What Now?
An unspeakable sadness settled over the United States the afternoon of September 10, 2025. By all accounts, though, in Orem, Utah, on the campus of Utah Valley University, it was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, classes had begun very recently, and everyone was in that ānew school yearā spirit. From the various videos taken in the late morning sunshine, there was going to be a great crowd who had come to hear, and possibly talk to, Charlie Kirk.
What happened at 12:23 PM on that faithful day is something that none of us will ever forget. Weāve seen the videos. They are raw and hateful and an affront to everything this country stands for. Mr. Kirk had to come to celebrate our nation, and to talk with thousands of students, as he always did on his college tours.
Iām not going to hash out logistics. I refuse to give the evil people responsible for this any more publicity than theyāve already gotten. But it has to be said: Charlie Kirk was assassinated for his belief in the Constitution, the sanctity of marriage, and the rule of law.
Erika Kirk has been phenomenal throughout this tragedy. My heart aches for her, wife to wife, mother to mother. My heart breaks for those two young children who are going to have to grow up without their Dad.
What I find interesting, though, is that there are thousands of people coming forward, posting on social media that this tragedy has hit them hard. Unexpectedly hard. People on the right, people on the left, centrists, and people that are apolitical. People that never met Mr. Kirk, never spoke to him, maybe even had never seen him in videos, these people are saying that it feels like a death in the family. And for all intents and purposes, it is. Mr. Kirkās death resonates in the American spirit. Thatās why we all feel it, and weāre saddened to our core.
The American spirit, the true American spirit, is one of seeking commonality, respecting differing beliefs, and ultimately finding a way forward. Mr. Kirk represented all of that, and more. Jesus taught that "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick," emphasizing that he came to call sinners to repentance, not the righteous (Matthew 9:12, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:31). Mr. Kirk was all about loving the sinners, while still hating the sin. He could find some kind of touchstone with each person that he interacted with, whoever they were. He was an amazing communicator, one that could make each person feel like it was OK to talk to this guy, because he wanted to become a friend.
And so I say to all of you, one of the best ways that we can honor Charlie Kirkās life is to go out in the world and be just like him. No judgments, no condemnation, just empathy and facts. We hurt because we know that this was what he was trying to do. And weāll ultimately be strong, because he would want us to keep doing it.