The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints confirmed an incident that occurred on December 14, 2025 during a worship service at one of its chapels in the Dominican Republic.
According to a statement shared by the Church through social media, the incident took place at approximately 9:15 a.m. during a Sunday meeting at a chapel located in the Lower Haina sector, specifically the Haina 1 neighborhood within the Santo Domingo Stake. Church leaders reported that the situation was quickly brought under control and that there were no fatalities or serious injuries.
The incident began when an individual entered the chapel and attempted to intimidate and assault those present. The individual was reportedly carrying a manipulated toy gun designed to resemble a real weapon, along with a homemade caustic substance described as having low effect.
Church leaders and members in attendance acted swiftly, preventing the situation from escalating further. Several individuals experienced mild effects after coming into contact with the substance and received immediate treatment at the site.
Church officials noted that only one person was transported to a medical center, not due to physical injury, but for evaluation related to an emotional reaction to the incident. That individual was later reported to be stable and out of danger.
Reactions to the incident were mixed, with many online commenters expressing gratitude that the violence and impact were not more severe. There were also many comments that revealed the fear that many are experiencing from what appears to be an increasing level of such incidents at Latter-day Saint meetinghouses.
Several suggested that security at Church locations to be higher. Once commenter said, “I think it’s time for evacuation drills at the church,” while another shared that “there are already several cases of aggression against members and missionaries, the facts cannot be justified. We should pay more attention to those who enter and are not members.”
Others felt that such events are a reminder of our responsibility as Latter-day Saints to show compassion and avoid judgment. “Many times these events happen because the members themselves are not empathetic, we are not examples of love and service, and that is where people want to retaliate, I DO NOT JUSTIFY THIS KIND OF ACTIONS but we should not judge without knowing how things happened.”
Church representatives emphasized that all members, visitors, and missionaries who were inside the building at the time of the incident were safe. They also expressed gratitude for the prompt and effective response of local authorities, noting that this was the first incident of its kind in the history of the Church in that area.
The statement concluded by thanking the community for the solidarity shown following the event, underscoring appreciation for both emergency responders and those who offered support in the aftermath.
Holly Wallace is a writer and storyteller drawn to meaningful questions and overlooked details. Her work explores Latter-day Saint life and culture through faithful inquiry, inviting readers to pause, consider, and engage more deeply with what matters most.
The more the forces of darkness and its minions emerge, the more the Saints stand tall in The Kingdom of God. No unhallowed hand will stop the work from rolling forth. The prince of darkness knows it’s reign of terror on earth is soon coming to an end and it is scrambling to enslave every soul it can.
While Idaho does not provide an exception to it’s conceal/carry law, as Utah does, I still leave my gun in my car when on church property since the church handbook states weapons are not permitted. I feel some comfort knowing we have several current law enforcement in our ward who must carry, but I am genuinely not confident about leaving my family’s safety in the hands of others. The FBI literally stopped a guy locally the day before he planned an attack on local churches. I want to be obedient, but I am very conflicted on this issue given the times we live in.
Agreed….my wife and I teach seminary in the evening from 8 to 920 pm…my grand daughter is in this class….we feel vulnerable not carrying !
I ignore the policy and carry anyway. Too many risk management personnel and lawyers involved in the “policy” making. It is not consistent with the mandate from the proclamation for the family to “protect” and it is not consistent with the teaching on justified self-defense found in the doctrine and covenants. Unfortunately, the people educating the brethren on this manner are all too often politically motivated and make it look like they are doing something while not actually addressing these issues.
I might start carrying as well. We need to have members in the Wards that are undercover Concealed Carry Safety Officers, or I’m probably going to start carrying. When you have rule against firearms, or places “post” that gives criminals the upper hand, in addition to the element of surprise. You have two things against you. We don’t have police in our Ward. So, security should be implemented for emergencies only, or we should be able to carry. Christians, Conservatives, and Jews are being targeted.
I am far more worried about getting accidentally shot by people like Avery and M D who carry firearms to church (in violation of church policy) and then over react to a perceived threat by spraying bullets around the chapel. I don’t want my headstone to read that I was shot by a gun-toting elders quorum second counselor with a savior complex and a false sense of grandiosity.
There is no greater fallacy than the old trope about the good guy with the gun being the best response to a bad guy with a gun.
