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