Family of LDS Church Shooting Victim Chooses Forgiveness Over Hate
A tragic shooting at a Mormon church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, left several dead and many grieving. Among the victims was Craig Hayden, whose daughters, Lisa Louis and Julie Green, have responded with an extraordinary message of forgiveness.
The attack, one of over 300 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2023, took place on Sunday, September 28, 2025. The perpetrator, later identified as Thomas Sanford, opened fire in the chapel before setting it ablaze. John Bond, a grandfather and Navy veteran, was among those killed.
Lisa Louis, who witnessed the horrific event, looked into Sanford's face as he lay dying. Despite the pain and suffering, she found it in her heart to forgive him. 'I believe stopping hate can stop suffering,' she said. Her sister, Julie Green, echoed this sentiment, having also forgiven Sanford for their father's murder. The family encouraged others to respond with peace, not anger.
Friends of Sanford revealed he harbored hatred towards the LDS church, possibly stemming from a soured relationship with a girlfriend in Utah. Leaders of the Mormon church, however, have responded with calls for peace, urging their followers to rise above hatred and violence.
The Grand Blanc attack was a senseless act of violence that claimed innocent lives. In the face of such tragedy, Lisa Louis and her family have chosen forgiveness over anger, a powerful message that resonates beyond the walls of the Mormon church. As the community mourns and heals, the call for peace and understanding rings loud and clear.
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