I resonate more with some of the comments here than I do with the article. I also wonder why this and a few Come Follow Me podcasts I've listened to gloss over D&C 42:43-44:
"And whosoever among you are sick, and have not faith to be healed, but believe, shall be nourished with all tenderness, with herbs and mild food, and that not by the hand of an enemy. And the elders of the church, two or more, shall be called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name; and if they die they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall live unto me."
With as much physical and emotional trouble I've had wearing a mask when I needed to, I can't imagine the effect a vaccine like this may have. "One size fits all remedies" do not fit all, and that's okay.
A. BinghamMay 6, 2021
A hearty effort to lay out a case for vaccination at this point in the COVID-19 pandemic. But sadly, these gene therapies are not one size fits all. Some people simply cannot tolerate this type of therapy and risk outweighs the benefits. Unfortunately you did not address a growing evidence base globally on the effectiveness of therapeutics in the prevention and early treatment of COVID like symptoms, and, efforts by scientists and practitioners to refine protocols that are currently being used in hospitals globally, endorsed by governments, globally and used extensively and successfully by practitioners. A one sided discussion. Many people are not able to take these gene therapies as the risk for adverse events and side effects simply outweigh the benefits. Therapeutics have far fewer adverse reactions and may be the safer option for some people. Thank you. https://covid19criticalcare.com/covid-19-protocols/i-mask-plus-protocol/
ScottHMay 5, 2021
Thank you for this article. We live in a time a great fear and mistrust. While the vaccines may seem like a godsend to some, others regard them with great suspicion. There are good reasons for this. Many of the institutions involved (big government, big pharma, big media, etc.) have trustworthiness issues due to power differentials, deliberate misinformation, demonstrated incompetence, and conflicting incentives. Many are also concerned about the long-term effects of the vaccines, which cannot be studied until enough time has passed. Institutions opposing the vaccine also have ulterior motives. Fortunately, we have living prophets who speak for the Lord, and we have access to the Holy Spirit to help us make decisions, even in the face of imperfect information and perverse incentives. Being vaccinated when moved to do so by divine counsel and whisperings of the Spirit does not have to mean that one trusts untrustworthy institutions; it only has to mean that one trusts God. The Lord can use any means at his disposal to work miracles, including corrupt and imperfect institutions.
Jim WinebrennerMay 5, 2021
Thank you very much for addressing this extremely timely and important issue. Thank you very much also addressing (at least slightly) some of the aspects of it that cause great concern to anyone paying attention to the real state of things.
Unfortunately, there are also other issues desperately needing to be addressed that you did not, and I've yet to find anyone addressing them at all within the framework of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Namely, the facts that there has never been any virus-based epidemic anywhere, let alone a pandemic; there was no need for any vaccine in the first place for a "disease" that amounts at most to a seasonal flu; we know that governments and non-government organizations and individuals are simply using this propaganda in an attempt to generate enough fear to get people to relinquish their freedoms, as is in fact happening already to a great degree; and so on, and so on.
Someone needs to address these issues and explain why the Church is not only ignoring the real problem, but the leaders themselves are actually getting unnecessarily vaccinated and encouraging others to do the same. I, for one, am desperately seeking an understanding of this, and have yet to receive any explanation from anyone.
Wally & Nancy GoddardMay 5, 2021
Beautiful! Often we don't recognize the miracles God delivers through familiar means. Thank you for your faith and your insight.
Michael DetrickMay 5, 2021
Very one-sided argument, totally ignoring the fact that there are thousands of medical doctors all over the world being censored as they attempt to educate us on safer methods of attacking the C0VlD pandemic. Too bad you chose to ignore all those doctors.
See AmericasFrontLineDoctors dot org
Ted WinderMay 5, 2021
What a sensible approach to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. I've been surprised and disappointed to hear some of my family and friends who feel vaccination doesn't apply to them, violates their rights or that it is a hoax. Thank you Dr. Bates for your thoughtful approach to this important and life-saving issue.
Bruce FelixMay 5, 2021
I am wondering how you take into account "D&C 84:97 And plagues shall go forth, and they shall not be taken from the earth until I have completed my work, which shall be cut short in righteousness---" ?
