The following is excerpted from The Salt Lake Tribune. To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
Latter-day Saints may preach and sing about following their prophet, but last week’s statement by the faith’s top leaders urging members to wear masks and get vaccinated offered a glimpse of how seriously the faithful take that mantra.
In its strongest statement yet, the governing First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asked members to take these measures to “limit the spread” of COVID-19 and its variants. They assured believers that the available vaccines are “safe and effective.”
President Russell M. Nelson, a former heart surgeon, and his two counselors advised members to “follow the wise and thoughtful recommendations of medical experts and government leaders.”
Though the presidency statement didn’t require that it be read aloud over the pulpit on Sunday, many Latter-day Saint bishops and stake (regional) presidents across the country and around the world did so. And many members have said on social media that the directions from their local lay leaders as well as congregational behavior shifted almost immediately.
The effect was “a pronounced, obvious change,” said Tim May of Vancouver, Wash. “Last week, we had one to two families masked. This week, every family but one was masked.”
The First Presidency’s Thursday message was read aloud, May said, along with “an aligned message from our stake president, a surgeon.”
Other members received emails from their leaders after Thursday’s announcement and before Sunday’s services.
“In response to this prophetic direction, we ask that all of our wards and branches immediately implement this counsel,” the president of Salt Lake City’s Ensign Stake wrote in an email. “This means resuming mask-wearing and, where possible in our meetinghouses, practicing social distancing. Please communicate this message to your ward and branch members, households, those to whom you minister, and friends. We also strongly urge all our stake members to follow the First Presidency’s counsel by being vaccinated if health permits.”
To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
Gary GarnerAugust 30, 2021
It's amazing to me that we have a prophet and we talk about following the prophet but then either don't or feel that we need to fact check him.. We fast and pray for a vaccine and then when we are blessed with it in record time (a miracle) we feel that it may be ok for you but not for me. I think that there are lessons that can be drawn from the Parable of the 10 Virgins here.
MelAugust 27, 2021
There is no reason for conflict nor judgement amongst the members of the church concerning the recent announcement. If we adhere to the direction given on this matter from the official church handbook we would not be dealing with so much divisiveness with our membership : Official Handbook of the Church: 38.7.13 Vaccinations "Vaccinations administered by competent medical professionals protect health and preserve life. Members of the Church are encouraged to safeguard themselves, their children, and their communities through vaccination. Ultimately, individuals are responsible to make their own decisions about vaccination. If members have concerns, they should counsel with competent medical professionals and also seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost." As someone who has sought counsel with multiple competent medical professionals and also sought the guidance of the Holy Ghost as per direction from the First Presidency, the instruction I have received is different from many, but right for me. Could this be an opportunity for the members of the church to consider the uncut direction in the handbook concerning vaccines and have the confidence each of us will do the work of researching and receiving spiritual guidance, and then show respect for each other even if our answers might look different?