But another church continues to say mask wearers and the vaccinated aren't welcome at worship services. Church leaders can set an example to their congregations by getting vaccinated themselves. But a return to normalcy will take time. Dec. 31 Wuhan Municipal Health Authorities report a string of pneumonia-like cases to World Health Organization (WHO). July 10 Utah Area presidency urges Latter-day Saints in the state to wear masks in public. Sept. 17 The prerecorded 2021 Church Music Festival is held virtually and streamed online. Nov. 29 Christmas on Temple Square kicks off with a virtual concert titled Witnesses of Christ.. Other church members are upset that their leaders arent letting them exercise their own decision-making about vaccines and masks. Ben McClure wrote, Charity and Mollie put up pictures of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and attached picture summaries of their talks next to their pictures. Why would you choose the side that doesnt include your faith leader?. Therefore, the decision on when it is safe for vaccinated and unvaccinated congregants to gather should primarily be based on the level of COVID-19 infection in the community and not on the proportion of congregants vaccinated. The Church urges its members, employees and missionaries to be The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The available COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and provide protection against severe infections, the First That's the approach many leaders of white evangelical churches are taking. To help our congregants take responsibility, it would be helpful if they knew their risk level. received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, 2 years of COVID-19: President Ballards message of optimism as the pandemic rages on, missionaries out of the China Hong Kong Mission, information about missionary work, temple work and worship services, discourages leaders, members from international travels, Rome Italy Temple first in Europe to close, 17 countries cancelling or limiting Sunday worship services, Nonnative Korean missionaries return home, suspended on Church-owned college campuses, Utah will restrict gatherings of more than 100 people, cancels concerts and makes changes to broadcasts, additional information regarding temple adjustments, Nonnative missionaries in the Philippines, Church distribution retail stores reduce hours, Nonnative missionaries in 26 African missions and the Micronesia Guam Mission, April general conference to be held from small auditorium, substantial numbers of missionaries will return to home countries, Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple, Bountiful Utah Temple, shortened length of service for missionaries, follow President Nelsons invitation to fast, President Nelson calls for a second worldwide fast, more than 110 COVID-19 relief projects in 57 countries, new administrative principles for the Church, treks and Church pageants canceled for 2020, to COVID-19 relief efforts across the U.S, reintegration of Church worship and activities, announces some meetings, activities to resume, Washington D.C. Temple open house, dedication dates, 12 temples first to enter phase 2 of reopening plan, announce cancellation of annual Christmas concert, guidelines for safely increasing Church activity, assigning missionaries beyond home countries. Please do all you can to protect yourself and others so the work of the Lord on both sides of the veil can move forward, the First Presidency wrote. The CDC does not list brain aneurysms as a common side effect after COVID-19 vaccination in any age group. Activities that carry a higher risk of airborne COVID-19 transmission should start only when infection rate is low, while those with a lower risk can start at a higher infection rate. The Religious Leaders Caught in the Vaccine Wars People seeking to obtain an exemption from the shot have found that some clergy see no theological 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. 30 million meals to children in nine developing countries. The vaccine has been polarizing among the evangelical right-wing community. Image: PFLEGER: Fleming says it's too divisive. The photo is one he included as a submission to the Church History Departments project of documenting missionary experiences during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, which drew 7,000 online entries from missionaries and mission leaders worldwide. 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. The risk of exposure to the virus is simply sharing the air that other people breathe. Dec. 17 The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square records its 2022 Christmas concert in the Conference Center with a limited audience of 4,000. Just 3 percent of all Covid-19 vaccine doses delivered in 2021 went to Africa, home to a fifth of the worlds population, according to the World Health Organization. More than 50 congregants who attended a Sunday service got sick. Sessions remain closed to the public. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Among other denominations in the U.S., faith leaders have varied widely in how they address the issues of vaccinations and mask wearing. Oct. 30-31 ExpoGenealoga, a virtual family history event in Spanish, is hosted in Mexico. Nov. 12 Utah Area Presidency issues four temporary adjustments to meetings and activities; the Church announces plans for Temple Square lights and virtual Christmas devotionals and performances. ]. The outbreak could have been much worse, but he says they were lucky. 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. Feb. 27 First Presidency discourages leaders, members from international travels to April general conference; Church statement reports 14 missions across 17 countries undergoing changes; Fukuoka Japan Temple and Sapporo Japan Temple to close. April 17 The global death toll from COVID-19 surpasses 3 million. Churches may choose slightly higher or lower thresholds for starting activities. 