But Allen said she fears its still not enough to convince the many families in her congregation who refuse to wear masks and have succumbed to anti-vaccine misinformation. Dec. 7 First Presidency announces the first four temples moving to Phase 3, reopening for proxy work. Oct. 4-5 General conference is broadcast from the Conference Center Theater and closed to the public. Since the spread of these COVID-19 variants could delay the time to reach herd immunity, the need for our churches to have plans on how and when to gather is greater than ever. For them, the image is a powerful one: That prophet on his knees praying and pleading for a COVID-19 vaccine to relieve the worlds suffering during a pandemic he once referred to as a plague. A family receives the sacrament tray while holding their face masks. Is faith the key to herd immunity? Allen, a church member living in Wisconsin, is among a contingent who fear fellow members who refuse to get vaccinated are allowing their political views to supersede their loyalty to a faith that largely prioritizes unity and obedience. April 25, 2023. James Broughton, the senior pastor of a predominantly African American congregation said, This is such a complicated situationwith so many moving parts. Under President Nelsons leadership, the church in February gave $20 million through Latter-day Saint Charitiesto support COVAX, a global campaign to provide 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines to people in low- and middle-income countries. Sister Linda Hsiung of the China Hong Kong Mission takes a selfie with other missionaries on the citys Mass Transit. In consulting with four churches in my home city of Seattle to plan for this transition, I've seen leaders struggle with the complex issues before them. Dec. 5 The First Presidencys annual Christmas devotional returns to its traditional venue in the Conference Center on Temple Square with a limited 4,000-person audience. July 20 Open house and rededication dates announced for the Washington D.C. Temple in spring 2022 after months of COVID-19-related delays. However, church leaders may have reservations about separating their congregants into groups. We are hopeful that the availability of COVID-19 vaccines will allow our society and churches to return to normal. Charity and Mollie McClure of the Oakley 1st Ward, Oakley Idaho Stake, watch the Sunday afternoon session of the 190th Annual General Conference on April 5, 2020. Keynote speakers from all over the world participated in RootsTech Connect in February 2021. However, some Catholic prelates and evangelical pastors have been sharply critical of the the vaccine campaign and masking mandates, and others have shied away from addressing those issues for fear of angering some congregation members. Two weeks later, on March 25, President Russell M. Nelson and his counselors,President Dallin H. OaksandPresident Henry B. Eyring,announced all temples would close. May 11 The first 17 temples reopen in Phase 1, offering living husband-and-wife sealings. New research shows that faith-based initiatives could boost vaccination rates among not just the religious but all Americans. Laurie Brenner, a pastor of a Seattle neighborhood church deeply engaged in the community, said, In my medium-size church, there is a real tension. 30 million meals to children in nine developing countries. Church leaders can set an example to their congregations by getting vaccinated themselves. The Church Urges More Action to Limit the Spread of COVID-19 A nontraditional returned missionary just took second place in the Ukrainian national TV version of The Voice. Nice short story from my colleague, Trent Toone. May 6 President Nelson addresses reintegration of Church worship and activities in video on social media. Jan. 15 A letter from President M. Russell Ballard asks local leaders to look for local youth conference and camp opportunities in 2021; FSY conferences in U.S. and Canada postponed until 2022. In March 2020, church leaders suspended all church gatherings and closed temples. COVID The next several months will be a transition period when vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals mingle in our communities, but it is not yet safe to return to normal life.

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