Something is going on here. Something has changed. Elder Renlund recently talked about the church's decision on the covid vaccine saying, "What I can tell you about this letter, as it was discussed by the first presidency and quorum of the twelve, is that it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to send that letter. If you were to go to [the handbook]. Whether or not someone is vaccinated is not a temple recommend question, and it shouldn't be a point of contention. Read that section of the handbook, and then follow that."
So now taking the vaccine is a personal decision, and it should not cause contention among the members whether someone is vaccinated or not. We shouldn't judge anyone...not now. We were supposed to before. It used to be that to be "good global citizens" and be good members, faithfully following the prophet, meant that we get vaccinated. But now we shouldn't judge. The backpedalling, and the gaslighting, have begun.
The Church News article blames the members for expecting too much from their Prophet.
Errors in your own thinking are the real problem, he claims."Erekson asked his listeners what expectations they might have about prophets, how those expectations might be influenced by their upbringing and culture, and if they are assuming things that are incorrect. “Admitting the errors in our own thinking is sometimes the most difficult part of understanding Church history because it takes humility to change our expectations and assumptions after we learn they are incorrect.”"
So here we see the excuses starting to be made that Prophets sometimes might just be following their "culture." So forget eternal principles. Forget an unchanging God. If we don't like something a prophet did, we can blame their "culture.""If prophets speak too clearly in favor of vaccination, or if they fail to stand with or against the internet’s outrage of the day, or if they offer kindness instead of criticism of refugees, some turn away in rage like Naaman,” Erekson said."
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"Every human is shaped by the language, customs, knowledge and experiences of individuals, families and societies, making it impossible for anyone — including prophets — to not be influenced by culture. "
This is quite bold. Does that include the current Prophet? The 12, who are "prophets, seers and revelators" Do we now believe they make mistakes?"Prophets make mistakes and they disagree. In extreme cases, their differing perspectives can lead to disputes."
Tricked? Was Eve "tricked" in the Garden of Eden? What's the word we usually use in the church?....deceived. Tricked is when someone steals your camera on vacation that you ask to take your picture. Tricked is when you fall for a scammer on the phone. Tricked is not when you claim to speak the mind and will of the Lord to the church. If you get that wrong, that's not being tricked. That's being deceived.“We should also not expect that prophets do not get tricked,” Erekson said.
So now we have a new concept of "lead astray." It only means away from God. It's doesn't mean we could be lead astray for other things, like the truth, like pure doctrine, like safety. With this definition, the prophet could lead us astray and cause us harm, even death, but as long as it's not away from God, he still is not leading us astray.“In its complete original context, Wilford Woodruff’s teaching emphasized that the prophet would not … lead people ‘astray from the oracles [or revelations] of God and from their duty.’ Prophets will not lead us away from their true witness of Jesus Christ, from His revelations or from the path, however hard it may be, to follow Him.
Singing a different tune
When vaccines became available, the church was clear on its stance. There was no misunderstanding that the church, leaders, and the prophet himself considered the vaccines "safe and effective" and that every member in the entire world should get them.
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.or ... ugust-2021The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent the following message on Thursday, August 12, 2021, to Church members around the world:
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
We find ourselves fighting a war against the ravages of COVID-19 and its variants, an unrelenting pandemic. We want to do all we can to limit the spread of these viruses. We know that protection from the diseases they cause can only be achieved by immunizing a very high percentage of the population.
To limit exposure to these viruses, we urge the use of face masks in public meetings whenever social distancing is not possible. To provide personal protection from such severe infections, we urge individuals to be vaccinated. Available vaccines have proven to be both safe and effective.
We can win this war if everyone will follow the wise and thoughtful recommendations of medical experts and government leaders. Please know of our sincere love and great concern for all of God’s children.
The First Presidency
Russell M. Nelson
Dallin H. Oaks
Henry B. Eyring
The covid vaccines have never, to this day, been proven safe and effective. Someone may believe that or observe that, but it has not been proven. The vaccines also do not limit the spread of covid. It also is not true that the vaccines are the only way to protect against the disease. Note there is no mention of treatment or prevention, except the vaccines. The First Presidency also tells the members to follow the "wise and thoughtful recommendations of medical experts and government leaders."