1 of 3. Made me miss walking up to the Conference Center for general conference and passing people seeking free tickets to enter a session. Healthcare workers prepare to administer COVID-19 tests on members of the Tabernacle Choir and members of the media on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, leading up to the Latter-day Saint music groups first in-person rehearsal since the beginning of the pandemic. After 10 months of limited in-person gatherings or online programming, church congregantslike the rest of societyfeel pandemic fatigue. One U.S. Catholic leader, Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, has said he opposes the use of any COVID-19 vaccine with any connection to aborted human This story has been updated to correct that Church President Russell M. Nelson is a former heart surgeon, not a cardiologist, and to clarify the vaccination rules for missionaries. Is this somebody that is wrong for me to follow? If a significant proportion of people in our communities refuse to be vaccinated, this will prolong the pandemic and its harmful effects on our society. Although experts are not certain vaccination will prevent the spread of COVID-19, there is a very good chance that vaccines will reduce at least some (if not most) COVID-19 transmission. Missionaries who are not fully vaccinated are also unable to receive an assignment outside of their home country. On Jan. 19, 2021, eight senior Church leaders received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The church temporarily paused in-person services. PFLEGER: Fleming is vaccinated himself. Nov. 9 Church announces Giving Machines will not be used this season, but the #LightTheWorld service campaign will move forward. Nurse Marie St. Jean administers a COVID-19 vaccination to Rev. We need to give everyone an accessible experience.. Jan. 15 Global death toll surpasses 2 million. To unlock this article for your friends, use any of the social share buttons on our site, or simply copy the link below. May 28 U.S. death toll surpasses 100,000. March 6 Nonnative Korean missionaries return home; Seattle Washington Temple first in U.S. to close as Washington reports highest state death toll to date. March 12 First Presidency suspends Church gatherings worldwide; senior missionaries, missionaries with health conditions to return home from 22 European missions; temple closures total 13. The Assembly Hall, Tabernacle, Church History Library and Joseph Smith Memorial Building also reopen. Feb. 12 Utah Area Presidency again updates COVID-19 safety measures with focus on Primary children, meetings and activities. March 23 All 10 MTCs close, nonnative missionaries in Mexico, Vietnam and India to return to home countries; Utah Area presidency asks families to not congregate at airports as missionaries return home; Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple, Bountiful Utah Temple first in Utah to close. Feb. 21 Church releases information about missionary work, temple work and worship services for members and missionaries in several Asian countries; Taiwan Taipei Temple and Seoul Korea Temple first to close. Aug. 21 Choir leaders announce cancellation of annual Christmas concert featuring the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, Orchestra at Temple Square, and Bells at Temple Square. Church-owned Brigham Young University in Utah has asked students to report their vaccination status but is not requiring vaccinations. PAIGE PFLEGER, BYLINE: At a recent Sunday service, pastor Travis Fleming stands at the pulpit and prays. In countries like the US where the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines began last December, experts predict it will be fall before vaccination coverage reaches 7090 percent and herd immunity can hopefully be achieved. March 16 Church announces adjustments to missionary work (missionary elders may be released at 21 months, missionaries with health issues may be released, missionary calls will continue); Church releases additional information regarding temple adjustments (limit of 8 guests for living ordinances, distribution centers continue to operate where temples are open); many Church historic sites and more temples close. March 24 Tokyo Olympics postponed until 2021. Since the beginning of the pandemic, approximately 1.1 million deaths have been attributed to COVID-19, with most occurring among patients aged 65 And when they do get back together, he'll ask people to wear masks. A family receives the sacrament tray while holding their face masks. Only then can society begin to resume more normal activities. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) After more than a year of attending church virtually, Monique Allen has struggled to explain to her asthmatic daughter why people from their congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints dont wear masks. However, church leaders may have reservations about separating their congregants into groups. The project, completed in mid-2021, Sept. 21 For the first time in 555 days, the Tabernacle Choir gathers for rehearsal. As COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out, many churchgoers are in a lower priority group for vaccination, and some may never be vaccinated either by choice or due to health reasons. Feb. 26 Latter-day Saint Charities announces $20 million donation to support UNICEFs COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Our church emphasizes the importance of personal accountability and not just what the church mandates, said Elton Lee, an elder of a large Chinese American church, who is grateful for members who take responsibility to protect others. Oct. 4-5 General conference is broadcast from the Conference Center Theater and closed to the