Sacrament administered in home: does the policy discriminate?

31 March 2020

Elder Blunck,

We have in our stake a “feminist” who has long advocated for women to receive the priesthood. Over the past two years, (Name) has been encouraged by the measures and messages of President Nelson that have given women much more of a say and role, such as serving as witnesses in ordinances. Jennifer has been vocal about how pleased she is with the policy changes in the Church.

I have met with Jennifer multiple times trying to understand her feelings and to address what I could—such as asking bishoprics not to say, “We thank the priesthood for administering the sacrament” reminding them, as we’ve been reminded by Presidents Nelson, Oaks and Ballard, that priesthood is a power and authority, not men; suggesting that men are special over women.

Even with the encouraging changes, (Name) has distanced herself from the church and divorced her husband, who also has found fault with priesthood leaders and doctrine.

I just happened to see the message below that (Name) posted on Facebook last Sunday. I support the direction to allow those who hold the priesthood (with a current temple recommend) to administer the sacrament in their home. It is a true blessing in our home with our daughter and her three children living with us. On the other hand, it shines a spotlight on the painful reality that some will and some won’t get the sacrament each Sunday.

Here’s what (Name) wrote on Facebook (she has very little readership, only 41 followers) and has had no response to this FB post:

Religious post ahead. Be warned.

I've long believed that the LDS church needs to correct the sexism that exists in its leadership and organization. In the last couple of years, I've been surprised but pleased to see the Church finally begin to address and correct some of these inequities. I've always felt the easiest way to correct this was to simply give women the priesthood, but I have never expected a miracle. Changing long standing beliefs is just too mind blowing for so many people. I'm hoping the Church leaders are now seeing the need for women to hold the priesthood. It is utterly ridiculous that women like myself and my mother can not take the sacrament. My sisters can take the sacrament because they have active, priesthood holding husbands. My daughter can because she's in the same situation. I've been told over and over that priesthood blessings are available to all members regardless of their gender. I think current conditions have proved that this is not true. Can anyone truly think that the Church will somehow be less if women can do more?

I’m wondering if it might be prudent, so that no one feels left out or discriminated against, to declare Easter Sunday as “sacrament Sunday” for everyone and that be our only Sunday in April in which the sacrament is to be administered in homes. Unfortunately, it would require some ministering brothers to leave their families on Easter Sunday to administer the sacrament in the homes of others. 

Please know I fully support whatever direction you and/or the Area Presidency want to give us, but know that I pain for those who feel they’re been discriminated against or left out because of this practice. On the other hand, I would also pain for the families that could have had the sacrament in their home, but can’t because of one woman complained.

I hope this is helpful in your future planning. We are grateful for your leadership and sensitivity.

Crismon Lewis

President, Mount Hood Stake

In response to an EQ president who disagreed with the Area Seventy's authorization of taking the sacrament into homes at least once a month

27 March 2020

Hello President,

I strongly disagree with Elder Blunk on this item. Whether legal or not we should not be going into members homes in an organized and official capacity.  This creates health risks for all participants and a PR risk for the church and potential liability for the church and those in leadership positions.

This needs approval of a general authority and probably church legal representation.

This does not seem in harmony with the direction we are seeing from the general authorities with the temples being closed world wide and missionaries being sequestered or sent home.

-(Name)



Dear Bishop Kato and President Hokanson...

Thank you for sharing your sentiments on the subject. I respect your feelings and recognize how strongly you feel about this.

First, let me say that your handling the administration of the sacrament in your ward this Sunday is solely up to you. We have no plans of communicating to the members anything more beyond the original announcement made a couple of weeks ago that March 29 is sacrament Sunday.

You decide whether or not you want to organize worthy priesthood holders to take the sacrament into the homes of those who consent to receiving visitors. You did a wonderful job last weekend in taking the sacrament—at the last minute—into more homes than any other ward in the stake. Thank you and well done!

As you know, the First Presidency gave us the following directive: "Bishops should counsel with their stake president to determine how to make the sacrament available to members at least once a month.” Your ward members have had two opportunities to receive the sacrament in March (March 1 and 22). So if you choose not to make it available this Sunday, that’s your choice.

