At BYU Devotional, President Calls for Peace After Killing of Charlie Kirk at UVU

Brigham Young University President Shane Reese used part of his weekly campus devotional on Tuesday to address the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was shot last week just four miles away at Utah Valley University.

Speaking at the Marriott Center before more than 12,000 students, faculty and staff, Mr. Reese described the attack as a “truly dark day” for the community. “My heart shattered when I heard news of the assassination at UVU, which took the life of Charlie Kirk,” he said. “Our family is praying for Charlie’s family. We are praying for our dear friends and neighbors at UVU.”

BYU, sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, frequently frames campus life in terms of Christian discipleship. Mr. Reese urged his audience to respond to the violence with compassion, invoking Christ’s command to “love even our enemies.”

He pointed to the efforts of campus police, counselors and faculty members who had provided support in the aftermath, saying their work showed how “light” could prevail over tragedy.

Mr. Reese also echoed remarks from Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah, denouncing political violence as an attack on the U.S. Constitution, which Latter-day Saints regard as divinely inspired. “Political violence chills the exchange of ideas which is the lifeblood of our democratic republic,” he said. “Taking a life engaged in the act of speech … is an attack on the bedrock of our inspired Constitution.”

Quoting Church President Russell M. Nelson, who serves as chairman of BYU’s board of trustees, Mr. Reese warned against anger and contention. “Anger never persuades. Hostility builds no one,” he recited. “As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to be examples of how to interact with others — especially when we have differences of opinion.”

To reassure students shaken by the shooting, Mr. Reese recalled a message from C.S. Lewis to Oxford students in 1939 as World War II began: that the work of learning must continue even in dark times. “Our response to death and darkness must never be to stop living or to start dimming our light,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, the BYU president urged his campus to embrace resilience and peacemaking. “Yes, darkness had its day,” he said. “But I’m here to testify that Christ’s light will prevail — his light provides the comfort we need in any time of trial, hurt or sorrow. It always has and it always will.”