Wearing Masks During Priesthood Blessings/Ordinances (Poll)

[bbsion]

There are many different types of blessings and ordinances. There are also many different types of situations that may or may not persuade you to don the mask.

I have been 100% against wearing a mask for no reason. My sister just asked everyone standing in the circle for her baby blessing to wear a mask. I REALLY do not want to. I am debating and praying on what to do. Do I stand in the circle, not create a scene, not anger my sister, and wear the bloody mask? Or do I just tell her I cannot wear one and risk what happens? To add to the situation, I just got over Covid a couple weeks ago and the blessing is in a couple of weeks. So I would be plenty past the ever changing bull crap quarantine period anyway.

What would you do or what have you done? What was the reaction or the result of your decision? Is it worth it?

[Mamabear]

I am with you. I feel for you.
For me, the mask is a symbol of fear and arm of the flesh. It upsets me to have them in church settings. I don’t wear one. If others want to, that’s fine.
My son who is 18 helps bless the sacrament in our ward. He doesn’t wear a mask. This past Sunday our bishop texted him and another priest and asked them to mask up during the sacrament because someone had covid in our ward a week ago. Well, my son helped prepare the sacrament before church started without a mask. Our bishop (who is kind) went up to him and the other priest and asked them to put their mask on when church starts. My son said he won’t be blessing the sacrament because he didn’t want to wear a mask. The bishop asked him why and he just said, “I do not feel the Spirit when I wear a mask.” Makes sense to me.

[Chip]

This can be simple: Will you bow to man or God?

[JohnnyL]

If it were my child: No.
If it were someone else's: As they wish.

[Mamabear]

This can be simple: Will you bow to man or God?

Yes. Obviously God. But regardless, it is a hard choice because his niece or nephew is involved.
I think asking God is the right choice. He will guide you.

[keeprunning]

Since it's family and a baby and only for a minute, I would just wear the mask then take it off. It's stupid, but sometimes we gotta respect stupid parenting choices of others. I think it's dumb if some family won't let their kids have sugar, but I'm not going to give it to them when the parents are watching. jk

[keeprunning]

On another note, I was super annoyed when a family member got ordained and they wore a mask saying the blessing and I couldn't understand a word.

[Lineman1012]

There is no greater sign of UNBELIEF than wearing a mask and blessing the sacrament (emblems of Christ's atonement) or perform any other ordinance in the name of Jesus Christ. I know Father has to be discussed with those who profess faith in the great HEALER and do it with a mask on. It's the same as giving a blessing to a sick person and when finished tell them they now have to hurry down to the hospital and get checked in. No Faith! A sure sign of Unbelief.

[Subcomandante]

The answer should be with common sense.

Family member, at your own home. No, no mask wearing is needed.

A person that you minister to in their own home? Ask them first.

Inside of a sacrament meeting room with many people e. g. blessing of a baby? In my chapel as well as every chapel in my area, yes, that is required. In other places, not necessarily

[EllaJean]

I've been a lurker on this website for the last few years, it has been a long time since I've commented or engaged with anyone. I dread coming to this website anymore and wonder why I even come to check things out because it seems like such a pessimistic, fault finding place where people spend their time arguing and putting down others, even family members. Whenever I visit this website, I often think of Jeffrey R. Hollands talk called, The Tongue of Angels, specifically where he states the following, "The voice that bears profound testimony, utters fervent prayer, and sings the hymns of Zion can be the same voice that berates and criticizes, embarrasses and demeans, inflicts pain and destroys the spirit of oneself and of others in the process. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. James Grieves." He goes on, "I have often thought that Nephi's being bound with cords and beaten by rods must have been more tolerable to him than listening to Laman and Lemuel's constant murmuring. Surely he must have said at last once, "Hit me one more time. I can still hear you." Yes life has its problems and yes, there are negative things to face, but please accept one of Elder Holland's maxims for living--- no misfortune is so bad that whining about won't make it worse."

