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LEADERS & MINISTRY 12 August 2021 – Salt Lake City
First Presidency Message The First Presidency Urges Latter-day Saints to Wear Face Masks When Needed and Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19“We can win this war if everyone will follow the wise and thoughtful recommendations of medical experts and government leaders”Dear Brothers and Sisters:We find ourselves fighting a war against the ravages of COVID-19 and its variants, an unrelenting pandemic. We want to do all we can to limit the spread of these viruses. We know that protection from the diseases they cause can only be achieved by immunizing a very high percentage of the population.To limit exposure to these viruses, we urge the use of face masks in public meetings whenever social distancing is not possible. To provide personal protection from such severe infections, we urge individuals to be vaccinated. Available vaccines have proven to be both safe and effective. We can win this war if everyone will follow the wise and thoughtful recommendations of medical experts and government leaders. Please know of our sincere love and great concern for all of God’s children. The First Presidency Russell M. Nelson First Presidency urges Latter-day Saints to wear masks, be vaccinated |
Guest Author
dyejo
2 comments
What ever happened to using the Priesthood to caste out evil. Has that been cancelled as well? I would have hoped that the brethren who run this church could unitedly raise their hands to the square and cast this evil virus out. We know it was created in China with Lucifer’s help and guidance. We were urged to get vaccinated. Many of us did so. Now they tell us that it isn’t enough to get vaccinated. We are now told to wear the masks again in order to attend our church meetings. It is getting very confusing. But, I will follow the prophet and rely on the belief that He is being guided by the Lord.
Of course we follow the Prophet! Let’s also remember that this was given specifically as a point of recommendation that the Church suggested and not as doctrine. And soon after the letter was sent, the local leaders were instructed specifically by the General Authorities that they should say from the pulpit that no member confront another in any circumstance for not using a mask or taking a vaccine. Many years ago, the leaders of the Church suggested that women should not work outside of the home but this was also just a recommendation (source: https://universe.byu.edu/1996/10/07/pres-hinckleyrnnaddresses-rolernnspirit-of-women/). In fact, we see the general women leaders of the Church and we observe that many of them worked as professionals even when they had children at home (source: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/callings/relief-society-organization/inspiration-for-women/meet-the-relief-society-general-leaders) The principle is that women should not neglect to fulfill their role of taking care of their children first and foremost. Even Elder Renlund’s wife was a lawyer as a mother and she was NOT a sinner for so choosing (source: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/what-elder-renlund-learned-when-sister-renlund-went-to-law-school).
Context also is extremely important to remember. They are speaking about masks in Church meetings and only there and why? They do not want us to lose the opportunity to gather to partake of the sacrament–the holiest ordinance outside of the temple of the Lord–as a congregation as much as possible. In many countries, not putting on a mask can result in civil punishment (source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/8/17/which-countries-have-made-wearing-face-masks-compulsory) even if the efficacy of masks is highly questionable (source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/04/commentary-masks-all-covid-19-not-based-sound-data) and vaccines, while still somewhat effective, have substantially diminished in efficacy (source: https://www.facebook.com/ewtnonline/posts/10158640213207582). In all cases, Church leaders do not want the Church to become a target. Even the vaccines, which are in the majority of cases safe to take as the First Presidency stated, have caused in limited cases harm such as blood clotting and tinnitus (source: https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/postings/2021/07/blood-clotting-covid19.php, https://www.drugdiscoverytrends.com/tinnitus-reports-grow-amid-covid-19-vaccinations/). We can see, therefore, that the purpose of this letter from the First Presidency is for the protection of Church interests, to avoid the Church from coming under the attack of governments and activists, although members and even leaders themselves confidentially do not agree with these civil mask and vaccine mandates.