I have been carrying a guns since I was legally allowed to own one. I have been shooting since I was a kid in boy scouts. I would bet a lot of money I can outshoot 90 percent of law enforcement. As far as when it is appropriate to use a gun that is pretty clear only when lethal force or serious bodily harm are being employed against you or those around you. It’s unfortunate inexperienced crazies like you don’t understand there are people within our communities that spend their lives developing the capability to safely use deadly force. You cannot understand it because you have no experience. You make it a political issue. You would deny others the right to defend themselves because of your ignorance and your own lack of capability.
The question I have, is how often do you practice shooting at moving targets under duress? The reason for this question is, if a scenario takes place by which you state your reason for carrying, there will be chaos, innocent bystanders running around for safety. Will you be able to hit intended target without collateral damage (hitting an innocent bystander)?
You state you can outshoot 90% of law enforcement, but it that shooting at a non-moving target in a controlled environment?
How often do you put your body under duress (elevated heart rate) and try to shoot at a non-moving target? If 0, then I don’t care what you state, you will end up hitting an innocent member who is just trying to get to a safe place.
If you do, then I ask how often to do you put your body under duress and try to shoot a moving target? What about same question, but now have not only moving targets, but also moving innocent bystanders?
Unless you are the perfect marksman, don’t rely on you own capabilities. In a situation of an active shooter in a church house, the only way to not hit an innocent bystander will be through the power of the Lord.
Just because you are pointing at your target doesn’t mean that somebody behind that target can’t be hit. Bullets do travel through people and into others on the other side.
That is why in military/police shooting training they always teach to not only sight in your target but look at what is beyond the target. What is on the other side of the target? If it happens to be an innocent individual, then maybe it isn’t the time to take the shot until you can clear the innocent behind the target.
Yeah there is a whole world of people out there who have already considered everything you stated and more. For some reason (media inaccuracies) people think civilians with guns will just hose down a bunch of random people while trying to stop and bad guy who is trying to harm or kill other people. This happens very rarely. Please don’t take offence to this just hear me out. Most law enforcement training with guns is terrible. Most offices only get to shoot 400-600 rounds per year. I shoot 5-10k a year in various calibers. I know civilians who shoot 30-40k per year. Not taking advantage of the talents and hard earned skills of some members of the church in these areas is a mistake. Captain Moroni prepared and armed his people. We are telling people in the event of an active shooter to run away to the sounds of the innocent being slaughtered. To use shoes and hyme books to defend ourselves or others. I cannot and I will not do that. I know I can help and I know I have the tools to help. I am sick of people with less experience telling me I can’t. I would rather die trying then to live knowing I could have done something but I didn’t. Call my what ever degrading name you want. Label me with a hero complex, savior complex, delusional etc. I just don’t care anymore. Their is nothing you can say to me that will override my conscience.
Your last paragraph about looking beyond the target is basic, basic firearms training, not limited to only LEOs. Just the fact that you are saying this shows that you are not educated as to what firearms training is all about.
That is an unfounded fear. Those who carry are trained, movies are not reality, and those who are trained do not start “spraying bullets.” It is NOT a fallacy to say that a good guy with a gun is the best defense to a bad guy with a gun. What’s to do otherwise, throw a hymnbook at him? Your best chance (there are other very slim options) for defense against someone with a gun is to be armed yourself.
Interesting assertion of yours that the church is making policies inconsistent with its doctrines and teachings. It almost sounds like you’ve been attending the advisory meetings with general authorities regarding this policy and have an intimate knowledge of what views are being expressed there. If only the brethren could see the issue as clear as you do then we might have better, more reasonable, and doctrinally sound policies in place as a church.
17 And Moroni took all the command, and the government of their wars. And he was only twenty and five years old when he was appointed chief captain over the armies of the Nephites.
18 And it came to pass that he met the Lamanites in the borders of Jershon, and his people were armed with swords, and with cimeters, and all manner of weapons of war.
19 And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nephi, or that Moroni, had prepared his people with breastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing—
20 Now the army of Zerahemnah was not prepared with any such thing; they had only their swords and their cimeters, their bows and their arrows, their stones and their slings; and they were naked, save it were a skin which was girded about their loins; yea, all were naked, save it were the Zoramites and the Amalekites;
21 But they were not armed with breastplates, nor shields—therefore, they were exceedingly afraid of the armies of the Nephites because of their armor, notwithstanding their number being so much greater than the Nephites.
