Status of church

[Hamba Tuhan]

4 hours ago, Duncan said:

I caught the tail end of it but it was in the iniatory and I came in to the ante-room and two brethren were talking to him, he was maskless and I can't recall specifically what was said but was outta there.

What a selfish, thuggish thing it is to take contention and conflict into the temple. It's not fair to either the poor workers who had to deal with it or the patrons, like you, who had to be exposed to it in what is intended to be a place of peace and a house of order.

[Scott Lloyd]

7 hours ago, rongo said:

I can confirm firsthand that the Gilbert and Mesa temples don't say anything to patrons not wearing masks. 

How recently have you attended either of those temples? 
 

I ask, because it has been within only recent months that the Draper Temple (and I’m there at least once a week) has become as strict as it is now on mask wearing, coinciding with the most recent directive from the First Presidency. 

Edited January 16, 2022 by Scott Lloyd

[rongo]

4 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

How recently have you attended either of those temples? 
 

I ask, because it has been within only recent months that the Draper Temple (and I’m there at least once a week) has become as strict as it is now on mask wearing, coinciding with the most recent directive from the First Presidency. 

A week ago, and then a few weeks before that.

I think there is regional variation/dominant culture at play, so there is going to be a wide range of attitudes between temples, meeting houses, etc. that mirrors the local population. I think this is reflected in area/coordinating council policies, which vary widely.

[bluebell]

5 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

How recently have you attended either of those temples? 
 

I ask, because it has been within only recent months that the Draper Temple (and I’m there at least once a week) has become as strict as it is now on mask wearing, coinciding with the most recent directive from the First Presidency. 

In the Billings MT temple only the ordinance workers have to wear masks.  For everyone else it's optional.  I only know this because my parents are ordinance workers there and my dad mentioned the difference when I talked to him on Friday.

[rongo]

My daughter's home MTC was just changed to Preston, England MTC (just notified today). Apparently England is a little more healthy as far as how it regards Omicron and foreign visitors than some other countries. We're hearing that everything is a go for her mission, even though her three mission countries seem pretty panicked about Omicron still. They're still letting vaccines nated foreigners in.

[Rain]

In December the stake discontinued sacrament at home. For tomorrow they have told the bishops they can go ahead and let people do it if they want.  Our bishop said we could.  He also asked everyone to wear a mask.  Then he asked that we prayerfully ask how we should take part. 

[bsjkki]

46 minutes ago, Rain said:

In December the stake discontinued sacrament at home. For tomorrow they have told the bishops they can go ahead and let people do it if they want.  Our bishop said we could.  He also asked everyone to wear a mask.  Then he asked that we prayerfully ask how we should take part. 

I like this. I didn’t like that my ward forced people back to church by not doing zoom. I think those who were higher risk or didn’t feel comfortable in my mask free ward should have been able  to stay home. I had a friend sho felt forced back. Her elderly mother lives with her and she had concerns but was basically told since they were all vaccinated they had to come in person. I thought this was wrong. 

[Rain]

1 hour ago, bsjkki said:

I like this. I didn’t like that my ward forced people back to church by not doing zoom. I think those who were higher risk or didn’t feel comfortable in my mask free ward should have been able  to stay home. I had a friend sho felt forced back. Her elderly mother lives with her and she had concerns but was basically told since they were all vaccinated they had to come in person. I thought this was wrong. 

The weird things for me was that zoom never stopped in our ward.  Only being able to have sacrament at home.  And the timing of that was weird too because last year we saw the rise in cases after Thanksgiving and Christmas so this year they stopped sacrament the week after Thanksgiving?

Edited January 23, 2022 by Rain

[rongo]

U.S. missionaries have left the Ukraine. 14 have been reassigned to Moldova (former student of mine and boy in our stake is serving there). Moldova Mission  was headquartered in Kiev, but won't be for the time being. Ukrainian is a Slavic language, and Moldovan/Romanian is Latin with Slavic influence, so language will be difficult, especially for missionaries near the end of their service. 

Moldova missionaries are excited, because the mission went from 6 to 20 missionaries, so they will be able to open up new areas. The three branches consolidated into one (for the entire country) when Covid hit, so they're hoping they will be able to expand the Church presence beyond just one branch. 