My heart goes out to your sister, she is obviously concerned. Is it really too much of a sacrifice and discomfort to wear a mask to be able to participate in the blessing of your sister's child? The sacrifice our ancestors went through for each other was a lot worse then wearing a mask for a baby blessing or for a 2 hr church service. I often think of the sacrifice, blood, sweat, tears and lives lost for the sake of the temple, the building of Zion and coming across west. It blows me away people want to complain about having to wear a mask to pass the sacrament or to be able to worship in the temple or whatever is being asked of us to be able to keep church's and temple's open. Wearing a mask to be able to participate in sacred ordinances is such a minor inconvenience. If you have a deep relationship with your sister, and not a superficial one, a mask for a 5 minute blessing would seem of little significance to be of a support to her during this special time. My vote is 5 minutes of your personal discomfort for your sister's special moment is worth more than you realize.

[dewajack]

There are many different types of blessings and ordinances. There are also many different types of situations that may or may not persuade you to don the mask.

I have been 100% against wearing a mask for no reason. My sister just asked everyone standing in the circle for her baby blessing to wear a mask. I REALLY do not want to. I am debating and praying on what to do. Do I stand in the circle, not create a scene, not anger my sister, and wear the bloody mask? Or do I just tell her I cannot wear one and risk what happens? To add to the situation, I just got over Covid a couple weeks ago and the blessing is in a couple of weeks. So I would be plenty past the ever changing bull crap quarantine period anyway.

What would you do or what have you done? What was the reaction or the result of your decision? Is it worth it?

Just wear it unless you truly feel directed not to. It's their day, it's a little thing in this instance in my opinion.

[alurker]

I am with you. I feel for you.
For me, the mask is a symbol of fear and arm of the flesh. It upsets me to have them in church settings. I don’t wear one. If others want to, that’s fine.
My son who is 18 helps bless the sacrament in our ward. He doesn’t wear a mask. This past Sunday our bishop texted him and another priest and asked them to mask up during the sacrament because someone had covid in our ward a week ago. Well, my son helped prepare the sacrament before church started without a mask. Our bishop (who is kind) went up to him and the other priest and asked them to put their mask on when church starts. My son said he won’t be blessing the sacrament because he didn’t want to wear a mask. The bishop asked him why and he just said, “I do not feel the Spirit when I wear a mask.” Makes sense to me.

Brave kid; kudos for standing up.

[Lineman1012]

I'm the Elder's Quorum president in my ward, I got a call from one of my elders asking me to come over and give him and his wife a blessing as they had decided to get the vaccine later that day and wanted god's protection. At that moment I had a big conflict hit me - could I give a blessing to someone that was going to get the jab? knowing how bad the shot was and what was in it, to me it was like wanting a blessing right before you commit suicide.

I went over and we talked for over an hour. All about life, the vax and what's in it, along with the last days and evil and
designing men. Right or wrong, in the end I told them that I couldn't give them a blessing because of what I know about what's in the needle, however if they were still going to go thru with it, I would find someone in the ward that would give them the blessing they wanted.

To this day they have not got the shot and yesterday another person in our ward who works at the same place just got a religious exemption approved.

[Fred]

Well, everyone has to decide where to draw the line on people they associate with. I have a very low tolerance for stupidity, especially when it is self imposed, that I would decline. If you want my presence, you are going to have to wise up a notch. If you can't do that, then whatever you do is whatever you do and just count me out. It is a hoax. A complete fraud. The purpose is to enslave mankind. All participants are complicit. No exceptions. I have relatives that are too stupid to be considered human. If it wasn't self imposed, I would have empathy. But since it is, I can't think of a single possible reason to allow them to share my air space.

[alurker]

There are many different types of blessings and ordinances. There are also many different types of situations that may or may not persuade you to don the mask.

I have been 100% against wearing a mask for no reason. My sister just asked everyone standing in the circle for her baby blessing to wear a mask. I REALLY do not want to. I am debating and praying on what to do. Do I stand in the circle, not create a scene, not anger my sister, and wear the bloody mask? Or do I just tell her I cannot wear one and risk what happens? To add to the situation, I just got over Covid a couple weeks ago and the blessing is in a couple of weeks. So I would be plenty past the ever changing bull crap quarantine period anyway.

