A22 | March 27-28, 2021
General Conference Guide - Spring 2021
GATHERING ISRAEL THROUGH PANDEMIC PROTOCOLS
PHOTOS COURTESY INTELLECTUAL RESERVES
In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made some adjustments in COVID-19 practices to be in line with state-of-emergency mandates in Utah.
Spiritual gathering continues despite physical restrictions BY SARAH HARRIS
Herald Correspondent
Starting in November, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began to meet safely in church and for other meetings and activities if allowed by area presidencies and area health conditions.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints one year ago in March 2020 temporarily suspended gatherings of church members worldwide in response to COVID-19. But despite limitations on physical gatherings, the spiritual work of gathering Israel has continued to progress in the last year. “In challenging times, disciples of Jesus Christ continue to follow Him by participating in His work of salvation and exaltation,” an enclosure with a September 2020 First Presidency letter reads. “He invites us to participate by progressing on the covenant path and helping others do the same however circumstances allow.” MISSIONARY WORK
Speakers from the General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints address the worldwide conference in October by remote means due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asked members to give virtually during the 2020 holidays. Giving Machines were not set up due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Church leaders implemented temporary adjustments to missionary service in March 2020 that included releasing or reassigning many missionaries. As guidelines have changed, the church’s missionary force, reduced from 62,000 before the pandemic to 40,000 in March 2020, has now steadily increased to 54,000, according to a February church news release. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in a devotional called the increase a welcome boon because missionaries are the “extended arms of the 12 apostles” today, according to
the release. Missionaries also have used technology throughout the pandemic to conduct their teaching and training. Technology has allowed missionaries in the field to teach thousands of lessons every week from their apartments, according to a June 2020 church news release. “We’re learning new ways to do missionary work,” said Elder Brent Nielson, a General Authority Seventy and executive director of the church’s Missionary Department, in the release. “And I think people are actually more receptive online than they are with someone knocking on their door or trying to stop them on the street.” Several thousand newly called missionaries transitioned to online training as the church’s 10 missionary training centers closed due to the pandemic, according to the release. “We teach them the same things, we practice the same things with them, and hopefully they’re just as prepared as the ones that come (to the center),” said Bryce Tripp, an MTC instructor from Arizona, in the release. TEMPLES
Following the temporary suspension of all temple activity in March 2020, the church introduced a cautious phased reopening of temples in May 2020. Please SEE PANDEMIC, PAGE A24