However, the First Presidency has not rescinded that directive. So, if things are the same as they are now, we’ll need to address this  subject again in April to make sure your members have the option of receiving the sacrament in their homes in April.

As for your concerns about legality…

If the governor’s executive order required everyone to stay home and they would bring food to our doorstep, that would be one thing. But, as you know, the governor’s directive allows all of us to leave our homes to go to work (for “essential” businesses) and to go to the grocery store and for other essential services.

Many of us go to the store and are exposed to other people while shopping. And we buy food, most of which was touched by food handlers. The governor’s order allows us to provide for our physical nourishment, even with such a risk.

If a government official or even a neighbor challenged a ministering brother about going into the home of another to take them the "bread and water of life," I would hope every disciple of Jesus Christ could persuasively defend why we personally need spiritual nourishment as much as physical nourishment. For many, hopefully for all of us, it’s an “essential service.” 

We appreciative ministering brothers taking all the precautions possible, such as washing hands thoroughly, keeping a distance, and using bread and water from the member's home.

As for your concerns about PR…

Our meetinghouses and temples are closed because they are gathering places.

In my opinion, our missionaries are told to stay home for three reasons, beyond the appearance: (1) safety--there’s a big difference between one or two ministering brothers going into a single home for a few minutes once a month and a couple of missionaries flitting from house to house like bees in search of pollen; (2) the Church has always been extra cautious and protective of the full-time missionaries for the parents’ sake; and (3) the maturity level of missionaries knowing some may not take this seriously.

Finally, receiving the sacrament is a personal matter. We each make that choice in sacrament meeting. My counsel to you is to make it available “at least once a month” to all members and allow them to decide if they want to have visitors come into their home for this special purpose.

I hope this is helpful.

President Lewis

Announcement to bishops about administering the sacrament on March 29

26 March 2020

Bishops and Branch Presidents…

Thank you for planning to meet tonight for our weekly Bishops Conference Call at 9:00 pm. You have received an email from President Christiansen with the link that will bring you into the meeting. Please use a device that has both video and audio.

BTW…TONIGHT’S CONFERENCE CALL WILL BE A NO-TIE MEETING. So no one feels out of place, we’ll make this a “casual” video conference. (Even if it’s 9p, please spare us of the pajamas. :)

There’s something I wanted to bring to your attention even before we visit tonight…

Last night in the stake presidents' weekly call with our Area Seventy, Elder Blunck gave this direction / opinion:

1. Those holding the priesthood (priest, elder, HP) and authorized by you to administer the sacrament may do so in their home every Sunday until sacrament meetings are resumed or we are directed otherwise. Of course, this does not apply to General Conference weekend.

2. Members without a worthy priesthood holder in the home, who consent to have visitors to the home, may receive the sacrament this Sunday, March 29. Unless otherwise directed, another Sunday in April will be designated so everyone can receive the sacrament at least monthly.

Elder Blunck, who is also an attorney, says he feels the governor’s Stay Home Executive Order, 1-a. Does not preclude visitors going to others’ homes and administering an ordinance; that it does not fall within the guideline of “parties, celebrations or other similar gatherings.” 

He suggests that the home visits for this purpose be VERY brief; a hymn, prayer and the administration of the sacrament; no talks. He also asks that ministering priesthood holders maintain social distance as much as possible while in the home and always thoroughly wash their hands in each home so those receiving the sacrament will know every precaution is being taken. Use the family’s bread and water.

Thank you for the guidelines many of you have already shared with those who are visiting homes for this purpose.

Hopefully you can see this is a wonderful opportunity for you…

…to reach those who may have been missed last Sunday;

…to determine who is and who is not to administer the sacrament whether in their home or another’s (the stake presidency will not be making a blanket announcement about administration of the sacrament and current temple recommends); we look to you to communicate all of this to your ward or branch;

…to have the time to organize this in an orderly way without the last minute rush that we experienced last weekend.

Please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to do it right, if you feel that some members were missed or the administration of the sacrament last time was not organized or announced in an orderly fashion.

If you have any questions, feel free to reply to this email or we can discuss this evening in our conference call.

Look forward to visiting with you then,

President Lewis

More changes announced as pandemic continues

23 March 2020

Dear Mount Hood Stake Members,

Thank you for the many ways you are being cautious and following guidance from Church and government leaders.

