Saint neighbours and local congregations however they feel led and to pray the victims of today's attack find everlasting love in God's embrace and those left behind find God's consolation.

Rev. Jean-Daniel Ó Donncada
National Pastor