I am currently being flooded by parents and family members of Mormon missionaries, elderly senior missionaries, patriarchs, temple workers, etc. about the Mormon church’s tragically inadequate response to the COVID-19 / Coronavirus outbreak. It appears as though many church leaders, mission presidents, and missionaries are seeing the Corona virus pandemic as an opportunity to corner people in their homes, with hopes of spreading the gospel. It has also come to my attention that Mormon church patriarchs and temple workers (most of whom also fit into the high risk category) are still being asked to travel from home to home to give patriarchal blessings, or to show up at the temples.
Aside from the obvious risks to the missionaries (especially senior missionaries), patriarchs, and temple workers, these good people are also putting at risk the lives of the potential investigators and/or other families by becoming carriers to those who are more vulnerable. Below are examples sent to me by various Mormons around the globe:
Episode Transcript
Host: John Dehlin
This transcript is machine-generated and lightly edited for readability. The audio is authoritative. Please excuse occasional errors in names and spelling.
John Dehlin
Introduction and Context for This Special Episode
[00:00:00] Hello, everyone, and welcome to a special edition of Mormon Stories podcast. I'm your host, John Dehlin. It is March 17, 2020, and I'm very honored and humbled and eager to share with you today's Mormon Stories podcast episode. This is sort of a special emergency episode for those of you who are listening later in the history books.
[00:00:31] The entire globe, meaning Earth, is currently being sort of quarantined and swamped with a pandemic, which is known as COVID 19, or the coronavirus. Businesses have shut down. You know, the NBA and major sports organizations have all shut down.
[00:00:58] People are staying in their homes. Governments are requesting that its citizens all across the world no longer meet in groups of 10 or larger. And thousands and thousands of people have died. And there is an inadequate supply of COVID 19, or coronavirus testing kits in the United States and elsewhere. And so governments are currently underreporting the outbreak. And it's particularly tricky because while younger populations are less vulnerable and the elderly and people with physical health conditions are more vulnerable, younger people can still be carriers, even if they're not at high risk for illness.
[00:01:54] And a lot of times or many times, you can be a carrier of the virus without really any overt symptoms. So for all those reasons, we're kind of a very serious time globally and, you know, because we cover the Mormon Church and we wish the best for the Mormon Church and the Mormon people.
[00:02:18] We've been tracking the Mormon Church's response. Miraculously, the Mormon Church canceled sacrament meetings for the foreseeable future, which is really good. And we've seen some responses from the church to the Coronavirus or COVID 19, which is appropriate and valuable.
[00:02:46] There have been a few instances where the Mormon church, as of March 15th, 16th and 17th, have been sort of very tone deaf in terms of how they are responding. So today's episode is carrying on. After several days of posting things on social media, it's a public call for the Mormon Church to please quarantine their missionaries globally, patriarchs, temple workers, all from the COVID 19 or coronavirus.
[00:03:19] And the basic situation is, it follows I'm being flooded by parents and family members of Mormon missionaries of elderly senior missionaries of Mormon patriarchs of Mormon temple workers, all about the church's inadequate response to the COVID 19 or coronavirus outbreak.
[00:03:41] It appears as though many church leaders, mission presidents and missionaries are seeing the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to corner people in their homes with the hopes of spreading the gospel of noble intent from the standpoint of their values.
[00:03:59] It's also come to my attention that the Mormon Church still is having elderly people come to their temples to. To do temple work for the living. My understanding is the church has ceased for the time being temple work for the dead, but they're still doing temple work for the living. And all of these elderly temple workers who are in high risk categories are still congregating at Mormon temples.
[00:04:25] And then, you know, again, patriarchs, most stake patriarchs are in the high risk category. And my understanding is that patriarchs are still traveling from home to home to give patriarchal blessings. And, you know, this is a little bit complicated, especially as the missionaries go, because there are missions that have responded by quarantining their missionaries. My understanding is the mtc, the Improvo, is no longer accepting new missionaries.
[00:04:59] But for the past several days, several, the church, the Mormon Church, and several mission presidents have put out notices either to parents or to missionaries, basically saying, hey, you know, we've given our missionaries food and supplies. Our missionaries are young and they're healthy and they're not really at risk. So business as usual when it comes to proselyting.
[00:05:26] And because some mission presidents apparently are responding by quarantining their missionaries, it's super confusing because I have reports from all over the world where there are mission presidents who are not responding appropriately. And they're basically saying, yes, missionaries, wash your hands and try not to shake hands, but business as usual, go tracting. I've even had people send me videos of Mormon missionaries coming to their door and knocking on their doors during the coronavirus pandemic. So I am going to read now to you comments sent to me from concerned listeners and family members all over the world. And I just want to, you know, want to just do whatever I can to continue.
[00:06:13] After several days pressuring the Mormon Church to quarantine all missionaries, to cease temple operations, to stop stake patriarchs from traveling home to home, et cetera, et cetera. So here we go. Quote, saw a note from a missionary in Slovenia next to Italy. Italy has had one of the worst outbreaks in the world.
Missionaries Still in the Field During the Pandemic
[00:06:37] They have higher cases per capita than Italy and huge doubling rate, but still knocking on doors. And people are yelling at them for knocking doors, but God has asked them to. So that's in Slovenia, next to Italy, in Washington.
[00:06:55] Probably the highest outbreak per capita of anywhere in the United States. This is Washington. Yep, I live in Washington. And they showed up at our house last night and said they're actually having great success knocking on doors because people are home. Close quote.
[00:07:10] From Hungary. I have Just heard from my nephew in Hungary. The infection rate there is low. Low meaning the government may not be testing and so reports of infection rates might be low. I continue the infection rate there is low but they are still doing the same things day to day. Sunday they went to four small gatherings of members to hold a mini sacrament meeting. That doesn't seem safe. The thing that really gets me is that my sister and brother in law had to send extra money so they could stock up on a few weeks of groceries just in case. I can't believe the church is not recommending and funding that Next quote Again from Washington State.
[00:07:50] It's true. My friend in Washington state had missionaries knock on her door yesterday. She was horrified, as am I from Denver, Colorado. Yes it's true. We had a pair of male missionaries knocking on doors in our neighborhood yesterday. We are near Denver, Colorado in Brazil. My son in Brazil was told to buy two weeks of food but still proselyting.
[00:08:14] His mission president annoys me to death because he never provides any information to parents. Close Quote Another quote they were recorded knocking on on my sister's door last night. This is in Salt Lake City, Utah. Another Montana. My nephew in the Montana mission is still allowed to go door to door again from Colorado.
[00:08:39] Yep. Got a niece in Colorado still out there going door to door in Spanish Fork. Saw them today in Spanish Fork twice in Wisconsin. My sister in Wisconsin just had the missionaries over for dinner. So much for social distancing.