All the General Authorities, the 12, and the First Presidency and their wives got the covid vaccinations. President Nelson called the vaccine a "literal godsend."
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-a ... nes-222014"In January, President Nelson and other senior Church leaders were vaccinated. He explained the process of counseling with his wife and physician prior to receiving the vaccine and encouraged others to do likewise.
“We have prayed often for this literal godsend,” he said in his post on Facebook.(https://www.facebook.com/russell.m.nels ... 7088328034)
Before his call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, President Nelson’s profession was as a physician and pioneering heart surgeon.
In the same Facebook post, President Nelson shared that the Church has contributed to vaccination efforts for decades.
In April’s general conference, President Nelson said to members of the Church, “Do all you can to bring COVID numbers down in your area so that your temple opportunities can increase.”
That same month, young missionaries in the United States received notice that they must be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to travel to a mission outside their home country.
The Church also announced in April that it would support the global organization UNICEF through Latter-day Saint Charities, the humanitarian aid arm of the Church, with a $20 million grant to help distribute 2 billion COVID-19 vaccinations in 121 countries and territories."
Also,
The mind and will of the Lord
This was not just a policy decision the prophet and church leaders made. This was the result or earnest prayer that reveled the mind and will of the Lord through the spirit.
Elder Renlund recently said about the First Presidency letter about covid vaccines,
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bro ... 1?lang=eng"What I can tell you about this letter, as it was discussed by the first presidency and quorum of the twelve, is that it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to send that letter."
If our church leaders told us the Lord's will regarding covid vaccines, and if they officially announced to all the members...and then were wrong....that's not being tricked. That's falsely declaring the mind and will of the Lord. That's much worse than being tricked. That's blasphemy. You can be wrong about where to build a meetinghouse, or how to invest funds, or what financial policy to enact. But you can't be wrong about declaring the mind and will of the Lord to the people. That is not something to ignore or sweep under the rug, or blame the members for having too high of expectations.
Elder Rasband reiterated the importance of following the prophet regarding covid vaccines:
skip to 6:34"We have prayed that we would have a vaccine...to allow the church to gather Israel on both sides of the veil."
"The prophet and others have prayerfully considered this, that a vaccine is actually a godsend from heaven. And we viewed it that way, as a miracle."
"We have the added benefit to have prophet of God on the earth. The prophet of God is, candidly, authorized to speak for the Lord Jesus Christ."
"This was an announce made by the First Presidency, August 12th, 2021, and I like this, to church members all around the world. This was not made for the church in Utah, or the church in the United States. This announcement from the First Presidency was for the world church."
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"If I had to choose freely, with my own agency, between a leader of some other persuasion or the prophet of God, I would recommend to follow God's holy Prophet."
Last conference talk "I gave "Things of my soul" points 1 through 7, ... my point 7 was "follow God's living prophet."
"To me the Prophets words supersedes the words [of others]"
timemarked link: https://youtu.be/OtpmD0qp6rg?t=394
The First Presidency sent another official letter to the church, urging members to get the vaccine:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.or ... sks-letterOn September 22, 2021, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent this letter to Church leaders around the world. The letter is also available in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Russian.
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
We are grateful that in recent months, some level of ordinance work has resumed in every temple. Our desire is to keep temples open.
As cases of COVID-19 increase in many areas, we want to do everything possible to allow temples to remain open. Therefore, effective immediately, all temple patrons and workers are asked to wear face masks at all times while in the temple. These safety protocols are temporary, based on COVID-19 conditions, and will be rescinded as soon as circumstances permit.
Our urging Church members to be vaccinated and to protect themselves and others from the spread of disease has precedent. Prior First Presidencies shared similar messages in 1900 about smallpox and in 1957 regarding polio. Please do all you can to protect yourself and others so the work of the Lord on both sides of the veil can move forward.