What would you do or what have you done? What was the reaction or the result of your decision? Is it worth it?

I would politely decline; No need to make a big scene, just politely say I understand you are very worried about covid and the baby; I respect that and politely decline to stand in the circle.

If she asks why, then I'd tell her about the masks.

[alurker]

My heart goes out to your sister, she is obviously concerned. Is it really too much of a sacrifice and discomfort to wear a mask to be able to participate in the blessing of your sister's child? The sacrifice our ancestors went through for each other was a lot worse then wearing a mask for a baby blessing or for a 2 hr church service. I often think of the sacrifice, blood, sweat, tears and lives lost for the sake of the temple, the building of Zion and coming across west. It blows me away people want to complain about having to wear a mask to pass the sacrament or to be able to worship in the temple or whatever is being asked of us to be able to keep church's and temple's open. Wearing a mask to be able to participate in sacred ordinances is such a minor inconvenience. If you have a deep relationship with your sister, and not a superficial one, a mask for a 5 minute blessing would seem of little significance to be of a support to her during this special time. My vote is 5 minutes of your personal discomfort for your sister's special moment is worth more than you realize.

Ah of course the respect and sacrifice only goes one way.

Wearing a mask to be able to participate in sacred ordinances is such a minor inconvenience. (for you, obviously you are not compassionate enough to understand that other see it differently).

If you have a deep relationship with your sister, and not a superficial one, a mask for a 5 minute blessing would seem of little significance to be of a support to her during this special time.
(of course you don't say that if this individual has a deep enough relationship with the sister then she would understand his refusal to wear a mask and to participate).

My vote is 5 minutes of your personal discomfort for your sister's special moment is worth more than you realize.
(of course, everyone must cater to everyone else's personal discomfort, not a single thought for HIS personal discomfort).

The liberals, they always use love, kindness, sacrifice as weapons to get their way. It happens with LGBTQ+, masking, with everything. They claim love, kindness, sacrifice but they themselves are always the ones with the least amount of tolerance, compassion, love and sacrifice for those who think differently.

[alurker]

I'm the Elder's Quorum president in my ward, I got a call from one of my elders asking me to come over and give him and his wife a blessing as they had decided to get the vaccine later that day and wanted god's protection. At that moment I had a big conflict hit me - could I give a blessing to someone that was going to get the jab? knowing how bad the shot was and what was in it, to me it was like wanting a blessing right before you commit suicide.

I went over and we talked for over an hour. All about life, the vax and what's in it, along with the last days and evil and
designing men. Right or wrong, in the end I told them that I couldn't give them a blessing because of what I know about what's in the needle, however if they were still going to go thru with it, I would find someone in the ward that would give them the blessing they wanted.

To this day they have not got the shot and yesterday another person in our ward who works at the same place just got a religious exemption approved.

I think this is probably okay; I think giving a blessing that someone be protected from harm when they are about to jump off a building would be tempting God.

We just need to make sure that we remember (which is more an after the fact verse rather than before verse):

17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—

18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

19 For behold, are we not all abeggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

[TrueFaith]

I've already turned down helping my best friend give his baby a blessing when she was sick when they required a mask. No question for me at all. I will offend anyone and everyone before I offend God.

[EmmaLee]

I will offend everyone and everyone before I offend God.

Yes, the 1st Great Commandment often gets ignored/dismissed in an attempt to keep the 2nd. I've noticed this a lot lately. God is waaaayyy down on the list, after family, church, jobs, friends, etc. Wouldn't want to offend any of them, but God? Meh, no probs, he'll understand...

***

As for blessing babies during this fraud, our son and his wife chose to bless their baby in their home earlier this year, with only immediate family present. No masks or other absurdities anywhere. It was a glorious experience with the spirit in abundance! Highly recommend.

