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:

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  • “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 Comments

  1. Frank Bough March 17, 2020 at 2:39 pm - Reply

    This is utterly shameful and dangerous, even for a cult that revels in ignorance

    • dave April 4, 2020 at 6:53 pm - Reply

      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

      • P April 6, 2020 at 9:40 am - Reply

        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…

        • Dave (The Old Sarge) April 18, 2020 at 11:31 am - Reply

          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

  2. B March 17, 2020 at 4:27 pm - Reply

    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.

    • E. Woo March 17, 2020 at 8:07 pm - Reply

      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.

      • B March 17, 2020 at 11:54 pm - Reply

        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.

        • Phil March 21, 2020 at 6:08 am - Reply

          Good thing your church built all those hospitals with their tax subsidized receipts, that was really prescient on their part.

          Oh…wait

      • B March 18, 2020 at 12:10 am - Reply

        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.

        • Ricardo Montobon March 18, 2020 at 10:31 am - Reply

          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.

          • Anon March 19, 2020 at 3:30 pm

            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!

          • Lesley O'Connell-Maritz March 23, 2020 at 1:11 am

            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!!!

          • Ricardo Montobon March 23, 2020 at 4:35 pm

            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.”

        • cl_rand March 21, 2020 at 7:57 am - Reply

          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.

          • Lesley O'Connell-Maritz May 3, 2020 at 2:41 am

            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.

    • Donna March 17, 2020 at 9:59 pm - Reply

      Speak for yourself

    • Brian Mills March 18, 2020 at 4:49 am - Reply

      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.”

      • John Thrift May 11, 2020 at 6:51 pm - Reply

        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.)

    • SAM April 18, 2020 at 11:44 am - Reply

      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.

  3. Jonathan Adamson March 17, 2020 at 6:25 pm - Reply

    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

  4. Roger Taylor March 17, 2020 at 9:13 pm - Reply

    DI is now closed and not accepting donations.

  5. Hifastflyer March 18, 2020 at 2:33 am - Reply

    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.

  6. Monya Baker March 18, 2020 at 8:16 am - Reply

    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.”

  7. Richard March 18, 2020 at 8:47 am - Reply

    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.

  8. David Gilgen March 18, 2020 at 11:08 am - Reply

    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?

  9. Vickie Duncan March 18, 2020 at 11:17 am - Reply

    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.

  10. Randy Mortensen March 19, 2020 at 10:16 am - Reply

    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.

    • EET March 22, 2020 at 8:15 pm - Reply

      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.

      • Jon March 22, 2020 at 10:31 pm - Reply

        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”.

        • EET March 29, 2020 at 11:31 am - Reply

          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.

  11. Shayne Nielson March 19, 2020 at 9:38 pm - Reply

    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.

  12. hank March 20, 2020 at 9:10 am - Reply

    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.

  13. Faith March 20, 2020 at 8:14 pm - Reply

    Thank you John and Mormon stories community. They are coming home !!

  14. Marta Rogers March 21, 2020 at 3:04 am - Reply

    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.

    • Mark O. March 22, 2020 at 10:40 pm - Reply

      “TRUST NOT IN THE ARM OF FLESH”.

      You need to learn this.

    • Lesley O'Connell-Maritz March 23, 2020 at 1:17 am - Reply

      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.

      • David March 26, 2020 at 8:21 am - Reply

        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.

  15. Sherwin March 21, 2020 at 10:48 pm - Reply

    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.

    • Pisssed of neighbor July 25, 2020 at 5:17 pm - Reply

      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.

  16. David Brown March 26, 2020 at 1:20 am - Reply

    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.

  17. Jared March 26, 2020 at 7:55 am - Reply

    This one sure stirred up a hornets nest.

  18. Brian October 9, 2023 at 11:52 am - Reply

    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.

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