[00:08:58] In Sandy, Utah. Saw them today in Sandy. Out. Close quote Another one in Seattle. We saw them in our neighborhood yesterday in Seattle, one of the most contagious cities in the United States in Mesa, Arizona. My friend in Mesa, Arizona said they stopped by today. Close quote and here's the one about temple workers. Hey John, it's not just the missionaries they have out there. The church is still putting the highest risk category, the elderly at additional risk. My parents are temple workers. Their schedule hasn't changed at all since all this started. In fact, they were commenting that they're even more busy the temples. At least theirs has limited things to living ordinances and weddings.
[00:09:44] But most temple workers or all are the age group that is at highest risk. Not to mention all the touching that goes on in a temple and getting close and personal through the veil, which you can't get through without personal contact and handshakes. It's just maddening. My dad is completely unworried since he's in the temple and thinks he'll be protected. Close quote from the family member of a patriarch hi John thought you might find this interesting. My father over 60 is a patriarch. The church is still having him give blessings on a reg basis. The kids and their parents are coming into my parents house for the blessing.
[00:10:27] My mom's response quote the kids still need the blessings before their missions. Hooray for social distancing. Concerned parents in Brazil who has a son who's a missionary in Brazil Hi John, my son is in Brazil. I wrote to the mission president and asked how they plan to ensure the safety of my son regarding food, water, heat of apartment, etc. If quarantined. I am more concerned about civil unrest and lack of necessities after seeing our country wiped out of the basics the past few weeks. It is so hot there and people have quit answering doors or being in the streets due to COVID 19 fears. And yet my son has been told to continue proselyting as usual following as of yesterday and perhaps because of my letter they have been asked to have food on hand if they quarantine.
[00:11:17] I feel so helpless after the Italy fiasco where they moved everyone but left the boys behind. Are they not bringing our missionaries home so they can have this? So they can leave a foot in the door for future missions to stay open beyond concerned? Wish I could start the hashtag Bring our missionaries home finally in terms of comments from listeners.
[00:11:41] Hey, just saw your recent post. My son is in Medford, Oregon. Been out about six months. He has a compromised immune system. We've been so concerned we received an email this morning from the mission president saying they're not supposed to shake hands or hug but to otherwise continue business as usual. They had sacrament meeting with their zone yesterday.
[00:12:04] Most zones are over 10 people and went to a member's house with 18 other people to spend some Sabbath time. We're so uncomfortable with business as usual. Talk to our son today. He is concerned also. So all of these things are deeply disturbing.
[00:12:26] And then we have the responses from the church. So for example, someone sent me a letter from the mission president of the Mexico City Northwest Mission. It mentions nothing about missionaries being carriers. All it talks about are the safety of the missionaries and again, one of the problems with COVID 19 or the coronavirus is that young people can be carriers, not show symptoms, but can then carry the disease to elderly and vulnerable people.
[00:12:56] So this letter from the mission president of the Mexico City Northwest Mission says hey, Dear parents of the Mexico City Northwest Mission, we wanted to touch base with all of you and let you know that all the missionaries in the Mexico City Northwest Mission are doing Wonderfully well. Spirits are high and according to the Mexico Area Presidency and Mission Department, we are business as usual unless we hear otherwise. This is just one or two days ago and it's March 17th. The rest of the civilized world is in lockdown. Missionaries are business as usual all across the globe.
[00:13:30] It goes on to talk about the coronavirus, how young people are not at risk, how they're being, you know, they're getting a one week supply of food and water, basic medications, no church meetings being held. They're monitoring the situation.
[00:13:49] However, it mentions nothing about the missionaries becoming carriers to elderly and vulnerable populations. This is particularly distressing from a Mormon perspective because we expect our leaders to be prophets, seers and revelators. Mormons are conditioned to believe that the prophets won't lead us astray, that the prophets have a direct line of communication to the divine, that the priesthood will keep them safe, and that they don't need to worry like the rest of the world.
[00:14:28] Unfortunately, instead of being ahead of the curve of Mormon prophets, Mormon leadership, prophets, seers, revelators, mission presidents, etc. It appears that on March 17, 2020 and for the past several days and weeks, Mormon Church leadership has been behind the rest of the world. The medical profession, the scientific community, most developing and developed countries in having their missionaries and temple workers and patriarchs, et cetera, all act as though, in too many instances, business as usual. Again, this is not to deny the fact that the Church has canceled sacrament meetings and has canceled new admissions to the mtc, and that some missions are quarantining. But the problem is it's not consistent, it's not global, and it looks like the norm.
[00:15:22] Including the Church's own press release which was released yesterday. As I understand, it mentions nothing about quarantining missionaries, mentions nothing about bringing the missionaries home, and mentions nothing about missionaries being carriers. Instead, it just talks about a few safety precautions and then missionaries continuing their door to door proselyting efforts. So after multiple days of posting this on Facebook, I am I and we are amplifying our call to the Mormon Church to please quarantine your missionaries.
[00:15:59] Bring them home. Stop door to door proselyting globally. Stop elderly temple workers and vulnerable from going to temples. Stop patriarchs from going home to home. They're vulnerable. At least for the next month or two. Thank you. Please spread the word. Please share this video Please share the corresponding Mormon Stories podcast post with anyone you can.
[00:16:25] We need to fix this problem urgently. Thank you so much for listening. We'll be covering Both the Coronavirus COVID 19 and over the next few weeks we will be having many Mormon Stories, podcast episodes on this topic and other very interesting topics to provide you with entertainment wherever you are.
Listener Reactions and Calls to Protect Missionaries
[00:16:51] We have lots of comments coming in from listeners. Amy says at least they shut church down and temple for the most part a little too late. But they did. That's a good point, Amy. Let's have them go all the way. Because way too many missions are still open, way too many patriarchs and temple workers and missionaries are still going door to door. And even if they're not in danger, they can still be carriers. Linda says, it's furiating. Yes.
[00:17:20] Neil writes, A 22 year old man with leukemia just died of COVID 19. Those with chronic conditions and comorbidities are also at tremendous risk. Missionaries going door to door touching doorknobs and porch rails potentially makes them vectors of the diseases as the COVID virus lives for days on hard surfaces.
[00:17:43] Thank you Neil for sharing that information. Yes, it's also important to give the Mormon Church credit for canceling the face to face meetings of General Conference in April. And they actually did that a little bit earlier, so that's amazing.
[00:18:02] A skeptical mind would think they did that to save or protect the health of the the First Presidency, the Quorum of the twelve themselves and the General authorities because that happened really early. But if you're going to cancel General Conference early, why not also protect senior missionaries and temple workers and missionaries, but most importantly all the people that will be exposed to those missionaries and patriarchs and temple workers as they travel from home to home, meet in large groups and become carriers to vulnerable people. We need everyone to be taken care of.