[EllaJean]

My heart goes out to your sister, she is obviously concerned. Is it really too much of a sacrifice and discomfort to wear a mask to be able to participate in the blessing of your sister's child? The sacrifice our ancestors went through for each other was a lot worse then wearing a mask for a baby blessing or for a 2 hr church service. I often think of the sacrifice, blood, sweat, tears and lives lost for the sake of the temple, the building of Zion and coming across west. It blows me away people want to complain about having to wear a mask to pass the sacrament or to be able to worship in the temple or whatever is being asked of us to be able to keep church's and temple's open. Wearing a mask to be able to participate in sacred ordinances is such a minor inconvenience. If you have a deep relationship with your sister, and not a superficial one, a mask for a 5 minute blessing would seem of little significance to be of a support to her during this special time. My vote is 5 minutes of your personal discomfort for your sister's special moment is worth more than you realize.

Ah of course the respect and sacrifice only goes one way.

Wearing a mask to be able to participate in sacred ordinances is such a minor inconvenience. (for you, obviously you are not compassionate enough to understand that other see it differently).

If you have a deep relationship with your sister, and not a superficial one, a mask for a 5 minute blessing would seem of little significance to be of a support to her during this special time.
(of course you don't say that if this individual has a deep enough relationship with the sister then she would understand his refusal to wear a mask and to participate).

My vote is 5 minutes of your personal discomfort for your sister's special moment is worth more than you realize.
(of course, everyone must cater to everyone else's personal discomfort, not a single thought for HIS personal discomfort).

The liberals, they always use love, kindness, sacrifice as weapons to get their way. It happens with LGBTQ+, masking, with everything. They claim love, kindness, sacrifice but they themselves are always the ones with the least amount of tolerance, compassion, love and sacrifice for those who think differently.

Genuine question. Based off your statement, would you have called Joseph Smith a liberal for showing love, kindness and sacrifice? The night he was tarred and feathered and an attempt on his life was performed ( because that was the intent) instead of retaliating, he was found the next morning, just hours later giving a sermon and baptized 3 people. Could he have done that with the spirit of retaliation? All those months in Liberty Jail, where were is rights?? And those suffering with them?? Why didnt they retaliate and fight back? Joseph learned compassion during his persecution and trials. One of the greatest attributes of the Savior is meekness ( self restraint) and long suffering.
And by the way, I'm not a liberal. Never have been, never will be. Those 2 attributes of the Savior, meekness and long suffering could really be used more on both sides of the political spectrum.

[Lizzy60]

My heart goes out to your sister, she is obviously concerned. Is it really too much of a sacrifice and discomfort to wear a mask to be able to participate in the blessing of your sister's child? The sacrifice our ancestors went through for each other was a lot worse then wearing a mask for a baby blessing or for a 2 hr church service. I often think of the sacrifice, blood, sweat, tears and lives lost for the sake of the temple, the building of Zion and coming across west. It blows me away people want to complain about having to wear a mask to pass the sacrament or to be able to worship in the temple or whatever is being asked of us to be able to keep church's and temple's open. Wearing a mask to be able to participate in sacred ordinances is such a minor inconvenience. If you have a deep relationship with your sister, and not a superficial one, a mask for a 5 minute blessing would seem of little significance to be of a support to her during this special time. My vote is 5 minutes of your personal discomfort for your sister's special moment is worth more than you realize.

Ah of course the respect and sacrifice only goes one way.

Wearing a mask to be able to participate in sacred ordinances is such a minor inconvenience. (for you, obviously you are not compassionate enough to understand that other see it differently).

If you have a deep relationship with your sister, and not a superficial one, a mask for a 5 minute blessing would seem of little significance to be of a support to her during this special time.
(of course you don't say that if this individual has a deep enough relationship with the sister then she would understand his refusal to wear a mask and to participate).

My vote is 5 minutes of your personal discomfort for your sister's special moment is worth more than you realize.
(of course, everyone must cater to everyone else's personal discomfort, not a single thought for HIS personal discomfort).

