SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Sept. 22, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Wednesday that masks will now be required in temples.
The letter was sent to Church leaders around the world. The letter reads, in full:
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
We are grateful that in recent months, some level of ordinance work has resumed in every temple. Our desire is to keep temples open.
As cases of COVID-19 increase in many areas, we want to do everything possible to allow temples to remain open. Therefore, effective immediately, all temple patrons and workers are asked to wear face masks at all times while in the temple. These safety protocols are temporary, based on COVID-19 conditions, and will be rescinded as soon as circumstances permit.
Our urging Church members to be vaccinated and to protect themselves and others from the spread of disease has precedent. Prior First Presidencies shared similar messages in 1900 about smallpox and in 1957 regarding polio. Please do all you can to protect yourself and others so the work of the Lord on both sides of the veil can move forward.
Sincerely yours,
Russell M. Nelson
Dallin H. Oaks
Henry B. Eyring
Wednesday’s announcement was the second such pandemic-related message from church leaders in the last two months. On August 12, the First Presidency not only urged members to wear masks in public meetings, but also counseled them to become vaccinated. Their statement is as follows:
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
We find ourselves fighting a war against the ravages of COVID-19 and its variants, an unrelenting pandemic. We want to do all we can to limit the spread of these viruses. We know that protection from the diseases they cause can only be achieved by immunizing a very high percentage of the population.
To limit exposure to these viruses, we urge the use of face masks in public meetings whenever social distancing is not possible. To provide personal protection from such severe infections, we urge individuals to be vaccinated. Available vaccines have proven to be both safe and effective.
We can win this war if everyone will follow the wise and thoughtful recommendations of medical experts and government leaders. Please know of our sincere love and great concern for all of God’s children.
For more information on the church reaction to the COVID-19 crisis go to: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/ .
