The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Jewish congregation Kol Ami are the only two churches in Utah that have notified the Utah Department of Public Safety of their intent to prohibit firearms in their houses of worship in Utah.
The LDS Church also published a public notice about it in the main newspapers in January 2017.
Church policy is outlined in Handbook number two:
“Churches are dedicated for the worship of god and as havens from the cares and concerns of the world. The carrying of lethal weapons, concealed or otherwise, within their walls is inappropriate except as required by officers of the law.”
The Texas attorney general suggested more guns should be in churches to thwart the next massacre, either through professional security or arming some of the parishioners.
Salt Lake’s Calvary Baptist Church held a workshop on security before Sunday’s shootings. Pastor France Davis says they added security to their events this week celebrating their 125th anniversary.