The liberals, they always use love, kindness, sacrifice as weapons to get their way. It happens with LGBTQ+, masking, with everything. They claim love, kindness, sacrifice but they themselves are always the ones with the least amount of tolerance, compassion, love and sacrifice for those who think differently.

Genuine question. Based off your statement, would you have called Joseph Smith a liberal for showing love, kindness and sacrifice? The night he was tarred and feathered and an attempt on his life was performed ( because that was the intent) instead of retaliating, he was found the next morning, just hours later giving a sermon and baptized 3 people. Could he have done that with the spirit of retaliation? All those months in Liberty Jail, where were is rights?? And those suffering with them?? Why didnt they retaliate and fight back? Joseph learned compassion during his persecution and trials. One of the greatest attributes of the Savior is meekness ( self restraint) and long suffering.
And by the way, I'm not a liberal. Never have been, never will be. Those 2 attributes of the Savior, meekness and long suffering could really be used more on both sides of the political spectrum.

EllaJean, have you read the comments from the liberal-leaning members of the Church, and what they say about those of us who don’t agree with wearing masks, who don’t want the jab, who don’t want gay marriage accepted as equal to straight marriage, who don’t want women ordained, who believe there was election fraud, who had the gall to vote for Trump, etc, etc, etc.

Have you seen their level of kindness, understanding, meekness, compassion, and love for those of us who don’t share their liberal progressive beliefs?

Because they HATE us. They lay down the F-word on apostles who quote the Family Proclamation. They blame us when they chose to keep their children home from church because we aren’t masked up. They are literally lived, hateful, and deranged.

[EllaJean]

Lizzy, yes, I have absolutely seen it and it breaks my heart. For the past 20 years I've studied Zion and the events leading up to the 2nd coming. I've always believed hard times would bring the members closer together instead of cause such division and its tried my faith. Whenever I see the far right or the far left blame each other for the world's problems I think of the story of Jonah. He fled the city of Ninevah because he thought they were too far gone and didnt deserve mercy, then he sulked when they actually repented and changed. That story is a story of Gods mercy and how he is the only one who can determine and judge when someone is too far gone and incapable of repentance. The arguing and fighting is awful from both sides. That's why I feel meekness and long suffering needs to come into play for both sides. Prior to COVID I wore a mask at work for 13 hours a shift so when COVID hit masks were not up for debate with me. I worked with COVID patients every shift for a year and stressed over bringing it home to my family and immunocompromised spouse. Never in my life would I have believed my children would be made fun of by ward members. I nearly quit going to church because I felt like a stranger in my own ward. The making fun of others happens on both sides of the spectrum. Sometimes I wonder how we will ever become united.

My heart goes out to your sister, she is obviously concerned. Is it really too much of a sacrifice and discomfort to wear a mask to be able to participate in the blessing of your sister's child? The sacrifice our ancestors went through for each other was a lot worse then wearing a mask for a baby blessing or for a 2 hr church service. I often think of the sacrifice, blood, sweat, tears and lives lost for the sake of the temple, the building of Zion and coming across west. It blows me away people want to complain about having to wear a mask to pass the sacrament or to be able to worship in the temple or whatever is being asked of us to be able to keep church's and temple's open. Wearing a mask to be able to participate in sacred ordinances is such a minor inconvenience. If you have a deep relationship with your sister, and not a superficial one, a mask for a 5 minute blessing would seem of little significance to be of a support to her during this special time. My vote is 5 minutes of your personal discomfort for your sister's special moment is worth more than you realize.

Ah of course the respect and sacrifice only goes one way.

Wearing a mask to be able to participate in sacred ordinances is such a minor inconvenience. (for you, obviously you are not compassionate enough to understand that other see it differently).

If you have a deep relationship with your sister, and not a superficial one, a mask for a 5 minute blessing would seem of little significance to be of a support to her during this special time.
(of course you don't say that if this individual has a deep enough relationship with the sister then she would understand his refusal to wear a mask and to participate).

My vote is 5 minutes of your personal discomfort for your sister's special moment is worth more than you realize.
(of course, everyone must cater to everyone else's personal discomfort, not a single thought for HIS personal discomfort).

