12 August 2020
Steven and Everyone,
Thank you for your feedback. I have updated the proposed plan as per your suggestions with additional changes in an attempt to reflect answers to your concerns.
I’ll try to answer your questions in this email, as well.
As for the motivation…
In my opinion, there are two ways nations are responding to the pandemic.
We’ve all admired the countries that went into tough lock-downs and, it appears, brought the Covid-19 under control or even eradicated it.
America wasn’t so fortunate…wise…determined…caring...responsive to experts…whatever (pick your reason).
After 3-4 months in lock down, Americans decided they couldn’t beat the virus so they’ve decided to live with it…until a solution is found (vaccine, faster/cheaper testing, effective contact tracing, etc.).
The traffic on the highways and at airports tells us that Americans are already back to living…taking individual precautions (face masks, social distancing, etc.) and living with the risk.
So I personally feel we need to begin preparing leaders and members on how to minimize the risk so those who desire can return to church. And those who don’t want to return yet do not feel pressure to do so.
To me, this is just the beginning of more “plagues” to come (D&C 84:97). We now have the opportunity to learn together how to deal with them as a church…and not run or hide from them.
No, there is no groundswell of requests from stake members or bishops asking that we begin in-person meetings. I simply feel we need to begin learning how to safely return to church meetings and activities, as was taught us in the May 19, 2020 letter from the Brethren.
My intent is not to mandate anything to anyone beyond asking the wards in September to return to their original sacrament meeting start times and to webcast from the chapel in September...as a preparatory step. Hopefully they will gain confidence to begin in-person meetings as early as October or whenever they feel comfortable in doing so. And then, when they feel they are ready, they can start administering the sacrament in their meetings. It will be their decision.
As I sat on the stand and watched our meeting unfold last Sunday, I could see how we really can make this work to bring us back together.
I confess I have been influenced by listening to family members in other parts (including in Eugene and Utah) who are back to in-person meetings. They say it feels so good to be back and find it well worth the inconvenience of the restrictions (masks, social distancing, etc.).
I noticed that another group of temples, including the Medford Temple, have now been granted Phase 2 status.
The Church is moving forward even in areas where the Covid numbers haven’t dropped dramatically. The Church is finding ways to make it work.
My hope is that I can convince leaders (including our presidency) and members that we can do this. We can learn how to gather the saints safely even during a pandemic…or whatever future plague awaits us around the corner.
I feel like the Lord wants our stake to gather as best and safely as possible. The attached plan is a road map. It doesn’t have to be the only map, but at least it gets us moving in the right direction.
I hope this helps. I appreciate your counsel and need your help as we walk this uncharted path together.
Crismon
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