I personally don't carry and don't intend to. At the same time, I feel much safer in any location that allows the people to carry.
The cowards that want to shoot innocent people tend to run if someone starts shooting back. They also tend to go for the softest targets like schools. This policy puts us right up there with schools.
I am slowly coming to grips with this. There may be some good reason for the policy change that I don't see now. I will follow the prophet.
Rick in VirginiaSeptember 2, 2019
Some of our members may be law enforcement officers and therefore authorized to carry weapons in church. Crazies enter at your own risk!
Ken MazzantiSeptember 1, 2019
This policy appears to be the direct result of a Utah law prohibiting firearms in public places, including church. The Church complies with the laws of the land, and that is the law in Utah. Polygamy stopped being openly practiced in Utah for the same reason. We can use Article of Faith 12 as a resource. I believe that the Utah law is un-Constitutional. It may one day be overturned or affirmed by the courts. I have carried concealed for the past 48 years and carried openly when I was a law enforcement officer for nearly 30 years. I feel uncomfortable being unprepared to deal with some violent situations when innocent lives need protection from the 'wolves' around us. We can debate the issue all we want, but that policy came out for the entire Church with the authorization of God's Prophet here on earth. The real decision is not whether we should be able to carry a firearm in church or not even when we don't live in Utah. The issue is whether our lives are defined by the theme of the Primary song "Follow the Prophet, follow the Prophet, he knows the way".
gerry nelsonAugust 30, 2019
I agree with most of the above - wasn't too smart to let the world know that we are defenseless in our meetings !!
KristinAugust 29, 2019
I personally think it is very unwise to publish something like this. Why publicly broadcast that we are completely defenseless - just waiting for some crazy Christian-hater to come into our public Sunday meetings and kill us all?! As a member, I would feel infinitely more safe, if there was a type of "fire marshal" in every building, in every sacrament meeting - as a calling. IMO - doing anything less, is irresponsible.
LauraAugust 28, 2019
From Les Miserables by Victor Hugo: Unless the Lord guard the house, in vain do they watch who guard it.
PaladinAugust 27, 2019
In the United States, many state and local laws require the prominent posting of a no weapons policy at all entrances. The policy in a church handbook, even if widely distributed to members via electronic means and with more clear and updated language, may not be sufficient.
Paul PlumbAugust 27, 2019
Why is it that the countries that have the most guns have the most problems with the most sick-o's? If a culture includes guns, remedies include guns. If a culture excludes guns, remedies exclude guns.
Not afraidAugust 27, 2019
It's a matter of faith.
I trust that if it's God's will that I get shot in church (and the likelihood of that is very, very remote) then that will happen.
If it's not His will, it won't happen.
I don't need to take a gun with me to a place of sacrifice, worship, and faith. For me, taking a gun would feel I have faith only in my abilities, not in God.
LoraAugust 27, 2019
My bishop has received death threats. Our elders quorum takes turn acting as security every week, watching for suspicious characters. I felt safe with the idea that our elders were armed. I work in a government building with law enforcement officers, all of them openly carrying weapons. Not once has a gun burst out of its holster and started shooting. Now we are practically putting up a sign that says our churches are "gun-free zones"? Has anyone noticed that gun-free zones are the chosen targets for mass shooters? Has anyone noticed that shooters do not obey laws, much less church policies?
John R CarpenterAugust 27, 2019
The key words for me are: "... unless carried by current law enforcement officers" - Most law enforcement officers are required to carry 24/7, some are not.
Having been in the former, I was discreet and leadership was aware. On two occasions over my active duty time, I placed myself on duty to prevent issues from getting out of hand by judicious use of armed law enforcement presence. One led to an arrest and the other allowed me discretion to handle informally.
FYI - weapons are tools - it is the person who wields such a tool who determines whether or not it is for good or evil.
George ThompsonAugust 27, 2019
Those places that prohibit guns are setting themselves up as easy targets for the next sick-o that comes along looking for an easy shot at the most people! I personally think that it is much better if he thinks that some people might shoot back. As the coward that he is, he will then go elsewhere.
Neal ChristensenAugust 27, 2019
So why did we have to hear of this from the national media before hearing it from the pulpit?
BradAugust 27, 2019
With one of our jobs as a Father/Husband being the protector of our family, we can't do that while in our church? Bishop's have been killed and people have shot up churches. And now the Church wants us defenseless against such atrocities? I don't get it...
