Elder Blunck,
As you remember, the First Presidency’s original Covid-19 announcement on March 12 stated that "Bishops should counsel with their stake president to determine how to make the sacrament available to members at least once a month.”
In contemplating how to fulfill this direction, I have wondered if there might be something more we can do to accommodate a few single sisters, who are deeply pained by the current sacrament administration policy. Fortunately, the vast majority of those affected have been very accepting and have not even complained.
But there are some who feel that our policy is isolating them even more.
One dear single sister, who we helped return to activity after 30 years of being less-active, wrote me: “I’m really not trying to be a problem, it’s difficult in the church to be a single woman. Unless you have experienced how it is, it’s hard to understand. I’m really needing to get the opportunity to partake of the sacrament.”
My first thought was, “Leslie, you went without the sacrament for 30 years, can it really mean that much now?” But that would be unkind. I will try to teach her how she can abide the current policy and still enjoy the blessings of heaven.
However, my question…
Would it be counter to the Area guidelines if those few single sisters, who feel isolated by the current policy, could be allowed to choose an invitation into a home where there is a worthy priesthood holder? We would be willing to do that for our friend Leslie.
I can see where a sister could be invited into a home and, if everyone wore masks, could still practice social distancing within the home for a brief service, including the sacrament. The greatest risk is to the single sister herself since she would be touching and consuming bread and water touched by the priesthood holder.
So a sister, who is feeling isolated and is willing to take the risk, could be told she could be invited into another home and partake of the sacrament in that way—assuming a family is willing to have a guest. Frankly, I don’t believe we’d have more than a few such sisters in our stake willing to take the risk. But at least it would be their choice.
I know this a very small thing that falls into a “Law of Moses” category, so I apologize for even bringing it up. My request is to see if you’d be OK for me to advise the bishops in our stake that if they have a single sister, who feels especially offended or alienated by the current policy, that this approach may be considered if a family can be found who is willing to invite her into their home for the sacrament.
I welcome your counsel.
Thank you,
Crismon Lewis
Mount Hood Stake
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