[00:18:41] Melanie writes, many of us already have it and we didn't know liposomal C was recovering people in China. Seniors need to be taking that and melatonin. If you aren't aware, China and Italy recently had 5G installed. 5G disrupts melatonin and lowers the immune system, making it harder to fight viruses. I'm not sure of the scientific validity of that statement.
[00:19:05] So go to the CDC in the United States for best practices to maintain health. Amy writes, I say let's start the hashtag bringthemissionaries home. Great idea, Amy. Clark writes, if my kid was out on a mission, I would tell them to ignore their mission president and hunker down indoors. Agreed, Clark. Sally writes, is there no place for personal responsibility? Why is the church alone responsible? Each individual who continues to participate in each of these activities is responsible for their part of it. I'm not trying to be contrary, just Trying to understand. Yes, Sally, Individual responsibility is also super important.
[00:19:43] So let's not forget that. However, in the Mormon Church, we have a obedience sort of priesthood leadership, divinely inspired mentality where missionaries are indoctrinated and temple workers and patriarchs are indoctrinated to obey their church leaders. And so we don't have a culture of following your own mandates if it ever runs in conflict with church leadership. So in the Mormon culture, Mormons look to church leaders for inspiration and guidance and direction, and so individual consciences are weakened. That would be my response, Sally. But yes, every individual should be responsible.
[00:20:27] Clark says missionaries are potential carriers. It's insane. That's right, Clark. Rita says our missionaries said we are sitting ducks, quote, unquote. Unquote. Mari says, absolutely. I'd go pick up mine if she had a missionary. Luis asks an important question. Do the young missionaries even feel like they have a choice?
[00:20:52] Clark writes, I would send my missionary a plane ticket and an Uber today. Amy writes, I think parents should have a choice of bringing their missionaries home. Kat writes, ever since I listened to Maddie and Camille's podcast, I've thought more and more about missionary safety. And as I read my sweet friend's missionaries emails about continuing to do stuff, I am so, so sad that even a portion better mission safety of what Maddie and Camille are fighting for still feels like isn't being thought about. Yes, if you want an amazing Mormon Stories episode to during this Pandemic the Coronavirus COVID 19 pandemic, Google the Mormon Stories Maddie and Camille episode that shows about how the Mormon Church has a long way to go to keep their missionaries safe and healthy.
[00:21:44] Martine echoes what I just shared. Martine writes, hey Martine, sally forth. The indoctrination is to obey and it is so strong. Even senior missionaries waited until the church told them to return home. It's unbelievable. Logan writes, speaking from when I was a missionary, it wouldn't have felt like a choice. If God commanded it, I wouldn't have done it. So I wouldn't have had to make a choice to go home.
[00:22:14] Sean writes, tell your missionaries to not be such a strict rule follower. Strict rule following was a deterrent to my mental health on a mission. Give them guidelines from cdc, NIH and who God has revealed through science and it's time for us all to listen again. Go to the CDC website, the NIH website, and the WHO website for scientific suggestions on what to do. Thank you, thank you, Sean. Kara writes, I wonder if they're doing it because they think it's a Good opportunity to talk to people while they're trapped at home. So sad. Yes, Kara, I've already read quotes from missionaries who said that they were excited to proselyte during the coronavirus and during the COVID 19 pandemic because they're finding people at home, which gives them more opportunity to proselyte.
[00:23:05] Unfortunately, these missionaries can be carriers of the virus and can spread the illness even if they don't develop their own symptoms. So Jin writes mass evacuations happening out of the Philippines at the moment. So last minute they should have moved them weeks ago. Now I'm worried my missionary won't get a flight out. So yes, again, this is where prophets, seers and revelators are handy. If they truly speak to God, if they truly get revelation ahead of time, missionaries should have been evacuated weeks or months ago, not after the rest of the civilized and even developing worlds have already started quarantines and evacuations. Now, today or this week after.
[00:23:48] We've been giving this too much, so much exposure. The Mormon Church may respond hopefully, but even then it's going to be too little, too late. So please Mormon Church, please do the right thing today. Please don't wait any longer.
[00:24:03] But I'm happy to hear the Philippines is evacuating people. Let's see, Shelley writes missionaries probably not even getting information from news other than the church. Yes, Mormon missionaries are discouraged from reading the newspapers, watching tv, anything that would even tell them. I know that when I was a Mormon missionary, the Berlin Wall came down and the Tiananmen Square happened and I didn't even know about it until I got home.
[00:24:33] So major global events can happen and missionaries who are in pueblos or small towns, highly removed, cannot even hear about this until it's way too late. And so you know, this is a problem on so many levels. Tracy writes, as I struggle to understand the LDS culture, it is so easy to see the sheep mentality. The missionaries are young adults that apparently don't feel capable of making their own decisions. Why don't they think they can make their own choices? Because they are deathly afraid of long term ramifications from not fully serving their missions. The fear culture falls in community, fails in community.
[00:25:10] Parents are not raising their children to value balance their own thoughts against LDS culture. All right, Rick speculates. I wonder if the church leaders are worried about young elders with time on their hands getting up to no good locked up in their apartments. Yes, that's a reasonable concern. As they say, idleness is the devil's workshop. When the cat's away the mice will play. I am sure Mormon church leaders are worried that if missionaries aren't kept busy, they'll get on the Internet, they'll find podcasts, they'll find CES letter, they'll look at porn, they will get into mischief.
[00:25:50] And I can see that as reasonable. But that's no reason to put number one, the missionaries health and lives at stake. But more importantly, to send the missionaries out to be carriers to the elderly and the vulnerable against the advice of the civilized world and even the developing world. John writes. So glad modern technology allows us to watchdog irresponsible practices like these. We've seen so much positive change implemented as a result. Every organization benefits greatly by having a watchdog group keeping it honest and safe. Well done John.
[00:26:24] Thank you John. I would rather not be covering these sorts of topics. I promised my wife and brother and so many others to stop being a watchdog for the church. I don't like it. I want to focus on healing and growth and community for progressive and post Mormons.
[00:26:39] And it was literally just myself as a returned missionary, as someone who cares about Mormon missionaries, cares about the Mormon people, cares about citizens of the world just being so disturbed that on March 15, March 16, March 17, Mormon missionaries are still being told to proselyte worldwide. I was just so flabbergasted by this. And again, patriarchs are going door to door as vulnerable populations giving patriarchal blessings and temple workers, elderly people are still going to Mormon temples and congregating in groups. It's unconscionable and this should have been stopped weeks or months ago.
[00:27:21] Let's see. Yeah. Logan writes. I've seen people claim that Russell M. Nelson knew about this because he told us to take our vitamins and that this conference could be different than any other. I'm saddened that people are using this disaster to promote their religion. Yes, I've seen many, many people in in progressive and post Mormon communities frustrated that many orthodox Mormons are using this Covid outbreak and the Coronavirus pandemic to laud the church saying that the church is visionary, that God put a medical doctor as the prophet, that various things that the prophets have done and said or church leaders have done and said are witnesses, that the church leaders are inspired by God.
