09 29 25 Aurora South Stake President Justin Matthews on the LDS Church Shooting

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is Colorado's Morning News. Marty lens Ginaganda, Good morning.

Speaker 2 (00:03):
I have an active shooter of the church and PBS
i'n seen saying the building is also on fire. I
joined the church thirty eight years ago in that building
and now it's gone, and it's very tragic and that's
not what our community is.

Speaker 1 (00:14):
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints reacting
to the tragedy that occurred at a church in Michigan yesterday,
killing at least four people and injuring eight others.

Speaker 3 (00:21):
FBI investigating the incident as a targeted act of violence
and joining us on the KWA Common Spirit Health Hotline.
Is State President of the Aurora at South Stake. It's
Justin Matthews, justin appreciate your time this morning.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Good morning, Thanks for having me.

Speaker 3 (00:35):
What was your initial reaction when you heard the news
about the shooting and fire that took place at the
Michigan church.

Speaker 2 (00:41):
You know, initial reaction was really just shock as we
gathered together in our buildings to worship these our sanctuaries
of peacemaking, prayer and connection. So it was very unexpected
and just really you know, earth chattering and hard for.

Speaker 1 (00:58):
Us justin do you take extra precautions at your church?
And when you talk with the elders of the Mormon Church,
are they also taking extra precautions and have done so
before Yesterday's of that?

Speaker 2 (01:10):
Yeah, I mean, listen, we do follow a lot of
different precautions, and we are very vigilant and very aware
and pay attention to what's happening in our communities and
communicate with even the church security department that's headquartered in
Salt Lake City about things to make sure that we
are as much as prepared and aware as possible. And
so we will continue to be vigilant and continue to

(01:31):
be supportive and len love our communities and do our
best to help others to understand our message as a
church and to know that this is a place that
all are welcome.

Speaker 3 (01:41):
I'm not sure if your community received the news during church,
before church, after church, but now obviously the community is
just in shock and in mourning. Like you mentioned, what
do you say to those who may be hurting, scared,
or even angry at this time?

Speaker 2 (01:56):
You know, it is to continue to follow the council
that we receive from our church leaders, even our profit
president Nelson, who also happened to have passed away this weekend,
so it was a difficult weekend to say the least.
But we just remind them that we are followers of
Jesus Christ deed that we are always looking to help,
to find ways to lift and to love, and to

(02:18):
just be willing to be the Lord's people and bear
one of other's burdens and mourn with those that mourn.

Speaker 1 (02:23):
Do you feel that there's a certain assault on faith
at this moment here in the United States or do
you see this as in many ways as one offs
and just people that are very disturbed doing these things
at places as you say, they're supposed to be safe
place as places of worship.

Speaker 2 (02:39):
Yeah, I think that there's maybe a mix of things
that are happening where I do think that there are
some one off type scenarios and there may be some
different mental health issues that are prevailing in people's lives.
But I do think that there could also be some
potential for targeted attacks, especially with places of faith or
people of faith. But nonetheless, you know, we want to

(03:01):
continue to do all we can to be good Christian
people and to follow our savior, Jesus Christ.

Speaker 3 (03:07):
Like you mentioned, President and Prophet of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, Russell Nelson passing away
Saturday at the age of one hundred and one. What
would you say, What would you believe he would say
if he was here today when it came to what
took place in the tragedy like this, bringing the community together.
What would be some of the statements that he would
give to the community.

Speaker 2 (03:28):
You know, I think he would just remind us that
we need to be peacemakers, and he would follow the
example of the Savior in his German on the mouth
where he would say, whoever shall smite the on the
right cheek, turn him to the other. And then also,
of course, he gave the admonition to challenge each of
us to love our enemies and bless them that curse us,
and do good them that hate us, and pray for
them that despite use us and persecute us. We just

(03:49):
continue to love and continue to be good examples, and
to continue to gather with faith and hope and love
and knowing that good will come.

Speaker 1 (03:57):
I want to broaden this out just a little bit,
and justin I'm Catholic, so there's all discussions within and
outside the Catholic Church of where it fits in today
in today's modern times, and whether or not it should
or should not evolve. Are those similar discussions you have
within the Mormon Church about where it fits today, the
direction of the church, and where it's going.

Speaker 2 (04:15):
You know, I believe we are excited about, you know,
being part of a community in everywhere in the world
and being able to recognized that we have an opportunity
to do good in all places despite what's happening around us.
And in fact, we hope to invite others to join
us in a unity of even a number of faiths
coming together where we can have interfaith alliances and work

(04:37):
to find ways to contribute and to help and to
lift into support and to help improve our communities and
help other people that come to feel the love of
Jesus Christ that we feel.

Speaker 3 (04:46):
Stay President of the Aurora Health Stake, it's Justin Matthews.
Justin appreciate your time this morning and sending lots of
love to your community at this hard time.

Speaker 2 (04:55):
Thank you very much.