[provoman]

From my Utah Stake

 

According to the February 18 notice from the First Presidency, our Utah Area Presidency, and in consideration with state and local health guidance, we now feel that is appropriate to offer the following guidance. 

 

• Individual members can decide how to protect themselves, their families, and others from COVID-19. 

• Those who wish to continue to use facial masks are welcome to do so. 

• Our stake will continue to provide broadcasting to those who are unable or uncomfortable attending meetings in person. 

• Ward’s should return to full activity wherever possible, including second hour meetings.

 

Thank you for your obedience, love and compassion in unprecedented times.

[bluebell]

11 hours ago, provoman said:

From my Utah Stake

 

According to the February 18 notice from the First Presidency, our Utah Area Presidency, and in consideration with state and local health guidance, we now feel that is appropriate to offer the following guidance. 

 

• Individual members can decide how to protect themselves, their families, and others from COVID-19. 

• Those who wish to continue to use facial masks are welcome to do so. 

• Our stake will continue to provide broadcasting to those who are unable or uncomfortable attending meetings in person. 

• Ward’s should return to full activity wherever possible, including second hour meetings.

 

Thank you for your obedience, love and compassion in unprecedented times.

I'm also in Utah and my state is pretty much doing the exact same thing.  Though every ward in the stake has been doing second hour for over a year so not much different there.

[provoman]

For a couple of months now, my ward has held in person 2nd hour.

[Ragerunner]

On 1/16/2022 at 9:54 AM, rongo said:

A week ago, and then a few weeks before that.

I think there is regional variation/dominant culture at play, so there is going to be a wide range of attitudes between temples, meeting houses, etc. that mirrors the local population. I think this is reflected in area/coordinating council policies, which vary widely.

Hopefully all temples are requiring mask to be worn as directed by the Prophet and the First Presidency. I also would hope that members would comply without needing to be asked. 
I really hope the temple presidencies are following the prophet and not local culture (politics) or attitudes.

“For the time being, masks will still be required in temples, where so many who attend are part of an elderly, more vulnerable population and where our desire is to keep temples open and to have as many as possible participate.” First Presidency February 18, 2022

[bluebell]

My oldest leaves for the Mexico MTC tomorrow and we were reminded last night at a zoom meeting for all incoming missionaries and parents that all missionaries have to wear masks at all times except when they are showering, eating, or sleeping.

But the MTC president made it a point to say that it's not about the science or what works or what doesn't.  They wear them because that is the current Mexican law and if they don't they would be fined or even shut down.

Considering the state of the temples I had assumed the mask mandate at the MTC was church related so it was interesting to learn that it's not.

[Duncan]

Our ward is the 2 hours with masks, it's still law and the temple is still wearing masks. I think on the 15th though things will change law wise but I will still wear one at the temple and at church. Last night was Stake Priesthood, our first as a new stake but apparently there were more men on zoom than in person-which isn't surprising

[Hamba Tuhan]

Our indoor mask mandate for non-high-risk settings was lifted 2.5 weeks ago. The stake presidency prepared a statement for unit leaders to share with their members, which basically states that mask wearing is encouraged because of congregational singing but, in line with government directives, is no longer required. For some reason, our bishop has chosen not to share this message, leaving people a bit confused. I've chosen not to wear a mask for the past two Sunday, but I've been in a very small minority. (We did have one person on the stand without a mask this past Sunday, the first counsellor in the bishopric.)

Our indoor capacity limits have also been lifted, but for some reason, the bishops in our building have not responded to this by replacing the cushions on alternating pews. This past Sunday, we had a baby blessing and a good number of non-members that came for that, and they just sat on the hard pews that were labelled 'Please do not sit here' anyway.

Our stake conference is coming up. The original plan was to broadcast it to most of the stake, but that's no longer happening. Clearly, stake leaders are planning to use all the pews in our chapel. I'm guessing that will be when our wards realise it's OK?

We've been back to in-person church for both hours since the end of last year.

[BlueDreams]

22 hours ago, bluebell said:

But the MTC president made it a point to say that it's not about the science or what works or what doesn't.  They wear them because that is the current Mexican law and if they don't they would be fined or even shut down.

Considering the state of the temples I had assumed the mask mandate at the MTC was church related so it was interesting to learn that it's not.

