SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Oct. 29, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has issued a statement of support of the Jewish community.
The statement comes after the fatal shooting of 11 people in a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday.
The victims, who were attending Jewish sabbath prayer services when the shooter entered the Tree of Life synagogue before 10 a.m., ranged in age from 54 to 97.
The LDS Church released the following statement:
“We express our deepest grief and solidarity with our Jewish friends around the world after the heinous violence perpetrated against congregants of the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. It is our constant prayer that God will heal and protect those affected by such tragic events. When the security and religious freedom of our Jewish brothers and sisters is violated, we all suffer. Houses of worship should be safe, inviolate places for people of all faiths to join in sacred fellowship and seek communion with God.
“We condemn the environment of hate-filled rhetoric that has become so prevalent. Anti-Semitism has no place in our society. It is the responsibility of good people everywhere to speak out and stand up for each other’s rights to worship and live peacefully.”
The news release goes on to say that President Russell M. Nelson has been traveling in South America and during an interview from Montevideo, Uruguay, two days prior to the deadly shooting spoke about the topic of community violence.
“We should love one another,” Nelson said. “So violence has no place in society.” After the interview, Nelson was asked by author Sergio Rubin of the Deseret News how he copes with reports of violence. Nelson said, “That is incomprehensible … hatred, violence, murder: all are against the teachings of the Lord.”
He also called mass shootings “a great offense to God.”
Gov. Gary R. Herbert ordered the lowering of the flag of the United States of America and the flag of the State of Utah Monday in memory of those killed.
Flags will be flown at half staff at all state facilities and public grounds from sunrise until sunset through Wednesday. Individuals and businesses are encouraged to fly the flag at half staff for the same length of time.
Suspect Robert Bowers, 46, of suburban Baldwin, was eventually taken into custody alive after spending approximately 20 minutes in the synagogue, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich. Bowers sustained multiple-shot injuries and has since been discharged from hospital.
Bowers has been charged with 29 federal counts in addition to 36 state counts in connection with the incident.
The charges include obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death, criminal homicide and ethnic intimidation. The charge of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs — a hate crime, can carry the death penalty, a sentence that federal authorities said Sunday they intend to pursue.
Bowers had his initial appearance in the federal courthouse in downtown Pittsburgh on Monday afternoon.
The suspect appeared before Magistrate Judge Robert C. Mitchell in a wheelchair, handcuffed, surrounded by United States marshals, The New York Times reported. He was ordered held without bail, and his next hearing was scheduled for Thursday.