public. April 8 Utah Area Presidency asks local leaders to develop a plan to return to in-person Church meetings. Oct. 11 Brazil, Mexico, Colombia MTCs set to reopen for on-site training, and Provo MTC expands to training in 17 languages. April 2 COVID-19 cases top 1 million people in 171 countries across six continents, death toll at least 51,000. The common perception of Mormons and Mormonism is that when church leaders speak, church members listen and do what theyre told, said Mason. Nov. 26 WHO classifies Omicron as a variant of concern. PFLEGER: That's what Locke sounds like when he's preaching from the stage under his red-and-white-striped tent. March 14 President Nelson shares message of hope on social media channels. FLEMING: It's obviously also - should be a wakeup call for those who are unvaccinated to say, oh, I don't want to go through that as an unvaccinated person. This is an alarming development because these variants may worsen and prolong the pandemic. GREG LOCKE: You will not wear masks in this church. It is fair to ask people to mitigate their risk for the sake of others. Less than half of Utah residents overall are unvaccinated, not less than half of the eligible population. March 5 Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Squares Heritage Tour postponed until 2022. Why? But if the virus can spread through the vaccinated, then we must continue to use masking, physical distancing, and other means to protect vaccinated individuals from COVID-19 in the same way we protect unvaccinated individuals. Dec. 1 Christmas on Temple Square kicks off with virtual concert and tour of the lights; the #LightTheWorld daily service initiative begins. 2023. BRIDGEPORT Local religious institutions are helping to win the fight against COVID-19. Many of our elderly and more vulnerable church members, who will be vaccinated earlier, may welcome an earlier opportunity to gather before everyone can safely do so. Keynote speakers from all over the world participated in RootsTech Connect in February 2021. As in my previous CT articles on church gatherings during this pandemic, I have tried to discern Gods call for his church using two guideposts: biblical truths and scientific knowledge, both of which have been given by God. The most trusted members of many communities are in our churches. Our congregants can lower this risk by reducing their close contact with others (defined as being within six feet of another person for at least 15 minutes) and increasing the use of face masks, physical distancing, and well-ventilated spaces when meeting with others. For example, he thinks that COVID-19 is a flu that's being overblown by the government. Brand-new vaccines from polio to measles to Covid-19 are tested in large clinical trials that include placebo groups. Nov. 22 The Church donates cold chain equipment to help preserve COVID-19 vaccines in Panama. If scientists determine that vaccinated individuals can still harbor the virus and spread it, then even after a high proportion of people are vaccinated, the risk of spread may remain high as long as the level of COVID-19 infection in the community remains high (see upper figure). Residents may go to vaccines.gov for information about where vaccine An easy first step would be small groups for vaccinated individuals. Nov. 1 Church announces the return of #LightTheWorld Giving Machines in 10 U.S. cities; Family History Library expands its hours to Saturdays and evenings. In an attempt to control the spread of COVID-19, missionaries are being trained by remote video conference rather than travel to the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 10 missionary training centers. June 14 Conference Center becomes first of Temple Square facilities to reopen to the public. Disease control experts have long recognized the importance of behavioral change in helping people reduce their risk of exposure to an infectious agent. She uncovered some interesting findings and interviewed people on both sides of the issue. GREENE: We're in a time right now that we are uncertain of, so I'm praying for discernment. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. How long this takes is affected by the availability, effectiveness, and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines as well as the contagiousness of new COVID-19 variants. Aug. 30 First Presidency announces new dates for the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple public house and dedication to be held in October. 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. Rumors about malicious misuse of the vaccine and mass conspiracies have We need to provide options for all, said Hinman. Then, as circumstances allowed and opportunities arose, they also found ways for members to safely gather, for temple work to be performed and for missionaries to share the gospel message. He even has a tattoo on his bicep that says fear is a liar. Men and women work at Beehive Clothing in Salt Lake City, Utah, where surgical gowns are being made during the COVID-19 pandemic on Friday, May 15, 2020. There is a lot of distrust of the government, of science, and of President Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination on Tuesday morning, Jan. 19, 2021. March 17 The virtual, prerecorded 2021 Youth Music Festival is steamed in 11 languages. March 22 Total of 88 temples closed; Five Church-chartered commercial planes fly more than 1,600 nonnative missionaries in the Philippines back to Salt Lake City; Church releases self-isolation guidelines for missionaries and their families. LOCKE: People are like, how can you be so sure of yourself? May 6 President Nelson addresses reintegration of Church worship and activities in video on social media. President Dallin H. Oaks speaks during the Sunday afternoon session of the 190th Annual General Conference on April 5, 2020. Credit: