The horror and tragedy of what occurred in Michigan makes any decent soul ache, but I think what makes the heartbreak even more poignant for Latter-day Saints is that millions of us this morning were in that same building, sitting in those same pews with our loved ones, listening to those same testimonies. Yes, we were in a different place, but the attack was intimately personal and terrifying.
I learned a lot from listening to the speakers at Charlie’s memorial. The ones that impacted me most were the ones that focused on memories of him.
My other favorite speech was given by Charlie’s colleague Stacy Sheridan.
“In 2022, my husband Mike became sick with cancer. Two years later, that cancer took his life. Throughout those two years, Charlie called me consistently to ask how he could help us. At one point, he had critical medication and an oxygen machine sent to my doorstep without my knowledge. I still to this day have no idea how he made that happen. But that was Charlie. He did the right thing. There was no limit to how far he’d go to help a friend. He wasn’t looking for publicity, or credit. He did it because that’s what a leader does. That’s what a friend does, and that’s what a Christian is supposed to do.” — Stacy Sheridan
Since Erika Kirk’s speech is being widely shared, I wanted to share my two other favorite speeches from Charlie Kirk’s memorial.
This first speech is Dr. Larry Arnn, a professor Charlie had at Hillsdale College.
“I asked him some questions he couldn’t answer. And he was already becoming famous, and he said “well what should I do?” And I said, well, you have to suffer. If you want to grow, you have to suffer. Hard to learn. Into the night. Crack of dawn in the morning. Start with the Bible. Read the classics. Study the founding of America. In those places you will find that there’s a ladder that reaches up toward God. And at the bottom of it is the ordinary good things that are around us everywhere. If we can call them by their names, they have being. And the beings of the good things are figments of God.” — Dr. Larry Arnn
@NicoleShanahan Congratulations, Nicole!! It’s such a beautiful experience to feel our burdens, whatever they may be, lifted by Jesus Christ. I have felt that, too, and I am so grateful!
Your mistakes don't define you. Your worst moments & low points are not your true character. Weaknesses are an important part of being human.
Please don't focus on all you've done wrong. Be patient with yourself. Keep trying. You are a work in progress & the best is yet to come.
The world is horrified by Russia’s missile strike today, which hit a crowded Ukrainian shopping mall -- the latest in a string of atrocities. We will continue to support our Ukrainian partners and hold Russia, including those responsible for atrocities, to account.
This Father's Day, let us remember all our Father in Heaven has done for us. All the marvels of nature, for example, are glimpses of His divine power and expressions of His love. He created the earth as a beautiful place for all of His children to learn and progress toward Him.
Wait. They want us to focus on the school door being unlocked?
So let me get this straight: They say it should have been much harder to enter the building, but won’t make it harder to buy the AR-15 he used to kill 19 kids and two teachers?
Do you hear how insane that sounds?!
I have watched this several times. “Sir, you are out of line.” We all need to get out of line. The line we’ve been waiting in isn’t moving. The line we’ve been waiting in is stalled. Get out of line, speak up. We’ve waited in line for too long.
God loves every one of us with perfect love. More than anything, our Father wants His children to choose to return home to Him. Everything He does is motivated by His yearning desire.