The following is excerpted from the Deseret News. To read the full article, CLICK HERE.

All meetings and activities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are temporarily canceled, effective immediately.

The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles made the joint announcement in a statement on the same day that Utah Gov. Gary Herbert asked churches, among others, to limit gatherings to fewer than 100 people for two weeks.

“Beginning immediately, all public gatherings of church members are being temporarily suspended worldwide until further notice,” the statement said. “This includes stake conferences, leadership conferences and other large gatherings; all public worship services, including sacrament meetings; (and) branch, ward and stake activities.”

The church leaders said bishops should counsel with their stake president to determine how to make the sacrament, the sacred weekly ordinance in which they renew their covenants with God to live in harmony with Christ’s teachings and commandments, available to members at least once a month.

Herbert requested that churches and other groups begin to limit gatherings effective Monday. The church decided not to wait.

To read the full article, CLICK HERE.