11 We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded.
There is one principle which is eternal; it is the duty of all men to protect their lives and the lives of the household, whenever necessity requires, and no power has the right to forbid it, should the last extreme arrive, but I anticipate no such extreme, but caution is the parent of safety.
We all believe that the Lord will fight our battles; but how? Will He do it while we are unconcerned and make no effort whatever for our own safety when an enemy is upon us? If we make no effort to guard our towns, our houses, our cities, our wives and children, will the Lord guard them for us? He will not; but if we pursue the opposite course and strive to help Him to accomplish His designs, then will He fight our battles. We are baptized for the remission of sins; but it would be quite as unreasonable to expect a remission of sins without baptism, as to expect the Lord to fight our battles without our taking every precaution to be prepared to defend ourselves. The Lord requires us to be quite as willing to fight our own battles as to have Him fight them for us. If we are not ready for an enemy when he comes upon us, we have not lived up to the requirements of Him who guides the ship of Zion, or who dictates the affairs of his kingdom.
By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.
Here is a simple adjustment that could be made to the language in the handbook that would protect the church from liability, provide the church with the legal ability to prosecute bad actors, preserve the peace that should exist while worshiping at church. and allow those with the ability to protect themselves and others.
The church reserves the right to prohibit any person from carrying firearms and weapons on church property. Open carry of any kind is completely prohibited.
The motives of those who seek to harass, disrupt, disturb, or attack Church members within our meetinghouses are irrelevant to the undeniable reality that Church-wide preventative training is urgently needed. Failing to establish a plan to identify, address, or appropriately respond to individuals who intend harm is, in effect, the same as allowing such actions to occur without resistance or accountability.
With this in mind, I speak directly to the priesthood holders of the Church:
Would you allow someone to enter your home and harm your family, or would you act to protect them? I trust the answer is clear that you would do whatever is necessary to ensure their safety. If that is so, then why would you, as priesthood holders and leaders within your wards, hesitate to prepare yourselves to protect your ward family from individuals who may enter our meetinghouses with harmful intent and act without warning?
The time is at hand to act to protect our members.
I agree whole heartedly. Ourcward here in VAvis comprised of a significant amount of law enforcement both local and federal. We have had several very informative hands on active shooter classes. Ages 14 and up participated. This information is exceptionally important in these Layter Days.
The youth had recently had a school shooting and had many questions on response and safety.
A federal agent is Always prepared and alert in every situation observingaxmctions, exits, behavior etc. We all need to do tge same.
I wonder if that is one reason why we now have a former attorney/supreme court judge as a prophet and another former attorney as second counselor. To wade through some sticky legal issues that we are and will face in this crazy world.
I taught school for 45 years. We had frequent evacuation practices. I grew up in Los Alamos, New Mexico during the Cold War. We had frequent air raid evacuation drills. It is common sense for churches (not just LDS) to do this tool
As Satan escalates, I’m guessing the time will come when each ward will be allowed to designate one or more concealed carry members. Not every ward has the active duty law enforcement that church policy allows to have firearms in meetinghouses.
I think the fear is that if they publicly authorize it you’ll see many members showing up to church with AK 47 rifles to sacrament. Looking like a militia instead of peace makers. I think quietly assigning hidden trained brothers who carry unconcealed is the best plan in each ward. Police charging into a church might not immediately know the difference between an armed good guy from the bad. A plan needs to involve law enforcement and a known strategy.