A special thank you for reaching out and watching over each other through technology. We encourage members to create video conferencing groups to stay connected or meet online to study together. We're also happy to hear about families video conferencing with other families to play games.

Please be advised of more developments:

USE OF CHURCH BUILDINGS: We recognize that our meetinghouses can make for fun gathering places and that many members have door keys. We remind you that officials have asked us not to have gatherings of 10 or more persons. Please respect this directive and not use church buildings for recreational and other private uses.

DESERET INDUSTRIES: The Church thrift store, located on 82nd Avenue in Portland, is now closed. Workers who were receiving training are now being taught online. Donations are no longer accepted at the store nor at the DI pods. The pods have been removed from all church buildings.

We appreciate your understanding and patience during this challenging time.

Stake Presidency

In response to Relief Society president who was worried not everyone will be able to receive the sacrament due to Covid-19 adjustments

19 March 2020

Thank you for sharing. Unfortunately, there’s no way to guarantee everyone will receive the sacrament on March 29 or into the future. 

Fortunately, I don’t think a mandatory quarantine is imminent, though things are changing quickly, as you know.

The bigger question will be: do those without a priesthood holder in the home even want visitors in their home? 

I would doubt we'll ever see a virtual blessing of the bread and water because, I believe, the breaking is part of the ordinance (why the bread is broken in our presence and not brought to church in small pieces already).

Many people have had to go without the sacrament for years (members in East Germany and other Soviet bloc nations) and remained on the covenant path. 

Hopefully all of us will become more appreciative of the sacrament and other ordinances through this trial.

You don’t need to reply or share, but just so you can help counsel RS presidents, as you’ve done already (thank you!), to please do everything they can to help calm fears and not create more worries and concerns.

Thx

PrL

In response to Mark Skousen's email where he was furious as to how the Brethren have handled the Covid-19 pandemic by cancelling all meetings to create social distancing

19 March 2020

Mark,

I don’t blame you for being furious about the craziness going on right now. But it is what it is. 

Please cut the Brethren some slack. Sure, they don’t run the Church like you would, but they are good and wise men, who receive revelation and they’re trying their best. I’m not suggesting every decision they make is God’s will, but they’re trying with the facts they have and the feelings they receive.

Again, I’m so sorry this is so painful to you personally. But please don’t let it turn you away from the testimony and truths you cherish. The separating of those who will stand firm and those who won’t is real and it's happening. It’s not worth getting worked up so much that you turn on the Brethren or the Church.

This will pass and we will survive. The question is what will be our status before God after it’s all over?

Crismon

Direction for full-time missionary involvement during period of limited Church participation

14 March 2020

Bishops and Branch Presidents,

Following our meeting this morning, I had a phone visit with President Bullen, of the Oregon Portland Mission.

There were some key take-aways that are important for stake and ward leaders to know:

1. Missionary work goes forward as it always has.

2. Full-time missionaries will be allowed to meet each Sunday to hold a brief, missionary-only sacrament meeting, as directed by the Area Presidency. There will be two meetings in our zone: the South district will meet in the Sandy building and the North district will meet in the stake center. The South district leader will contact Bsp Conklin (agent bishop for the Sandy building) for permission to administer the sacrament and the North district leader will seek authorization from Bsp Miller (agent bishop for the stake center).

BTW…we support this Area Presidency authorization for missionaries to hold weekly sacrament meetings. We have stressed with the zone leaders we very much need the full-time missionaries going into as many member homes as possible during this time of no meetings and activities and they are (1) to take the spirit of the sacrament covenant into every home, and (2) to deliver a gospel message each time they visit. 

2. The missionaries will begin on March 22 to meet weekly for a full-time missionary-only sacrament meeting, which they will conduct and the elders will administer the sacrament with the bishop’s authorization and under the direction of the district leader. 

3. Exceptions will be the following:

A) On March 29, which has been designated as “Sacrament Sunday” by our Area Seventy, the missionaries are to meet in a home in their assigned ward or branch and partake of the sacrament with a member family;

B) General Conference weekend, no sacrament administered;

C) On those occasions, when they have an investigator(s), the missionaries are to arrange with the Ward Mission Leader to assign a fellowshipping family or individual; once designated, the missionaries are to invite the investigator to attend a sacrament meeting in the home of the fellowshipping family or individual where the bishop or one of his counselors will be asked to attend and oversee the administration of the sacrament in the home. We hope this will help the bishopric member get acquainted with the investigator (a key element of helping interested persons desire to join the Church) and the bishopric member will take the opportunity to teach the investigator(s) during the home sacrament meeting about the purpose and blessing of the sacrament and covenants.