[00:28:03] If the Mormon church leaders were inspired by God, it would seem as though they would have pulled missionaries away from proselyting, pulled elderly away from going door to door as patriarchs, and pulled elderly out of temples long, long, long ago instead of just protecting the First Presidency of the quorum of the 15 from the spread at General Conference. Again, it's March 17th.
[00:28:26] We've been publicizing this for days. It's already too little, too late. But it's not too late. Mormon Church, please do the right thing. Please stop. Stop having missionaries worldwide proselyte Roger Hendricks is trying to promote his wonderful product green tea. And because I love you, Roger Hendricks Jr. And your dad, Roger Hendricks Sr. I'll allow it just this once. Roger Hendricks Jr. Writes, say your prayers and continue to follow the one and only true prophet, John Dehlin. No, Roger Hendricks Jr. I am not a prophet. I am a flawed human individual who is clueless on so many levels and makes a million mistakes. But I think this one's pretty clear.
[00:29:14] So let's please spread the word. What I'm going to ask everyone to do right now is please share this video, please forward it all over Facebook, please spread the word and if we get the news out immediately, I think we can get the Mormon Church to change in a matter of days, if not hours, if not minutes.
[00:29:33] If you go to the MormonStories.org website, you can find a video that I posted of Mormon missionaries just yesterday or the day before knocking on people's doors. And you can have a big list of all the quotes that I've already read just so that you have them in your back pocket. But please share this episode on your social media and if a thousand people share this episode, or even 100 people, it can go viral.
[00:29:59] And then at that point, and then at that point if it goes viral, then the news media can pick this up and then we can get the church to stop because we know that the church pays attention to media and press releases and things like that. Another anonymous post from my dear friend whose name will be withheld. My nephew and his fiance just decided to move up their wedding three months to this weekend to get into the temple before it closes, still having a reception. Why are they doing such a drastic thing? Because they want to have sex, of course, and don't want to wait.
Criticism of the Church's Response and Closing Thoughts
[00:30:37] So they're literally risking people's lives so they can have sex. Thank you anonymous listener for sharing that disturbing story that does not make sense. Please don't have temple weddings and receptions just for those sorts of reasons. Please postpone them. Please call them off or please just have them yourself. Go get married at a civil wedding at a town hall and then have the reception and temple wedding later when things subside. We need to flatten the curve.
[00:31:08] Another person just wrote in Brendan, my sister in law works for the church at Beehive Clothing, where they make garments, people are in very close proximity, working in teams of five or more in a big factory, but they're still being asked to come to work as usual. So it looks like the Mormon Church is still having its workers manufacture temple clothing while there's a pandemic.
[00:31:38] So another disturbing account that I will add to the list. This really needs to end. If anyone should be protecting its people, its workers, it would seem the Mormon Church should be. I think Mormons can do without temple garments, at least for a few weeks or a month or two until things subside.
[00:32:04] So, please, that's disturbing. Thank you for sending me these accounts. Curtis writes, I had a mission companion who wanted to go home. The church would not buy his ticket to go home. And his father, who was a stake president at the time, also refused to buy him a ticket home. He even thought of trying to barter for a ride on a boat in exchange for working on the boat. Yes, they have a choice to leave, but in some cases, it means they have to go against their religion and family to do it.
[00:32:38] Carla gives me great correction. I welcome this feedback. Carla writes, john, you know, every time you say the civilized world, and even the developing world is literally, quote, unquote, is literally saying that developing nations are not civilized. Choose your words better, John. Carla, I stand corrected.
[00:32:58] I have been to the developing world. Amazing humans there. I did not mean to disrespect anyone. So I do think it's okay to say the developed world and the developing world, or at least last time I checked. But you're right, there's no need to insinuate that the developing world is not civilized. Thank you for the feedback. We love feedback. I apologize for misspeaking. And I love it when people correct me and give me that type of constructive feedback. So thank you so much, listeners, and please keep that type of feedback coming. I will continue to make a mountain of mistakes, but I love.
[00:33:44] I love the feedback. All right, so yes, Carissa writes, also Desert Industries is still open, still accepting donations, still training workers. Closed. DI don't accept donations. So, again, looks like Deseret Industries is still open. Another example of the church either putting workers or missionaries or mission, you know, other people at risk or spreading it to other places.
[00:34:20] Kimberly Anderson writes, this is the healing and growth. If we're all sick, we can't heal and grow. This is an important point to step back into vocal activism and hold the church accountable. Bravo and thank you. Kimberly Anderson, we love you. Thank you for the kind words.
[00:34:37] I appreciate that. And we will continue on Mormon Stories podcast to do activism as we see the need. Please all do your part right now. Please share this video Worldwide, if 100 of you share it, it will go viral and then news media will pick it up and then hopefully the Mormon Church will quarantine its missionaries, quarantine its senior missionaries, quarantine its patriarchs, quarantine its deseret industry workers. Quarantine.
[00:35:07] It's who else quarantine is temple workers quarantine its garment manufacturers, quarantine all the people that need to be quarantined at least for another month or two until things quarantine. It's young, eager Mormon couples that want to get married in the temple and have receptions. Quarantine everyone, please.
[00:35:33] Jen writes, I told my missionary three weeks ago I wanted her home and going to buy her flights home, but she said she wouldn't get on the flight and the virus doesn't like hot environments and that she's safe in the Philippines. So Jen is telling us of an exact example where Mormon missionaries feel safe. They feel like they can avoid the coronavirus with faith and they're getting bad information, such as in a warmer climate, the coronavirus is going to die.
[00:36:00] That is bad information. Please, let's keep our missionaries safe. Carla writes. Once again, the church is showing us who they really are. We need to believe them. And I want to hope and believe the Mormon Church cares about its missionaries, cares about its employees, cares about its volunteers. So let's just all do our part as activists to spread this video and the Mormon Stories post and anything we can to just get the word out.
[00:36:30] All right, I think I've made my point. I really appreciate everyone who has tuned in today. And just so you know, we will be super active on Mormon Stories podcast over the coming weeks. I have several really cool interviews planned. We will also be covering the Coronavirus and COVID 19. And we hope that within the next few minutes or hours or days, the Mormon Church decides to recall its missionary, recall its senior missionaries, recall its patriarchs, recall its temple workers. Quarantine them all. Stop temple ceilings. Stop wedding receptions. Stop desert industries, Stop accepting donations. Stop making di people work.
[00:37:13] Stop having people work in manufacturing plants on temple garments. All those things can wait for a month or two. Please spread the word. Thank you for supporting Mormon Stories podcast and please stay tuned in the weeks, days, no hours, minutes, weeks, days, months ahead for important coverage of this and other important topics. Thanks everybody. Take care. Enjoy your time at home. Stay safe, Avoid crowds. Use hand sanitizer, go to the doctor, get tested, don't spread this, don't be a carrier.