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Kristen OpenshawMay 7, 2021
I resonate more with some of the comments here than I do with the article. I also wonder why this and a few Come Follow Me podcasts I've listened to gloss over D&C 42:43-44: "And whosoever among you are sick, and have not faith to be healed, but believe, shall be nourished with all tenderness, with herbs and mild food, and that not by the hand of an enemy. And the elders of the church, two or more, shall be called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name; and if they die they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall live unto me." With as much physical and emotional trouble I've had wearing a mask when I needed to, I can't imagine the effect a vaccine like this may have. "One size fits all remedies" do not fit all, and that's okay.
A. BinghamMay 6, 2021
A hearty effort to lay out a case for vaccination at this point in the COVID-19 pandemic. But sadly, these gene therapies are not one size fits all. Some people simply cannot tolerate this type of therapy and risk outweighs the benefits. Unfortunately you did not address a growing evidence base globally on the effectiveness of therapeutics in the prevention and early treatment of COVID like symptoms, and, efforts by scientists and practitioners to refine protocols that are currently being used in hospitals globally, endorsed by governments, globally and used extensively and successfully by practitioners. A one sided discussion. Many people are not able to take these gene therapies as the risk for adverse events and side effects simply outweigh the benefits. Therapeutics have far fewer adverse reactions and may be the safer option for some people. Thank you. https://covid19criticalcare.com/covid-19-protocols/i-mask-plus-protocol/
ScottHMay 5, 2021
Thank you for this article. We live in a time a great fear and mistrust. While the vaccines may seem like a godsend to some, others regard them with great suspicion. There are good reasons for this. Many of the institutions involved (big government, big pharma, big media, etc.) have trustworthiness issues due to power differentials, deliberate misinformation, demonstrated incompetence, and conflicting incentives. Many are also concerned about the long-term effects of the vaccines, which cannot be studied until enough time has passed. Institutions opposing the vaccine also have ulterior motives. Fortunately, we have living prophets who speak for the Lord, and we have access to the Holy Spirit to help us make decisions, even in the face of imperfect information and perverse incentives. Being vaccinated when moved to do so by divine counsel and whisperings of the Spirit does not have to mean that one trusts untrustworthy institutions; it only has to mean that one trusts God. The Lord can use any means at his disposal to work miracles, including corrupt and imperfect institutions.
Jim WinebrennerMay 5, 2021
Thank you very much for addressing this extremely timely and important issue. Thank you very much also addressing (at least slightly) some of the aspects of it that cause great concern to anyone paying attention to the real state of things. Unfortunately, there are also other issues desperately needing to be addressed that you did not, and I've yet to find anyone addressing them at all within the framework of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Namely, the facts that there has never been any virus-based epidemic anywhere, let alone a pandemic; there was no need for any vaccine in the first place for a "disease" that amounts at most to a seasonal flu; we know that governments and non-government organizations and individuals are simply using this propaganda in an attempt to generate enough fear to get people to relinquish their freedoms, as is in fact happening already to a great degree; and so on, and so on. Someone needs to address these issues and explain why the Church is not only ignoring the real problem, but the leaders themselves are actually getting unnecessarily vaccinated and encouraging others to do the same. I, for one, am desperately seeking an understanding of this, and have yet to receive any explanation from anyone.
Wally & Nancy GoddardMay 5, 2021
Beautiful! Often we don't recognize the miracles God delivers through familiar means. Thank you for your faith and your insight.
Michael DetrickMay 5, 2021
Very one-sided argument, totally ignoring the fact that there are thousands of medical doctors all over the world being censored as they attempt to educate us on safer methods of attacking the C0VlD pandemic. Too bad you chose to ignore all those doctors. See AmericasFrontLineDoctors dot org
Ted WinderMay 5, 2021
What a sensible approach to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. I've been surprised and disappointed to hear some of my family and friends who feel vaccination doesn't apply to them, violates their rights or that it is a hoax. Thank you Dr. Bates for your thoughtful approach to this important and life-saving issue.
Bruce FelixMay 5, 2021
I am wondering how you take into account "D&C 84:97 And plagues shall go forth, and they shall not be taken from the earth until I have completed my work, which shall be cut short in righteousness---" ?
ColinMay 4, 2021
Hear, hear!
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