Sincerely yours,
Russell M. Nelson
Dallin H. Oaks
Henry B. Eyring
The First Presidency made a policy that only vaccinated missionaries could go to the MTC in person and that unvaccinated missionaries had to serve in their own countries:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.or ... 19-vaccineChurch Encourages Missionaries to Receive a COVID-19 Vaccine
Young missionaries in the United States who will travel to a mission outside their home country should be vaccinated before traveling.
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Missionaries who choose not to receive the required immunizations, which will now include the COVID-19 vaccination, will be assigned to a mission in their home country in accordance with long-standing existing Church policies.
Now missionaries must also receive a booster to go to the MTC or stay in foreign countries:
The church does not allow religious exemptions from members seeking them for work or school:"Beginning on February 14, 2022, missionaries will need to get a COVID-19 booster, if it is available in their home country and they qualify to receive it, to attend a missionary training center or to travel outside their home country. If eligible, missionaries should receive the booster at least 14 days before traveling. If missionaries choose not to be vaccinated, they will receive home MTC training and be assigned to their home country.
In-field missionaries are encouraged to receive a vaccine recommended in their home country if they qualify to receive it and if it is available in the country where they are serving. Mission leaders should work to help make the booster available to missionaries.
We continue to recommend that missionaries be fully vaccinated, including the COVID-19 vaccine booster where available.
Missionaries should update their vaccination record in the Missionary Portal when they receive a new vaccination."
https://www.deseret.com/2021/9/23/22688 ... -exemptionLatter-day Saints cannot obtain a vaccine exemption from a church leader
Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not issue religious exemptions to members who want to be excused from COVID-19 vaccine mandates, church spokesmen confirmed this week.
It's clear that the church, and the prophet, are very much in support of covid vaccination. The prophet says they are safe and effective, that they are a literal godsend, that all missionaries must have them to go anywhere but their home countries, that no member can get a religious exemption...and that the Holy Ghost has indicated this is the mind and will of the Lord.
But...that still isn't enough to get members to comply. D&C 121 is pretty clear on what the proper ways to lead and motivate are. Persuasion, long-suffering, reason, not manipulating, guilt-tripping, gaslighting, or any form of unrighteous dominion. Using any manipulative tactics to get people to do what you want is wrong, as is using any manipulative tactic to cover your sins or gratify your pride. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... 1?lang=eng
Yet, from church leaders, we are told to good and faithful members are the ones that follow the prophet and get vaccinated. President Eyring of BYU-Idaho, the son of President Eyring in the First Presidency of the church, said this at a devotional at BYU-Idaho:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-fa ... les-239584“Recently many of us have given deep thought to issues of honor, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
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The vast majority of the university’s students and employees have voluntarily gotten two or more shots. “Their personal choices have, collectively, allowed us to gather face to face again.”
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President Eyring expressed his gratitude for collective precautions, recent medical advances and the charge from the First Presidency to “use face masks in public meetings whenever social distancing is not possible” to limit exposure to the viruses.
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In addition to government officials and medical professionals, people can look to the leaders of the Church at this time, as always, he said, and repeated the words of members of the First Presidency: “We can win this war if everyone will follow the wise and thoughtful recommendations of medical experts and government leaders.”
"In the process of working together to “thread the needle of public safety and private preferences,” it is important to resist the impulse to contend in public or private settings. “Each of us is biased and under-informed in ways that can be easy to overlook,” President Eyring said. "
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"“The greatest sacrifice for honor was our Savior’s bravery in confronting the Jewish scribes and Pharisees,” President Eyring said. “He surely knew that His charges against them, whom He justifiably called hypocrites, would lead to their seeking His death. But His honor and the mission given by His Father in Heaven required Him to stand firm, knowing the consequences.”
New tests of honor exist today, the modern-day equivalent of Old Testament burnt offerings and other sacrifices. COVID-19 appears to be “testing our resolve to follow the guidance of governmental and Church authorities.”
Rather than seeing an unfair intrusion on freedom, President Eyring instead encouraged listeners to “embrace the trials, tests and potential victories to be had.”