[00:37:53] And just chill out for another month or two until things die down and you're safe. Sure appreciate the support. Love you guys. And we'll see you again soon on another episode of Mormon Stories Podcast. In fact, just in a few minutes, we're going to come back with an epic Mormon story that we think you're all going to really care about, about an insider's view of the administration at BYU Idaho. So take care. Talk to you soon. And we'll see you soon again on Mormon Stories Podcast. Stay safe. Missionaries, senior missionaries, patriarchs, et cetera.
Transcript © 2026 John P. Dehlin. All rights reserved. Brief quotations are welcome with attribution and a link to mormonstories.org; all other use requires written permission.
- “Saw a note from a missionary in Slovenia (next to Italy). They have higher cases per capita than Italy and huge doubling rate, but still knocking doors. And people are yelling at them for knocking doors. But God has asked them to …”
- “Yep I live in WA and they showed up at our house last night and said they’re actually having great success knocking on doors because people are home. 😳😷”
- “I just heard from my nephew in Hungary. The infection rate there is low, but they are still doing the same things day to day. Sunday, they went to four small gatherings of members to hold a mini sacrament meeting. That doesn’t seem safe! The thing that really gets me is that my sister and brother-in-law had to send extra $ so they could stock up on a few weeks of groceries “just in case”. I can’t believe the church is not recommending and funding that!”
- “It’s true. My friend in Washington state had missionaries knock on her door yesterday. She was horrified, as am I.”
- “Yes, it’s true. We had a pair of male missionaries knocking on doors in our neighborhood yesterday. We are near Denver, CO.”
- “My son in Brazil was told to buy 2 weeks of food, but still proselytizing. His mission President annoys me to death because he never provides any info to parents”
- “They were recorded knocking on my sisters door last night.”
- “My nephew in the Montana mission is still allowed to go door-to-door 😬”
- “Yep got a niece in Colorado still out there going door to door.”
- “Saw them today in Spanish Fork. Twice.”
- “My sister in Wisconsin just had the missionaries over for dinner. 🤦♀️ So much for social distancing.”
- “Saw them today in Sandy out.”
- “We saw some in our neighborhood yesterday.” (Seattle area)
- “My friend in Mesa AZ said they stopped by today”
- “Hi John! It’s not just the missionaries they have out there, the church is still putting the highest risk category, the elderly, at additional risk. My parents are temple workers, their schedule hasn’t changed at all since all this started, in fact, they were commenting that they’re even more busy. The temples (at least theirs) has limited things to living ordinances/weddings, but most temple workers (or all?) are the age group that is at highest risk, not to mention all the touching that goes on in a temple and getting close and personal “through the veil” (which you can’t get though without personal contact/handshakes). It’s just maddening! My dad is “completely unworried” since he’s in the temple and thinks he’ll be protected.
- “Hi John. Thought you might find this interesting. My father (over 60) is a Patriarch. The church is still having him give blessings on a regular basis. The kids and their parents are coming into my parents house for the blessing. My mom’s response, “the kids still need their blessings before their missions!” Hooray for social distancing!”
- “Hi John! My son is in Brazil. I wrote to the mission president and asked how they planned to ensure the safety of my son regarding food, water, heat of apartment etc if quarantined. I am more concerned about civil unrest and lack of necessities after seeing our country wiped out of the basics the past few weeks. It is so hot there and people have quit answering doors or being in the streets due to Covid-19 fears, and yet my son has been told to continue proselytizing as usual. Finally, as of yesterday and perhaps because of my letter, they have been asked to have food on hand if they quarantine. I feel so helpless after the Italy fiasco where they moved everyone but left the boys behind. Are they not bringing our missionaries home so they can leave a foot in the door for future missions to stay open. Beyond concerned. Wish I could start the hashtag #bringourmissionaries home”
- “Hey! Just saw your recent post. My son is in Medford, Oregon, been out about 6 months. He has a compromised immune system. We’ve been so concerned. We received an email this morning from the mission president saying they’re not supposed to shake hands or hug, but to otherwise continue business as usual. They had sacrament meeting with their zone yesterday, and went to a member’s house with 18 other people to spend some sabbath time. We are so uncomfortable with “business as usual.” Talked to our son today and he is concerned also.”
- Hey John, I thought I’d send a private message rather than commenting on your live video. My sister in-law works for the church at Beehive Clothing where they make garments. People are in very close proximity, working in teams of 5 or more in a big factory, but they’re still being asked to come in to work as usual.”
- “My nephew and his fiancée just decided to move up their wedding 3 months to this weekend to get into the temple before it closes. And they’re still having a reception! Why are they doing such a drastic thing? Because they want to have sex of course and don’t want to wait. So they’re literally risking people’s lives so they can have sex.”
- “Also Deseret Industries is still open. Still accepting donations. Still “training” workers. Close DI! Don’t accept donations!!!”
- “My [parent] works for Beehive Clothing, where they sew garments. They are not shutting down either, still offering daily overtime in fact. My [parent] doesn’t want to use [parent] PTO and not go in, as they only get so much. And sick days are only for well, when they’re sick. [parent] is over XX and in a higher risk category.”
- “My [parent] works at beehive clothing and they aren’t shutting down. Not only due hundreds of people work there but they make them work in clusters. So everyone is standing up the full 8hr shift (people will get mad if you go to the bathroom) and rotate on different machines. They only get paid what they make so no one is cleaning the machines after each use. My [parent] also asked if they could provide them with cleaning wipes or anything to help sanitize and was told no. One day I would love to expose how awful beehive treats their employees that make their holy underwear. I wish I could put them now but [parent] needs this job. I just wish they would treat them better when my [parent] has worked there for over XX years and wasn’t allowed to sit down to sew anymore. [parent] has acquired many health problems because of this job and they refuse to pay for any of [parent’s] medical bills.”
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A recent letter from the Mexico City Northwest mission president. Mentions NOTHING about the risk of missionaries becoming carriers. Also, the reason reported cases are low in the developing world is because many developing countries ARE NOT TESTING.
“Dear Parents of the Mexico City Northwest Mission, We wanted to touch base with all of you and let you know that all the missionaries in the Mexico City Northwest Mission are doing wonderufully well. Spirits are high and according to the Mexico Area Presidency and missionary department, we are business as usual unless we hear otherwise. Mexico has very few reported cases of COVID-19 and we are not seeing the panic that we have witnessed in other parts of the world.
Nevertheless, given the rapid and somewhat unpredictable spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the Church’s recent communications about precautionary measures being taken to prevent its further spread, we would like to share with you some of the precautions being taken to protect the missionaries (your sons and daughters) in our mission. We spent the entire day yesterday personally visiting 5 of our 8 zones (the 3 remaining zones we will visit today). We held a special meeting with each zone where we discussed the guidance we have received from the Area Presidency, went over preventative health tips, and discussed the food storage plan.
