On September 28, 2025, the peace of Sunday worship in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, was shattered when a gunman drove into a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, opened fire, and set the building ablaze. The loss of life and the injuries inflicted weigh heavily on hearts everywhere. For Latter-day Saints across the world, such news brings sorrow and compassion for the victims and their families. It also stirs a sobering question. Could this happen in my ward building, or at my children’s school, or in the place where I work?

In 2 Timothy 1:7, the apostle Paul taught, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. These words speak directly to our day. We cannot deny that the world contains danger. Yet we also know the peace Christ promises is not tied to outward circumstances. He said to His disciples, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you…let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Disciples are not immune to trials or tragedies, but they are promised a divine calm that makes life livable even when the world feels fragile and tumultuous.

In the Old Testament, we find a story that speaks with power to our day. When the prophet Elisha and his servant awoke to see themselves surrounded by an enemy army, the servant was overcome with fear. He cried out, Alas, my master! How shall we do? Elisha’s response was steady and full of faith: Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. Then Elisha prayed, and the Lord opened the young man’s eyes. Suddenly, he saw the mountain filled with horses and chariots of fire protecting them. This account reminds us that what we see with our natural eyes can feel overwhelming, yet the Lord’s unseen power is greater than the dangers before us.

In times of tragedy or uncertainty, we may feel surrounded by fear. Yet the promise remains of heavenly help encircling us. Just as the servant’s eyes were opened, our own eyes of faith can be opened to see that God has not abandoned us, His angels are round about us, and His Son has already overcome the world.

Part of finding peace comes from understanding the difference between what is possible and what is probable. Almost anything is possible in a fallen world. It is possible for accidents, disasters, or violence to strike without warning. But if we allow every possibility to dominate our thoughts, we will live in constant fear, and fear drains joy from our worship and our discipleship. The adversary delights in fear because it distracts us from faith. The Lord invites us to put possibilities in perspective, and to instead prepare wisely for probabilities, and to trust Him with the rest.

Preparation is a principle of the gospel. Just as we store food, hold fire drills, and make family emergency plans, wards and branches can quietly review safety procedures and establish communication lines in case of crisis. These efforts are not a sign of distrust in God. They reflect faith in His counsel to be watchful and wise. Elder M. Russell Ballard once taught that prudent living increases our security. When we do our part, we are freer to focus on worship, ministering, and service without the constant shadow of possibility crying out, What if.

Our dearly beloved prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, who has so recently left us, often emphasized we should not allow fear to displace faith. He reminded us that the Lord offers a peace that transcends mortal understanding. In a moment of shock such as this, he would surely remind us that faith is the antidote to fear, to prepare both temporally and spiritually, and to use ministering and community as ways we can use to push back darkness. He once taught, We do not need to let our fears displace our faith. He also spoke of gaining confidence in the presence of God, teaching us to fill our lives with charity and virtue, and in so doing, our confidence will wax strong in His presence.

President Nelson also frequently paired preparation—temporal, emotional, and spiritual—with trust in the Lord’s timing and care. In his conference address Embrace the Future with Faith, he encouraged us to create places of security in our homes and in our lives, to study the Book of Mormon, to keep the commandments, and to never cease preparing.

Yet preparation alone cannot quiet the heart. True peace comes from the eternal perspective the gospel gives. Jesus Christ has overcome the world. Death, as Alma teaches, is swallowed up in Christ. Tragedy may bring grief and pain, but it cannot rob us of the hope of resurrection. Nor can it erase the assurance that families can be reunited, or that the Lord consecrates even suffering for His purposes. This eternal lens allows us to acknowledge danger without being consumed by it. We grieve with those who grieve, but we do not live our lives in a paralyzed state, because we know mortality is only part of the story.

As Saints, we face tragedy by turning outward rather than inward. Ministering, prayer, and fellowship are acts of defiance against fear. Evil seeks to scatter, but love gathers. As we strengthen one another, we not only help heal the wounds of those directly affected by violence but also build resilience to protect our hearts from despair. The Holy Ghost magnifies our efforts, bringing divine consolation when human words fall short.

So when we ask whether such a tragedy could happen in our own lives, the honest answer is yes—it is possible. But the probability remains small, and our faith teaches us not to dwell on what might happen but to instead live fully in the light of Christ today. We prepare, but we do not obsess. We pray, but we also act. Most of all, we trust. To live without fear is not to live recklessly. It is to live faithfully, knowing that while we cannot control every possibility, we know the One who holds all probabilities in His hands. His promise is sure—I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.