Screenshot, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Therefore, my suggestions remain relevant even with the spread of these variants. On one hand we do not want to separate people; on the other hand people want to meet as soon as possible., But the church leaders I talked with generally believe it is possible to set up gatherings just for those who have been vaccinated. Dec. 7 First Presidency announces the first four temples moving to Phase 3, reopening for proxy work. I have adapted them for the steps in the table. The spread of the new virus variants, which increase the contagiousness of individuals with COVID-19, makes this more important. But later, sitting amid the rows of empty plastic folding chairs, he's more cool-headed. I need to go ahead and get vaccinated. Many of his congregants are vaccinated and didn't have serious symptoms. A church that earlier denied the severity of COVID-19 changed its messaging after an outbreak. The The Assembly Hall on Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City during the 2021 Christmas season. The table below provides guidance on in-person activities that can start once the level of COVID-19 infection drops to certain thresholds. Dec. 10 BYUHawaii holds first in-person graduation ceremony since pandemic began, with Elder Carl B. Cook of the Presidency of the Seventy offering the commencement address. Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong, Sister Carol Wong, Sister Susan Gong, Elder Gerrit W. Gong, Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela and Sister Silvia Valenzuela stand for a portrait at the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple in Winnipeg, Canada, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. Credit: Daniel Crump, for the Deseret News. We are thankful for the countless doctors, scientists, researchers, manufacturers, government leaders, and others who have performed the grueling work required to make this vaccine available., That same day, the churchs First Presidency, of which he is the head, released an official statement urging church members to help quell the pandemic by safeguarding themselves and others through immunization because vaccinations administered by competent medical professionals protect health and preserve life.. July 20 First Presidency announces changes to temple endowment ceremony. Most recently, on Sept. 22, the First Presidency directed the use of face masks in temples and reiterated theirurging for Church members to be vaccinated. He thinks the vaccine is a gift from God. Jeff Jackson, a Life Tabernacle Church parishioner, told CNN he believes vaccines are detrimental to your health. Patricia Seal, also a Life Tabernacle Church The CDC does not list brain aneurysms as a common side effect after COVID-19 vaccination in any age group. Oct. 19 John Sai Keong Kauwe III is officially installed as the 11th president of Brigham Young UniversityHawaii after COVID-19 delayed the inauguration in 2020. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Nelson is Gods living prophet to the world. Dear Members of the Gonzaga University Community, In March of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced government officials worldwide to limit or close many workplaces (including universities), none of us had any idea how protracted or complex Local health officials also strongly encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. A Relief Society sister from Bucaramanga, Colombia, crafts face masks as part of a local service project to protect others from COVID-19. Therefore, church leaders can play an important role in encouraging their congregants to get vaccinated. 2023. LOCKE: And the facts embolden me. Dec. 3 BYU Womens Conference announces it will take a one-year pause as options are explored for 2023. The handbook update reemphasized the First Presidencys consistent direction since at least 1978. 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. Feb. 4 Utah Area Presidency updates COVID-19 safety measures and returns to September 2020 guidelines; Latter-day Saint Charities provides 30 million meals to children in nine developing countries. Feb. 25-27 All-virtual RootsTech Connect draws more than 1.1 million participants from 242 countries and territories. April 30 New missionary assignments made following April 30 deadline; Church properties for camps and conferences to close, treks and Church pageants canceled for 2020; Church donates $5.5 million to COVID-19 relief efforts across the U.S.; 280 relief projects in 80 countries have been initiated. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. As Paige Pfleger from member station WPLN reports, some local church leaders take that responsibility seriously. The Missionary Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent the following message on Friday, April 23, 2021, to Church leaders in the United States: COVID-19 vaccines are becoming Missionaries are on board a flight during a pandemic-prompted departure from their mission, as photographed by Sister Joyce Havens of the Tahiti Papeete Mission. This will undoubtedly influence a churchs decision to gather. Locke put up a vinyl sign facing the street that says, Global Vision is a mask-free church that celebrates faith over fear. One member, Marie Johnson, said she has been disappointed that so many in her community have heeded misinformation on social media rather than church leaderships continued calls for vaccination. June 11 For the Strength of Youth (FSY) conferences scheduled to resume summer 2022 after two years of being postponed. Dec. 19 The Europe Area broadcasts Witnesses of Christmas, a concert originating from theRome Italy Temple Visitors Centerand the historic Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen, Denmark, with President Oaks as the concluding speaker. Message to Community Regarding COVID-19 Vaccines (4/25/23) April 25, 2023.