It probably depends on country and laws…but I could also see them making an announcement like this to move past arguments about masks that tend to reduce compliance based on personal beliefs around them. You can’t argue your way out of legality and no one wants to be the reason the MTC shuts down. 
 

with luv, 

BD 

[bluebell]

1 hour ago, BlueDreams said:

It probably depends on country and laws…but I could also see them making an announcement like this to move past arguments about masks that tend to reduce compliance based on personal beliefs around them. You can’t argue your way out of legality and no one wants to be the reason the MTC shuts down. 
 

with luv, 

BD 

I'm very sure the bold is true.  He also said that they had been wearing them for 5 months (so obviously not during the whole pandemic, but I'm not sure when the Mexico MTC opened to take missionaries again) and that no one hated them more than the people who had to be there permanently and they were hoping it wouldn't be much longer.  

[Amulek]

My understanding is that the MTC in Provo is no longer requiring masks.

Our stake has just recently gotten rid of the masking / social distancing protocols for regular meetings, and last Sunday was our first ward meeting without the requirement.

It was kind of interesting to see the tidal change in behavior. We went from 90+% wearing masks to having that same number (maybe just a little bit more) not wearing masks in one week's time.

As mentioned elsewhere, masks are still being required for the temple, but that's it for the time being (at least where I live).

 

[pogi]

2 hours ago, Amulek said:

My understanding is that the MTC in Provo is no longer requiring masks.

Our stake has just recently gotten rid of the masking / social distancing protocols for regular meetings, and last Sunday was our first ward meeting without the requirement.

It was kind of interesting to see the tidal change in behavior. We went from 90+% wearing masks to having that same number (maybe just a little bit more) not wearing masks in one week's time.

As mentioned elsewhere, masks are still being required for the temple, but that's it for the time being (at least where I live).

It is true that masks are no longer required at Provo MTC.  With percent of positive test results around 6%, I completely support that move.  

Just curious, what were the protocols for masks in your stake previously and how did they change?  I didn't think that masks were ever required in any wards/stakes.

Edited March 9, 2022 by pogi

[Amulek]

2 hours ago, pogi said:

Just curious, what were the protocols for masks in your stake previously and how did they change?  I didn't think that masks were ever required in any wards/stakes.

They weren't required, but we were given the same direction I believe most other wards were given about how masks were to be worn indoors and/or whenever social distancing was not possible.

Everybody who sat on the stand was expected to wear a mask along with anyone who participated in preparing / administering the sacrament - though you could remove your mask at the pulpit while speaking.

I would say that, throughout the pandemic, the overwhelming majority of members in our ward followed the guidance we were given. Even toward the end* - just a week or two ago - there weren't more then half a dozen people in the congregation not wearing masks.

*Obviously, I don't know that it's completely over for us here in our area, but it appears to be trending in that direction.

 

[Danzo]

Finally got the mask mandate removed in my stake! Now I can find out what the members look like.

[mfbukowski]

On 3/9/2022 at 9:07 AM, pogi said:

It is true that masks are no longer required at Provo MTC.  With percent of positive test results around 6%, I completely support that move.  

Just curious, what were the protocols for masks in your stake previously and how did they change?  I didn't think that masks were ever required in any wards/stakes.

They were in So Cal and everyone here still wears them in church and temple, even though they are no longer required in LA county.

If you differ from what others are doing, it would be almost like open defiance against the church.

Imagine a former leader wearing Bermuda shorts, flip flops and  Hawiian shirt to sacrament meeting.

Like that 

"O my gosh! What's his problem?"

[bluebell]

10 hours ago, Moneymaking said:

The only change in behavior in men ward/ stake is now instead of about 95% no masks now it ols about 99%. No one had been wearing them here since last summer.

Same for my ward.  Probably 10% of the members were wearing masks prior to the last announcement. Now we have about 1% wearing them.

[cinepro]

4 hours ago, mfbukowski said:

They were in So Cal and everyone here still wears them in church and temple, even though they are no longer required in LA county.

 

Last year, when we first returned to Church (about a year ago?), about 95% of my SoCal ward was wearing masks.

Then they lifted the mask mandated and reinstated it in July. After that, only about 60% would wear masks (and yes, I actually looked around in Sacrament meeting and counted).

Now the mandate has been lifted again (at both the County and Church level), and about five people are wearing them each week. The Bishopric aren't. Yesterday we had Stake conference, and the Stake Center was packed and I counted about 20 masks.