We also spent time discussing what their Sunday activities should look like. At the end, we allowed time for the missionaries to ask any questions they might have regarding the current situation here in Mexico City with hopes that we might calm any fears or clear up any misconceptions the missionaries might have.
Just so you are aware, we have asked all our missionaries to have a one week supply of food, water, and basic/needed medications in all missionary apartments, should the spread of infection and related anxiety in the general population make such things more difficult to obtain. They were all instructed to have that supply of food no later than this evening.
With no church meetings being held on Sunday for the next few weeks, we have asked our missionaries to study the Come, Follow Me lessons as a companionship every Sunday morning. After they have done their own Come, Follow Me study, they are to go out and have Come, Follow Me lessons and discussions with inactive members and investigators. There will likely also be mini-sacrament meetings in member homes, as suggested by the missionary department, allowing them to partake of the sacrament and bring small groups of investigators to those meetings.
Our Area Presidency and Area Medical professionals are actively monitoring the situation as it unfolds in Mexico. For now, there is a very low risk of infection throughout our region of Mexico, and fortunately, throughout all of Latin America, the disease burden remains very low.
As you may have read, global health organizations report that the majority of deaths are occurring in the elderly. The good news is that our missionaries are young, healthy and they have lower risk for infection, respiratory complications, serious illness, and symptoms, should they contract the virus. When you speak with them on preparation day, you can remind them of the importance of following the counsel received and avoiding infection through good nutrition, hydration, and careful hygiene habits – such as washing hands often, carrying hand sanitizer that is alcohol-based in their backpacks, and avoiding shaking hands and touching their faces during the coming weeks.
Finally, your messages of faith and calm during this time will assist all missionaries to maintain their confidence and avoid unnecessary anxiety and undue panic during these times of uncertainty and transition. Thank you for your assistance and support of your missionary and the work of the Lord. We are being blessed and the work is advancing at an accelerated pace.
Warm regards, President and and Hermana Thomas”
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The recent press release from the Mormon church (mentions nothing about quarantining missionaries):
“Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ remains a sacred priority for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, even in the current circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to monitor the spread of this condition and its impact on missionaries worldwide. We take very seriously the health and safety of our missionaries and of those they teach. We are adapting to constantly changing conditions.
Missionaries will continue to be called to serve and assigned to labor in missions worldwide. Missionary recommendations will continue to be received, and missionary assignments for worldwide service will continue to be made.
In addition, Church leaders are implementing some temporary adjustments to missionary service. Out of an abundance of caution, these changes include:
Young missionaries with health issues and senior missionaries may be released from service.
Missionaries who begin their service and are unable to travel to their assigned mission may be temporarily reassigned to another mission.
To adjust for rapidly changing conditions, young missionary elders currently serving in missions within the United States and Canada who would complete their mission on or before September 1, 2020, may be released after they have served for 21 months.
Some missionaries may be temporarily reassigned.
Young missionaries needing to work primarily from their apartments will continue teaching using technology, studying the scriptures and Preach My Gospel, language learning, family history, online community service and other activities as identified by the mission president. In addition, missionaries are encouraged to stay in contact with their families frequently and to take opportunities to leave their apartments for periods of exercise and fresh air, while observing wise guidelines for personal contact.
Church leaders will continue to monitor conditions and make further adjustments as needed. As a Church, we express our love and appreciation for all missionaries as they strive to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ and share His love wherever they serve.
View this article to see all Church updates related to COVID-19. It will be updated as new changes are announced”
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43 Responses
This is utterly shameful and dangerous, even for a cult that revels in ignorance
The Mormons have the only, living prophet on the face of the earth, right? What has he been doing as far as speaking to the people of the world on the COVID19> If you are going to claim that your are GODS ONLY LIVING PROPHET, don’t you think you should be reaching out to come or God to you. Don’t keep silent, President Nelson, the world’s needs to hear from you. You are in a very unique position, don’t you think? You are God’s mouthpiece on earth. I am sure that God has some things to say to you/ Read your Bible
A Worldwide Fast, closing temples, bringing missionaries home, cancel church at the buildings, sacrament in the home, Come Follow Me already prepared for a time such as now, most church employees working from home, sending aid to other parts of the world, etc. etc. Looks like President Nelson is responding and speaking to the world. The new proclamation: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/the-restoration-of-the-fulness-of-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ/a-bicentennial-proclamation-to-the-world?lang=eng
Just a thought…
He needs to reach out to the world; to go to the lost sheep; not wait for the lost sheep to come looking for him. Nelson, if he really is God’s Only Ordained Prophet on the Face of the Earth, has a very unique responsibility. Here is a question for. How many people outside the Mormon Church, even know who Nelson is? If nobody in the world knows or who he is, then he hasn’t done his job as the World’s Only Living Prophet. A real prophet does not keep silent. A real prophet would be on International TV everyday, talking to the people of the world. A real prophet would be that person, standing alone at the City Gate, warning people and revealing to people, God’s will for them
The germs of pessimism and criticism are far more dangerous and contagious than any virus. The negativity of this website toward the Church has killed more spirits than any lives missionaries spreading the hope of the gospel message will ever kill. I’ve seen firsthand the darkness, confusion and doubt that this website creates or fuels … and it’s sad. Focus on goodness and light and love, instead of focusing on knocking down something that does so much good in the world. Physical sickness is not the worst thing that can happen to people.
You say physical sickness is not the worst thing that can happen to people. How about death? You’re talking about unicorns and rainbows while people’s lives are being threatened. Children are going to lose parents, and some children will lose their lives. People of all ages will die. Positivity is always helpful, to be sure, but it doesn’t cure viruses. Your dismissal of the importance of health and life, I know is not a general characteristic of the Mormon population, who have good about preparedness issues. People can share conference talks on youtube all day long in the safety of their own homes without infecting other people by trying to share the gospel face to face. Let’s get real.
I guess it depends on your perspective … death is terrible and tragic. I’ve lived through the painful loss of someone I loved dearly … but death is also not the worst thing that can happen to someone. Everyone’s belief on life after death is different, and I guess we will all never really know until our turn to depart this life … but I am grateful for the message of the restored gospel that teaches me that death is not permanent, family relationships are possible after this life, and that the pains and heartache of this world are temporary. That is a message that is very worth sharing, and that is what these missionaries give up two years of their lives to teach people. I agree that if they are going door to door at this time, that it is unwise and unsafe. It is also probable that if they are doing so, they are not being obedient to their mission rules at this time … as we all have the freedom to make decisions for ourselves that are unwise or disobedient. From what I understand, (and having a child out on a mission right now of my own), the Church is being very cautious and careful and they are counseling mission presidents and missionaries appropriately and according to the severity of the situation. I still maintain that our nation is spiritually sick in many ways and the light of the gospel and knowledge of Jesus Christ can bring help, healing and peace to those that are suffering. It all depends on your perspective and experience. This pandemic is one giant fear about death. Jesus Christ overcame death so that those of us that face it, either personally or through the loss of a loved one, can feel comfort and peace and have the strength and ability to move forward when it happens. Whether death comes by disease, accident, tragedy, or natural causes, knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ provides hope and healing. The message of Jesus Christ swallows up the sting of death. Not understanding that message is what is tragic. So many suffer inconsolably when faced with the loss of someone they love. I maintain death is not the worst thing that can happen to someone. Lack of faith in life after death is.
