Mormon Presidency: All church meetings temporarily canceled worldwide

By Tad Walch

on March 12, 2020 4:25 pm

All meetings and activities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are canceled, effective immediately. Above, the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020.
Steve Griffin, Deseret News


SALT LAKE CITY — All meetings and activities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are temporarily canceled, effective immediately.

The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles made the joint announcement in a statement on the same day that Utah Gov. Gary Herbert asked churches, among others, to limit gatherings to fewer than 100 people for two weeks.

“Beginning immediately, all public gatherings of church members are being temporarily suspended worldwide until further notice,” the statement said. “This includes stake conferences, leadership conferences and other large gatherings; all public worship services, including sacrament meetings; (and) branch, ward and stake activities.”

The church leaders said bishops should counsel with their stake president to determine how to make the sacrament, the sacred weekly ordinance in which they renew their covenants with God to live in harmony with Christ’s teachings and commandments, available to members at least once a month.

Herbert requested that churches and other groups begin to limit gatherings effective Monday. The church decided not to wait.

Herbert also asked people over the age of 60 and those with compromised immune systems to avoid gatherings of more than 20 people.



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“So we are eliminating mass gatherings above 100 for the next two weeks” he said. “This includes church gatherings.”

“And that is 100 healthy individuals,” he added. “If people are not healthy, they should not opt in to these gatherings. So if you feel sick, don’t show up.”

Leaders of some of the state’s largest congregations said they would follow the guidelines.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints previously announced that all stake conferences in the United States have been canceled, beginning Monday. Those conferences bring hundreds or even thousands of people together in a meetinghouse.

This isn’t the first time the church has issued a sweeping directive to cancel meetings.

“Today’s announcement that worship services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are canceled until further notice reflects a precedent that occurred during the worldwide flu pandemic of 1918-1919,” said Matthew Grow, managing director of the Church History Department. “At that time, Sunday services at the ward level were not held from October to December 1918, after the Utah Board of Health issued a ban on public gatherings.”

Grow also noted that worship services have been canceled temporarily in parts of the world throughout church history due to government restrictions, wartime conditions or political instability.

Read the church’s letter below:


Dear Brothers and Sisters:

As promised in our letter of March 11, 2020, we continue to monitor the changing conditions related to COVID-19 throughout the world. We have considered the counsel of local Church leaders, government officials and medical professionals, and have sought the Lord’s guidance in these matters. We now provide the following updated directions.

Beginning immediately, all public gatherings of Church members are being temporarily suspended worldwide until further notice. This includes:

• Stake conferences, leadership conferences and other large gatherings.

• All public worship services, including sacrament meetings.

• Branch, ward and stake activities.

Where possible, leaders should conduct any essential leadership meetings via technology. Specific questions may be referred to local priesthood leaders. Further direction related to other matters will be provided.

Bishops should counsel with their stake president to determine how to make the sacrament available to members at least once a month.

We encourage members in their ministering efforts to care for one another. We should follow the Savior’s example to bless and lift others.

We bear our witness of the Lord’s love during this time of uncertainty. He will bless you to find joy as you do your best to live the gospel of Jesus Christ in every circumstance.

Sincerely,

The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

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