The liberals, they always use love, kindness, sacrifice as weapons to get their way. It happens with LGBTQ+, masking, with everything. They claim love, kindness, sacrifice but they themselves are always the ones with the least amount of tolerance, compassion, love and sacrifice for those who think differently.

Genuine question. Based off your statement, would you have called Joseph Smith a liberal for showing love, kindness and sacrifice? The night he was tarred and feathered and an attempt on his life was performed ( because that was the intent) instead of retaliating, he was found the next morning, just hours later giving a sermon and baptized 3 people. Could he have done that with the spirit of retaliation? All those months in Liberty Jail, where were is rights?? And those suffering with them?? Why didnt they retaliate and fight back? Joseph learned compassion during his persecution and trials. One of the greatest attributes of the Savior is meekness ( self restraint) and long suffering.
And by the way, I'm not a liberal. Never have been, never will be. Those 2 attributes of the Savior, meekness and long suffering could really be used more on both sides of the political spectrum.

EllaJean, have you read the comments from the liberal-leaning members of the Church, and what they say about those of us who don’t agree with wearing masks, who don’t want the jab, who don’t want gay marriage accepted as equal to straight marriage, who don’t want women ordained, who believe there was election fraud, who had the gall to vote for Trump, etc, etc, etc.

Have you seen their level of kindness, understanding, meekness, compassion, and love for those of us who don’t share their liberal progressive beliefs?

Because they HATE us. They lay down the F-word on apostles who quote the Family Proclamation. They blame us when they chose to keep their children home from church because we aren’t masked up. They are literally lived, hateful, and deranged.

[alurker]

My heart goes out to your sister, she is obviously concerned. Is it really too much of a sacrifice and discomfort to wear a mask to be able to participate in the blessing of your sister's child? The sacrifice our ancestors went through for each other was a lot worse then wearing a mask for a baby blessing or for a 2 hr church service. I often think of the sacrifice, blood, sweat, tears and lives lost for the sake of the temple, the building of Zion and coming across west. It blows me away people want to complain about having to wear a mask to pass the sacrament or to be able to worship in the temple or whatever is being asked of us to be able to keep church's and temple's open. Wearing a mask to be able to participate in sacred ordinances is such a minor inconvenience. If you have a deep relationship with your sister, and not a superficial one, a mask for a 5 minute blessing would seem of little significance to be of a support to her during this special time. My vote is 5 minutes of your personal discomfort for your sister's special moment is worth more than you realize.

Ah of course the respect and sacrifice only goes one way.

Wearing a mask to be able to participate in sacred ordinances is such a minor inconvenience. (for you, obviously you are not compassionate enough to understand that other see it differently).

If you have a deep relationship with your sister, and not a superficial one, a mask for a 5 minute blessing would seem of little significance to be of a support to her during this special time.
(of course you don't say that if this individual has a deep enough relationship with the sister then she would understand his refusal to wear a mask and to participate).

My vote is 5 minutes of your personal discomfort for your sister's special moment is worth more than you realize.
(of course, everyone must cater to everyone else's personal discomfort, not a single thought for HIS personal discomfort).

The liberals, they always use love, kindness, sacrifice as weapons to get their way. It happens with LGBTQ+, masking, with everything. They claim love, kindness, sacrifice but they themselves are always the ones with the least amount of tolerance, compassion, love and sacrifice for those who think differently.

Genuine question. Based off your statement, would you have called Joseph Smith a liberal for showing love, kindness and sacrifice? The night he was tarred and feathered and an attempt on his life was performed ( because that was the intent) instead of retaliating, he was found the next morning, just hours later giving a sermon and baptized 3 people. Could he have done that with the spirit of retaliation? All those months in Liberty Jail, where were is rights?? And those suffering with them?? Why didnt they retaliate and fight back? Joseph learned compassion during his persecution and trials. One of the greatest attributes of the Savior is meekness ( self restraint) and long suffering.
And by the way, I'm not a liberal. Never have been, never will be. Those 2 attributes of the Savior, meekness and long suffering could really be used more on both sides of the political spectrum.

