OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. AN ATTACK AT A CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS CHAPEL IN MICHIGAN IS BEING FELT HERE AT HOME, AND OKLAHOMA’S FAITH COMMUNITY IS ANSWERING WITH LOVE AND SUPPORT. KOCO KYLIE THOMAS TELLS US ABOUT THIS WEEKEND’S PRAYER VIGIL. OUR FAITH TEACHES US THAT WE ARE TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES AND TO DO GOOD TO THOSE THAT HATE US, AND SO WE WANT TO MODEL THAT AND BE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT. FROM EDMOND TO GRAND LAKE, MICHIGAN, OKLAHOMANS ARE LIFTING UP THEIR LDS NEIGHBORS WITH PRAYER AND UNITY AFTER LAST WEEKEND’S ACT OF TERROR, WHEN A MAN RAMMED HIS PICKUP TRUCK THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS OF THE MICHIGAN CHURCH AND BEGAN SHOOTING BEFORE LIGHTING THE CHURCH ON FIRE. IT WAS SHOCKING. I THINK MOST OF OUR MEETING HOUSES WHERE WE HAVE OUR SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES, LOOK VERY SIMILAR. AND SO IT WAS EASY TO IDENTIFY WITH THE SPACE. AND AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS ONE OF THE BUILDINGS THAT I, I WORSHIP IN. IT’LL LOOK MORE LIKE ONE OF OUR SERVICES, OKLAHOMA CITY, MEMBERS OF THE LDS FAITH SAY OUTREACH HAS STRETCHED FAR BEYOND THE CONGREGATION, WITH PEOPLE ACROSS OKLAHOMA OFFERING PRAYERS AND ACTION. THAT COMPASSION, THEY SAY, SPARKED THE IDEA TO HOST A PRAYER VIGIL FOR ALL. I FELT THAT OUR MEMBERS NEEDED TO BE TOGETHER AND AND FEEL THAT SUPPORT AND WITH HOW MUCH THE COMMUNITY HAS EXPRESSED THEIR LOVE, WE WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ANYONE COME AND AND PRAY WITH US AND LISTEN TO UPLIFTING MESSAGES AND MUSIC WITH US ON SUNDAY AT 7 P.M., THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS OFF 157TH AND PENN, WILL OPEN THEIR DOORS TO THE PUBLIC FOR A PRAYER VIGIL. HERE IN THE GYM, LEADERS FROM DIFFERENT FAITHS WILL UNITE, OFFERING PRAYER AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE LETTERS TO THE GRAND BLANC COMMUNITY. WHEN WE DON’T KNOW EACH OTHER. YOU KNOW WE CAN’T FIND CONNECTION. AND I THINK THAT WHAT WE’RE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS PRAYER VIGIL IS A COMING TOGETHER WHERE, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORS COME TOGETHER WITH NEIGHBORS. MEMBERS HOPE THE VIGIL STANDS AS A REMINDER IN MOMENTS OF TRAGEDY, WHAT UNITES US IS FAR GREATER THAN WHAT DIVIDES US.

Oklahoma faith community hosts prayer vigil after Michigan church attack

Oklahoma’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is organizing a prayer vigil in response to a recent attack on a Michigan church, emphasizing unity and support.

Updated: 6:08 PM CDT Oct 3, 2025

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Oklahoma’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hosting a prayer vigil in response to an attack at a chapel in Grand Blanc, Michigan, in which a man drove his pickup truck through the front doors, began shooting and set the building on fire.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel “Our faith teaches us that we are to love our enemies and to do good to those who hate us, so we want to model that and be an example of that,” said Tom Gray, director of community outreach for the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, region of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”It was shocking. I think most of our meeting houses where we have our Sunday worship services look very similar, so it was easy to identify with the space and it felt like was one of the buildings I worship in,” said Sarah Bushman with the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, region of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Members of the LDS faith in Oklahoma City say outreach has extended beyond their congregation, with people across Oklahoma offering prayers and action. This compassion sparked the idea to host a prayer vigil for all. “I felt that our members needed to be together and feel that support, and with how much the community has expressed their love, we would love to have anyone come and pray with us and listen to music and uplifting messages with us,” Bushman said.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located off Northwest 157th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, will open its doors to the public for a prayer vigil Sunday at 7 p.m. Leaders from different faiths will unite in the gym, offering prayer and an opportunity to write letters to the Grand Blanc community. “When we don’t know each other, we can’t find connection, and I think what we are hoping to accomplish with this prayer vigil is a coming together where neighbors and neighbors come together with neighbors,” Gray said.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Members hope the vigil serves as a reminder that in moments of tragedy, what unites us is far greater than what divides us.The vigil will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 15700 N. Pennsylvania Avenue.Top HeadlinesTulsa officer busts a move responding to noise complaintOn Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’ love and reputation are on the lineTurning Point USA announces the speakers for upcoming University of Oklahoma eventCrews continue to work to repair water main in northwest Oklahoma CityChief Meteorologist Damon Lane’s 911 call leads to Moore police wrangling loose cows

Oklahoma’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hosting a prayer vigil in response to an attack at a chapel in Grand Blanc, Michigan, in which a man drove his pickup truck through the front doors, began shooting and set the building on fire.

>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel

“Our faith teaches us that we are to love our enemies and to do good to those who hate us, so we want to model that and be an example of that,” said Tom Gray, director of community outreach for the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, region of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“It was shocking. I think most of our meeting houses where we have our Sunday worship services look very similar, so it was easy to identify with the space and it felt like was one of the buildings I worship in,” said Sarah Bushman with the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, region of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Members of the LDS faith in Oklahoma City say outreach has extended beyond their congregation, with people across Oklahoma offering prayers and action. This compassion sparked the idea to host a prayer vigil for all.

“I felt that our members needed to be together and feel that support, and with how much the community has expressed their love, we would love to have anyone come and pray with us and listen to music and uplifting messages with us,” Bushman said.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located off Northwest 157th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, will open its doors to the public for a prayer vigil Sunday at 7 p.m.

Leaders from different faiths will unite in the gym, offering prayer and an opportunity to write letters to the Grand Blanc community.

“When we don’t know each other, we can’t find connection, and I think what we are hoping to accomplish with this prayer vigil is a coming together where neighbors and neighbors come together with neighbors,” Gray said.

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.

Members hope the vigil serves as a reminder that in moments of tragedy, what unites us is far greater than what divides us.

The vigil will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 15700 N. Pennsylvania Avenue.


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