Good thing your church built all those hospitals with their tax subsidized receipts, that was really prescient on their part.
Oh…wait
I am disappointed that you would call the doctrines of the atonement, the resurrection, and eternal families “unicorns and rainbows” . EVERYONE is going to die at some point … that is a guarantee. And almost assuredly, everyone is going to face the death(s) of someone they love during their lifetime. Whether it happens through exposure to a pandemic or some other means, death is one certainty we can absolutely count on. Not one single person on this earth will escape it . We should be wise and limit the possibility and risk factors that cause death (wearing seatbelts, getting immunized, using life jackets, avoiding risky and unsafe activities, social distancing, etc.), but ultimately no one can control how long they, or someone they love, will live. Death is inevitable … and preparing spiritually for that inevitability is one of the wisest choices we can make. Learning about the gospel and internalizing its principles can bring great peace when faced with the reality of death. Christ centered doctrines about the eternal destiny of humankind are not akin to unicorns and rainbows. They are real and certain and true.
You just couched all your un-knowables in one actual real thing. Wrapped it up and tried to pass it as true. Calling it unicorns rainbows or santa and the tooth fairy may hurt your feelers a bit but put it all in a pot on the stove and boil it down- – we don’t know…. WE DONT KNOW the after life. Apostles of a century ago debated on the premortal, Oaks has stated he has never seen christ and none of his colleagues (interesting term for the quorum) have either, Holland talked about not know how sealings will work in the after life for the unique and odd situation, Oaks at the last conference made a second wife’s real anxiety concern a laughing joke for the general conference and all laughed at her as he minimized it to not knowing the color of the drapes. So its one thing to make jokes about the periphery but really that is just a distraction from the notion that perhaps we are just trying to shore up our core ‘unknowing’ and so we say we absolutely know god christ mormonism bishops etc are real and true. You packaged that all up in a long shpell of everyone dies, I have experienced some lose, yada yada therefore god is real, christ came back to life. When mormonism doesn’t work – My experience has been seeing mormons (wife included) reframe life to fit mormonism to still be not just workable but right and true.
Prophetic and “Seer” – would have been pulling missionaries from their missions well before needed. Closing temples sooner – actually still going on for the majority. Prophetic would have been announcing an earthquake in SLC Yesterday. Everything the current prophet is doing is REACTIVE.
I’m interested in your comments Ricardo. Do you have a reference as to what conference talk Oaks gave wrt “laughing joke”. It would simply save me some time. Any other references you have re Oaks “never seen christ” etc would be handy.
I’m almost interested as to how they are planning such a wonderful April conference. If you’re not in Utah they have paid for advertisements on Fox News to promote the April general conference. Amazing when you consider the money spent could go to helping Covid-19 people.
Thanks!
Ricardo Montobon…your use of the word REACTIVE is beyond brilliant…it actually sums up the kernel of the Mormon Church since its inception….the REACTIVE CHURCH not the restored church!!!
Anon,
Here you go – https://youtu.be/GrMJ2YZD62M?t=85 that would be where Oaks is asked about seeing christ. He states he has never had an alma the younger experience nor has the first presidency or Q12.
Here in last GenCon his talk Trust in the Lord https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/10/17oaks?lang=eng
There he tells two stories – Listen to the audio and you will here the laugh line that pokes at a womans real anxiety question. Sub point in the second story there is an indirect demeaning to the woman as the second story gives greater respect to the vallued associate – in that the second story is “shared with permission.”
Sorry B but avid belief based on feelings about the unknowable takes multiple forms, arrives at wildly different destinations and constitutes one of the most common human foibles known to mankind. The passions that drove Muhammad to create the Koran are the very same passions that led Hitler to his infamy. The ardent affections that pushed Bin Laden to his righteous destiny was produced by the very same chemistry that leaves some folks with an ardent belief in Lamanites. Strong belief based on feelings might be useful or unbelievably destructive but it is an incredibly unreliable way of discerning where lies the truth. Getting at that elusive destination requires an admition of our own ignorance as a primary building block. Pretentious claims concerning the minds of the gods are the realms of cowards and/or charlatans.
CL_RAND wild allusions to well-known people do not qualify you to make assumptions that are acceptable. You need to substantiate your remarks with at least some research.
Speak for yourself
You know what’s sad? The founder of the Mormon Church using his position of influence to coerce young girls and his friends’ wives into illicit “marriages” under the pretext that if they don’t do it, an angel with a sword would kill him (even though Agency is so important, a Heavenly War was fought over it).
You know, as long as we’re talking about things that are “sad.”
I love God. I love my fellow human beings as much as I possibly can, though it can be a tough job at times. I think that in the midst of all the difficulties that are likely to arise in the process of setting up a church in the world, that disseminates teachings based upon that essential principle of love, at any time, that fundamental message can get lost, which is a shame, because it is the only perfect message to help mankind find happiness on earth and if you believe in an, afterlife, there too aswell.
In the scriptures it states that Jesus Christ was reported to have said, that all the law and the prophets are contained within the first 2 Commandments of love. Please forgive me for any innaccuracies in this statement.
I personally believe that Joseph Smith, although he had faults like all men, was a man of love and received revelation accordingly. It was related in his ‘first vision’ if I read it correctly, that he would be considered a man of good and evil by mankind.
Look at J.C. The first miracle he did and he drowned a herd of pigs abd ruined the livelihoods of the herdsmen. Difficult being a prophet I suppose.
So to finalise my interjection here, I believe in love as a source of life and a means to find happiness both within the world and in the afterlife which I believe in too, and I believe prophets are sent to humanity to help them understand this, but often, their activities and the form of their church and religious doctrine and teaching may often veil that essential message of love a little for a few of us.
I leave with a couple of casual sayings that help me often:
seek and ye shall find
if you seek knowledge then ask of God
knowledge is encumbent upon every believer
love one another as I have loved you
a person of wisdom will never allow themself to be tied to any one particular form or specific belief, because they are wise unto their self. (please excuse any grammar innaccuracy again. thank you.)