What in the world does this example have to do with the price of rice in China?

I never said retaliate; I never said to be spiteful; I said to politely decline and then played the other side of the story for you (which obviously you didn't like).

"Never have been, never will be." Oh please. All it will take is a single letter from the top and you'll be singing a different tune. You'll be saying it's kindness and compassion and love and that's why homosexual couples should be welcomed into Church.

You can't even encourage someone to politely stand their ground over something so simple and small as a mask; how in the world do you expect to encourage someone to politely, yet firmly stand their ground over something big like homosexuals couples in church?

[alurker]

Lizzy, yes, I have absolutely seen it and it breaks my heart. For the past 20 years I've studied Zion and the events leading up to the 2nd coming. I've always believed hard times would bring the members closer together instead of cause such division and its tried my faith. Whenever I see the far right or the far left blame each other for the world's problems I think of the story of Jonah. He fled the city of Ninevah because he thought they were too far gone and didnt deserve mercy, then he sulked when they actually repented and changed. That story is a story of Gods mercy and how he is the only one who can determine and judge when someone is too far gone and incapable of repentance. The arguing and fighting is awful from both sides. That's why I feel meekness and long suffering needs to come into play for both sides. Prior to COVID I wore a mask at work for 13 hours a shift so when COVID hit masks were not up for debate with me. I worked with COVID patients every shift for a year and stressed over bringing it home to my family and immunocompromised spouse. Never in my life would I have believed my children would be made fun of by ward members. I nearly quit going to church because I felt like a stranger in my own ward. The making fun of others happens on both sides of the spectrum. Sometimes I wonder how we will ever become united.

Where in the world do you live? Your kids made fun of for wearing masks? Maybe at the beginning of the pandemic but in today's world that seems like a tall order. Very, very few places are so anti-mask that they make fun of those who DO wear masks (I'm sure it exists, but that ain't the norm!)

I also have my own opinions on parents making their children wear flimsy pieces of paper over their mouths; but hey each parent has the right to induce whatever time of psychoses on their children. Heaven knows, pretty much every kid grows up with some sort of neurotic behavior due to bad parenting, my own included!

Alternatively, it's a hard thing to hear but being made fun of is how communities keep themselves in order. We would all like to think that rational discourse, a willingness to respect each other's viewpoints, etc. is how things REALLY work. And it's a nice goal, but we don't live in a utopia.

The reality is that society enforces boundaries and rules on each other through ridicule, shame, shunning and ostracizing others. The reason why it is so bad is because the anti-mask and the maskers have RADICALLY DIFFERENT views on life. The underlying root reasons for why individuals like yourself are hard-core maskers and individuals like myself are hard-core anti-maskers is actually very, very deep.

The mask or anti-mask is just a surface level manifestation of a very, very deep philosophical, religious and ideological divide. Or put a different way, the right and left divisions are the by-product of the middle way.

There is a reason why there is no middle ground anymore; because the middle ground is what provided the fuel for the left and the right to explode as they have. And now that they have exploded, the middle ground is no longer useful. The middle ground (b/c it had no cohesive underlying philosophy that could hold everyone together) has given way to left and right with vastly different views on life and now it is a fight to the death of which one wins, b/c whoever wins is going to vanquish the other for decades b/c inherently each side knows that the middle ground gave the space necessary for the other side to grow.

[Allison]

I could and in many ways do put up with discomfort to help another person. But for many of us, the mask is not so much (not much at all) about comfort, compared to what it communicates. It is symbolic to us of being on board with the agenda of the satanic secret combination that President Benson told us about.

In other words, we could substitute “swastika” or “hammer and sickle” for “mask.” Could you wear a swastika on your face or on your lapel to give a Priesthood blessing? Would you do it if it made your friend or loved one feel better?

It’s more of a dilemma for those of us who don’t see covid as the plague the Gadiantons want everyone to believe it is.