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George ThompsonSeptember 3, 2019
I personally don't carry and don't intend to. At the same time, I feel much safer in any location that allows the people to carry. The cowards that want to shoot innocent people tend to run if someone starts shooting back. They also tend to go for the softest targets like schools. This policy puts us right up there with schools. I am slowly coming to grips with this. There may be some good reason for the policy change that I don't see now. I will follow the prophet.
Rick in VirginiaSeptember 2, 2019
Some of our members may be law enforcement officers and therefore authorized to carry weapons in church. Crazies enter at your own risk!
Ken MazzantiSeptember 1, 2019
This policy appears to be the direct result of a Utah law prohibiting firearms in public places, including church. The Church complies with the laws of the land, and that is the law in Utah. Polygamy stopped being openly practiced in Utah for the same reason. We can use Article of Faith 12 as a resource. I believe that the Utah law is un-Constitutional. It may one day be overturned or affirmed by the courts. I have carried concealed for the past 48 years and carried openly when I was a law enforcement officer for nearly 30 years. I feel uncomfortable being unprepared to deal with some violent situations when innocent lives need protection from the 'wolves' around us. We can debate the issue all we want, but that policy came out for the entire Church with the authorization of God's Prophet here on earth. The real decision is not whether we should be able to carry a firearm in church or not even when we don't live in Utah. The issue is whether our lives are defined by the theme of the Primary song "Follow the Prophet, follow the Prophet, he knows the way".
gerry nelsonAugust 30, 2019
I agree with most of the above - wasn't too smart to let the world know that we are defenseless in our meetings !!
KristinAugust 29, 2019
I personally think it is very unwise to publish something like this. Why publicly broadcast that we are completely defenseless - just waiting for some crazy Christian-hater to come into our public Sunday meetings and kill us all?! As a member, I would feel infinitely more safe, if there was a type of "fire marshal" in every building, in every sacrament meeting - as a calling. IMO - doing anything less, is irresponsible.
LauraAugust 28, 2019
From Les Miserables by Victor Hugo: Unless the Lord guard the house, in vain do they watch who guard it.
PaladinAugust 27, 2019
In the United States, many state and local laws require the prominent posting of a no weapons policy at all entrances. The policy in a church handbook, even if widely distributed to members via electronic means and with more clear and updated language, may not be sufficient.
Paul PlumbAugust 27, 2019
Why is it that the countries that have the most guns have the most problems with the most sick-o's? If a culture includes guns, remedies include guns. If a culture excludes guns, remedies exclude guns.
Not afraidAugust 27, 2019
It's a matter of faith. I trust that if it's God's will that I get shot in church (and the likelihood of that is very, very remote) then that will happen. If it's not His will, it won't happen. I don't need to take a gun with me to a place of sacrifice, worship, and faith. For me, taking a gun would feel I have faith only in my abilities, not in God.
LoraAugust 27, 2019
My bishop has received death threats. Our elders quorum takes turn acting as security every week, watching for suspicious characters. I felt safe with the idea that our elders were armed. I work in a government building with law enforcement officers, all of them openly carrying weapons. Not once has a gun burst out of its holster and started shooting. Now we are practically putting up a sign that says our churches are "gun-free zones"? Has anyone noticed that gun-free zones are the chosen targets for mass shooters? Has anyone noticed that shooters do not obey laws, much less church policies?
John R CarpenterAugust 27, 2019
The key words for me are: "... unless carried by current law enforcement officers" - Most law enforcement officers are required to carry 24/7, some are not. Having been in the former, I was discreet and leadership was aware. On two occasions over my active duty time, I placed myself on duty to prevent issues from getting out of hand by judicious use of armed law enforcement presence. One led to an arrest and the other allowed me discretion to handle informally. FYI - weapons are tools - it is the person who wields such a tool who determines whether or not it is for good or evil.
George ThompsonAugust 27, 2019
Those places that prohibit guns are setting themselves up as easy targets for the next sick-o that comes along looking for an easy shot at the most people! I personally think that it is much better if he thinks that some people might shoot back. As the coward that he is, he will then go elsewhere.
Neal ChristensenAugust 27, 2019
So why did we have to hear of this from the national media before hearing it from the pulpit?
BradAugust 27, 2019
With one of our jobs as a Father/Husband being the protector of our family, we can't do that while in our church? Bishop's have been killed and people have shot up churches. And now the Church wants us defenseless against such atrocities? I don't get it...
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