To recap…

...the missionaries will not meet for sacrament meeting tomorrow (March 15). 

…they will begin meeting March 22. 

…they will not meet on March 29, but attend a sacrament meeting in the home of a member family in their ward.

...If members complain that they’re not able to partake of the sacrament weekly, leaders can encourage them to invite a friend to be taught by the missionaries and then have them to their home the next Sunday for a home sacrament meeting with a member of the bishopric.

We appreciate your support of this direction going forward during this period of limited Church participation.

President Lewis and the Stake Presidency

Message to the Mount Hood Stake Members following the announcement that all Church meetings and activities were suspended

COVER EMAIL:

Dear Mount Hood Stake Members,

As we enter this new temporary period of no Church gatherings (meetings and activities), please read the attached letter with our encouragement on how this can become a blessing and opportunity.

Also, don't miss this inspiring video the Church produced in 2016 on how the Saints in Ghana lived the gospel at home when their meetings were banned by the government for 18 months.

We love you and look forward to hearing how "home centered, church supported" takes on new meaning for you in your household.

Stake Presidency

13 March 2020

TO: All Members of the Mount Hood Stake

Adjusting to the Suspension of Church Gatherings

Dears Brothers and Sisters,

This will be a time never to be forgotten! As we contemplate the coming weeks, and maybe months, of having all Church meetings and activities temporarily suspended, we now have the opportunity to apply, as never imagined, the principles of being “home centered and church supported.” 

Gratefully, the Lord, through his prophets, has put into place everything we need for the work to move forward: Come, Follow Me home study, ministering assignments, priesthood organization, home-centered youth initiative, etc. along with the technology that allows us to receive real-time guidance from our leaders and stay connected as caring, covenant friends.

Your bishop or branch president will share with you details and ideas on how the Church and living the gospel in the home will continue to be an important part of our lives going forward.

Additionally, please consider the following:

• Contact those to whom you’ve been assigned to minister and make sure they’re aware of the suspension of meetings and have received a copy of this letter;
• Ponder and discuss what more you can do to make the Sabbath a “delight” in your home;
• Visit often the Church website churchofjesuschrist.org with its many resources to bless our lives;
• View the inspiring videos on the Church website about “How Saints Have Navigated Suspended Sacrament Meetings Before.”

Finally, we have been authorized to administer the sacrament in our homes on Sunday, March 2. Your bishop or branch president will give you more details. That date is also our Fast Sunday for April. We invite you to fast that day for a minimizing of the coronavirus pandemic so we can meet again soon. You may also want to have your own family testimony meeting that day.

Thank you for your good lives and for embracing these adjustments with faith that the Lord is aware of us and will sustain each one of us as we remain on the Covenant Path and keep His commandments.

Faithfully yours,

Stake Presidency

Counsel to our stake patriarch Kenneth Hardy

12 March 2020

Dear Brother Ken,

After our visit on Tuesday evening, I’ve had a feeling settle on my heart that I feel I need to share with you.

If I remember right, you shared with me some time ago that you didn’t feel you could, or even should, attend the temple without Lori. And with her health condition such, it has caused you to not attend personally for over a year.

I feel to tell you that is not what the Lord would have you do. It’s a wonderful gesture of loyalty, but it’s not the right approach.

You and she both need the blessings of the temple in your home. She is unable to receive them unless you go to the temple and, in essence, bring those blessings home to her through your regular attendance.

Please look at temple attendance as not abandoning your wife, but on an errand for the Lord to lift and bless her—especially at a time when she desperately needs the Lord's blessings. As you exercise your faith through temple attendance, you will see the same miracles you both have acknowledged when you give and she transcribes a patriarchal blessing.

I hope this doesn’t offend. I love you both and am so grateful for your mighty—though lonely—service. You are a giant in our stake, for which we are all most grateful.

President Lewis