I will be as respectfully bold as possible, yet bold nonetheless. While we are taught to be obedient and follow church policies as outlined in the General Handbook, we must NOT be so obfuscated nor be BLINDLY obedient as to not use common sense practices. The fact that only the higher echelons of Church leadership in Salt Lake have some form of security (and NOT the best at that, by the way…) while the rest of the flock goes unprotected is wildly frustrating, incredibly irresponsible and outright dangerous! The message the Brethren are sending cannot be more clear: “We are more important than you and therefore we have security details following us wherever we go.” I know for a fact that this is NOT their true sentiment deep down their hearts. Of course not. But optics speak volumes. Other churches that are NOT the true and restored Church of Jesus Christ have entire security teams that are trained and prepared to protect the flock. I know because I’ve trained with them! But, why them and not us? They seem to follow the Lord’s admonition as documented in D&C 38:25-30. Are the Brethren esteeming their brothers and sisters who congregate every Sunday as themselves? (D&C 38:25) Are some of us worthy to be clothed in robes and others only worthy of being clothed in rags? (D&C 38:26) Are we being one? If not, we are not His. (D&C 38:27) For, make no mistake, brothers and sisters, the enemy seeks our lives! (D&C 38:28) Wherefore, let us treasure up wisdom, lest the wickedness of men reveals his evil designs to destroy us with a voice louder that that which shall shake the earth. Let us then, be prepared so we won’t fear! (D&C 38:30) Keeping our heads deep in the sand won’t save lives…
Folks, our compliance with the Church Handbook is a measure of our faith. Please, do not bring weapons into our chapels, church office buildings, Temples, or activities that are not specifically located where use and training for weapons are planned. Our leaders and the Lord have instructed us on this issue. I have had enough experience in church service and teaching in violent communities to recognize the wisdom and directions contained in the Handbook of Instruction. Be vigilant. Stay aware of what is happening around you. And listen to and obey the promptings of the Spirit. Remember Peter’s misstep when he smote off the ear of one of the party that came to arrest Jesus.
We all believe that the Lord will fight our battles; but how? Will He do it while we are unconcerned and make no effort whatever for our own safety when an enemy is upon us? If we make no effort to guard our towns, our houses, our cities, our wives and children, will the Lord guard them for us? He will not; but if we pursue the opposite course and strive to help Him to accomplish His designs, then will He fight our battles. We are baptized for the remission of sins; but it would be quite as unreasonable to expect a remission of sins without baptism, as to expect the Lord to fight our battles without our taking every precaution to be prepared to defend ourselves. The Lord requires us to be quite as willing to fight our own battles as to have Him fight them for us. If we are not ready for an enemy when he comes upon us, we have not lived up to the requirements of Him who guides the ship of Zion, or who dictates the affairs of his kingdom.
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Perhaps reading the 130+ quotes from the general authorities, especially recent prophet Nelson, appealing to all of us to be peacemakers is falling on some deaf ears, since peacemaking and arming oneself to the max are anathema. You can prepare for war and thus be making war, or you can prepare for peace and thus be making peace… But you can’t do both. The Church – per revelation from God – specifically denounces war as evil.
The only war we need be concerned about is the war against evil, as we prepare for the second coming, which is peace.
War begets war, evil begets evil, hate begets hate, peace begets peace, love begets love.
You can absolutely be prepared to defend yourself and others while being a peace maker. You are conflating peacemaker with pacifist. By your logic Heleman, the two thousand strippling warriors, Captain Moroni, Zions camp, current armed church security, law enforcement officers, etc. are all just a bunch of blood thirsty warmongers. This is simply untrue. If Satan seeks to destroy the church and the members of the church how is it helpful for the members to be completely passive in their ability to protect themselves or their families.
The church needs to realize that the world we live in, is no longer safe. And needs to update its safety and security guidelines.And realize that criminals consider churches “soft targets”.
The Mormon church has a “no gun policy” on church property, but you should have designated people for security that are carrying either pepper ball or OC gel spray as “proactive greeters” at the entry way of the meeting house.Also, familiar with First Aid/CPR and AED. Most LDS churches don’t have basic first aid kits.
“Many times these events happen because the members themselves are not empathetic, we are not examples of love and service, and that is where people want to retaliate, I DO NOT JUSTIFY THIS KIND OF ACTIONS but we should not judge without knowing how things happened.”
I disagree totally with this assessment. First, I highly doubt that actions like these are a result of members of the church not being loving and rendering service. So much so that I would bet serious money on that. The other thing, “we should not judge without knowing how things happened.” What’s to judge? A non-member perp walked in, threatened, intimidated, attempted to assault people, and sprayed some with a substance. Not knowing how things happened? Here’s how it happened: He walked in the door, entered the chapel, and did it.
Yes we should be welcoming and non-judgmental, but that does not exclude being discerning and having situational awareness. They are not mutually exclusive.