The “restored’ gospel has killed more people than this site could ever hope to do. Due to the internet,people are finally able to research facts about the church, about Joe Smith, Brigham Young, Joseph F Young and other church leaders. What people are finding out is that the church has led to them. The church demands it’s members to serve the church more than it does t serve God. For example, the church demand that every member pay 10% of their income in tithing to the church. Tithing money to homeless shelters, hospitals, soup kitchens, cancer research, military groups etc, does not count as tithing. According to the church, tithing only counts, in the eyes of God, when tithe to the church. That’s not saying a member can not tithe to another organization, but they have to tithe to the church first. The Mormon church tells people to pay their tithe before paying rent, buying food or medicine. Church doesn’t want the public to know these things, but every member knows it is true.
Do they not realize that this is voluntary service
If your concerned make arrangement for your children to come home
They cannot stop you!
I had a missionary in my zone decide he was going home, bought a ticket and was going to leave. S as ok I could do was ask him to reconsider.
Do what’s best for your family
DI is now closed and not accepting donations.
The biggest reason any religion is floundering and unable to come up with any rational discourse about C-Virus is there is no viable comments from above, only one way imaginary communication and a long lost and crucified demigod who is now only 2000+ years overdue.
I’m surprised that a Church as PR sensitive as this is taking such a risk. Have they not heard of what happened in South Korea. Thanks, John, for spreading the word.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/09/opinion/coronavirus-south-korea-church.html?searchResultPosition=2
Being Called a Cult Is One Thing, Being Blamed for an Epidemic Is Quite Another
How one mysterious church became a lightning rod for South Koreans’ anger over the coronavirus outbreak.
SEOUL, South Korea — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Korea neared 7,400 on Monday morning. As many of them have been traced back to the mysterious Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the organization has become a lightning rod for the public’s wrath and a ready outlet for longstanding prejudice.
SNIPS from NYTimes:
The mayor of Seoul, Park Won-soon, who called on prosecutors to press charges against Shincheonji’s leadership, for “murder through willful negligence.”
Well where I live all senior missionaries and any young missionaries with health problems were sent home as soon as the situation began to get serious. Other young missionaries are still here but currently confined to appartments.
One day after the Prophet, Russell M Nelson, announced the suspension of all Mormon gatherings in church buildings, members and invited non-members alike packed into our chapel for a 50th birthday celebration on the night of Friday the 13th, 2020!
To make things worse a 2 hour power failure from 7:30pm complicated the celebrations as attendees poured out of the building into the car park and footpaths outside the chapel.
I was shocked at the blatant disregard of the Prophetic announcement.
Perhaps the outback of Western Australia has special status and enjoyed special protection from the virus?
Just a short comment. At what point does a church use plain old common sense? It is not about just religion and faith…faith is many different things to many different people…that said, it is people who are dying. If there is to be divine interference….then let it be wise even if there is a small grain of disobedience. Be wise.
Imagine the role that churches could play in helping during this Coronavirus episode. Put those tax free dollars to work and open your buildings as secondary care centers. House the homeless in your chapels, host drive by testing sites, open your kitchens and feed the hungry. Practice what you preach every week.
The best comment and suggestion. I was thinking the same thing today, how all these empty chapels could be used for the sick, and just put the worship services on hold indefinitely until the crisis has past. Mormon Stories could investigate the possibility of such solution and discuss it….maybe the men at the top will listen and move to make it happen. If the military can lend their ships for hospitals, the churches could lend some of the buildings for care centers.
The Church self-insures it’s chapels, so they won’t risk any additional expenses such as what you’ve suggested, however good and benevolent it would be. In our litigious society, someone is sure to sue the Church for any number of reasons because it has money. Making the chapels a Petri dish of infectious disease is a disaster in the making.
But they could surely use that $100 BILLION dollar slush fund to do some real good in the world, especially in this crisis, instead of wealth-seeking and “building up the Church to get gain”.
Yes, you are correct in your interpretation of the liability concerns, as well as the “Petri Dish” analogy,…reminded me of when my wife and I worked a year in the Nursery with all the little kids and their colds and coughs, and having kids come home with new germs to share with the whole family.
Take care.
Folks
Please contact our Utah senators and house representatives and ask them for answers about why pressure isn’t being put on the lds church to bring our kids home from international missions … they need to get back to the USA.
They are grossly negligent in the information they are not providing and in the lack of actions around their response.
They take our kids … and they are leaving them in harms way.
Borders are closing internationally every day — the us state department today issued a travel warning to all Americans abroad to get home immediately.
Totally irresponsible. Why is the church not acting … why are they not giving us information… too many whys in all of this.
Google mitt Romney, Ben mcadams and all the rest … send them a message today demanding action.
Parents do have a choice to bring the missionaries home.
I was in the MTC during a winter flu season. Nearly everyone got sick.
The air circulating there brings the viruses from one room to the other.
This place is a virus cesspool. No one should be confined there during this time.
Thank you John and Mormon stories community. They are coming home !!
I can’t believe the comments from those who are members of the CHURCH and your complaining about the Prophet and his Counselors on how they were handling things with the Missionaries. The attitude and complaining you have done just proved that YOU DO NOT BELIEVE, or, HAVE A TESTIMONY that President Nelson is a Prophet of God. ALSO, You Do Not Believe, nor Have a Testimony that President Nelson recieves revelations from our Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ. You Also DO NOT HAVE Faith in the Prophet, And Also, You Do Not Faith in our Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ. Maybe you should find a different religion since You Do Not Believe that President Russel M Nelson is being directed by the Savior.
“TRUST NOT IN THE ARM OF FLESH”.
You need to learn this.
He is not being directed by Jesus Christ. Please refer to The Second Anointing…Jesus Christ is of no consequence or of any standing in this organization. Nelson is a godling in the making according to the Corporation of which he is the president certainly not a prophet.
If this is a debate about who Is a Christian and who isn’t, we’re don’t need it. When we’re start calling each other names we lower ourselves when we’re need to stand together. If this is your goal you should enter politics.
This is obviously belongs to the whole lot of news fakery that is happening. I am from the Philippines and although the speed of the virus was faster than everybody else’s reaction, we implemented all directives from the Chruch with discernment on each of our particular conditions. We are in a lockdown and everybody has complied. All foreign missionaries were sent home and no proselyting outside is ongoing. Sacrament meetings are done in the home. Hope you can offer a little bit more light in a darkening world.
Not fake just because you’re not effected. There is a mormon housing next door to where I live. They’re still riding out almost everyday. This is in California. If you know any contact info to help me stop them, please let me know.
Your article makes Mormon missionaries sound like Kirby vacuum door to door salesman. Your ignorance of the Mormon church is obvious by you’re misuse of Mormon terminology. Next time you wish to post an op-ed make sure that you know your facts first.
David – Which mormon terms did I misuse?
This one sure stirred up a hornets nest.
Looking back, I believe the church’s leaders did a fairly effective and balanced job of responding to COVID. I’m grateful to live in a time where prophets work to provide inspired (not perfect) direction during turbulent, confusing times. I respect anyone disagreeing or thinking the church’s leaders did too much or not enough (both opinions existed), and I also feel grateful for what I saw and experienced as a member of the church.