GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, MI - A Sunday morning attack at a Grand Blanc church that left five people dead and eight others injured struck a tight-knit church community with thousands of members in Michigan.

The Grand Blanc congregation is part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church, a small, yet growing religion headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The church adheres to a Christian view of God and considers itself Christian. But its beliefs differ from traditional Christianity, with the church following the teachings of its founder Joseph Smith, who members consider a prophet. That’s why some Christian denominations reject Mormonism.

In Michigan, there are nearly 47,000 Latter-day Saint church members who attend 99 congregations.

Mark Hunsaker

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