The church owned Deseret News has had several articles trying to get Utahns to comply:
https://www.deseret.com/coronavirus/202 ... 19-vaccineFormer skeptic has a message for Utahns who think they don’t need the COVID-19 vaccine
"The experience was also a sobering reminder of the need for COVID-19 vaccinations. Breakthrough cases of the virus are almost always mild in people who are fully vaccinated, meaning it’s been two weeks or more since their final dose.
An emergency room doctor made that clear during one of his visits over the July 4th holiday weekend.
“He said, ‘Well, you’ve got a really bad case here. You should have been vaccinated. I hope you didn’t get anybody else sick.’ That made me feel pretty bad,” Hartle said. He’d already contacted the patients and others, including church members, he’d seen before testing positive for COVID-19. None became ill, Hartle said."
https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2021/8/ ... t-symptomsThe awful regrets of those who refused COVID-19 vaccinations
The nation has been focused on some Utahns’ reluctance to become immunized against the coronavirus. This is a life-threatening embarrassment
By The Deseret News Editorial Board
This is a surge that was entirely preventable. Vaccines are free, plentiful and scientifically proven to be effective. The refusal by so many Utahns to get them is, indeed, a cause of great regret. Please, get the vaccine, for yourself and for your neighbor.
https://www.deseret.com/utah/2021/7/15/ ... 9-vaccinesGov. Cox more optimistic about Utahns getting COVID-19 shots as stories are shared
Governor warns opposition to the vaccine is ‘literally killing’ people
State in ‘hand-to-hand combat’ phase of vaccinations
The governor, though, suggested nothing’s changed when asked about how Utah will confront the vaccine hesitant.
“The plans are just to continue to get people vaccinated. I mean, those are the plans,” he said. “Again, that’s the only answer. Vaccines work better than masks, the vaccines work better than social distancing. Vaccines just work and they allow us to do all the other things we want to do. We are absolutely continuing with our efforts.”
That means working closely with business, faith and community leaders, as well as health care providers as Utah’s vaccination program moves away from mass clinics to what Cox described as “hand-to-hand combat, where we have to have conversations with people” that can take hours, days or even weeks.
“That’s slow going, but every one of those vaccinations is a potential life saved,” the governor said.
Although many states are offering residents incentives to get vaccinated, such as Ohio’s “Vax-a-Million” lottery with drawings for $1 million prizes or full-ride college scholarships, Cox said Utah “hasn’t made any additional progress on that.”
https://www.deseret.com/2021/7/24/22589 ... vaccinatedYes, you can be a strong conservative and still get vaccinated
Here’s the truth: You can oppose mandatory vaccinations and still get vaccinated
My wife and I got vaccinated for COVID-19 as soon as our age group was allowed. I strongly recommend that everyone eligible for vaccination get it done ASAP. You might save yourself from sickness or death, and you won’t be transmitting the virus to family, friends or neighbors.
It is highly unfortunate that so many eligible people refuse the vaccination. Those who don’t want to be vaccinated tend to be in demographic groups – young people who think they’re invincible; minority and lower-income people who might not know the facts about the virus, and who might be distrustful; and some strong conservatives who, for almost ideological reasons, rebel against the “experts” and the politicians who are pressuring them to be vaccinated.
I can’t do much about the first two groups, but I do have some advice for the last group. After all, I’m a conservative. I don’t like shutdowns or mandates. But I do believe everyone eligible should voluntarily get the shot.
Here’s the truth: You can oppose mandatory vaccinations and still get vaccinated. You can oppose mask mandates and still get vaccinated. You can oppose vaccine passports and still get vaccinated. You can resent the preachy “experts” for issuing contradictory information and still get vaccinated.
Former physicians
Remember that President Nelson was a well-respected cardiologist. As was Elder Renlund (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... d?lang=eng). President Nelson reminded us of his career in a church video released during the pandemic.
"As a doctor I know the value of good therapy"
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"Prior to my ministry, I was a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, and spent many hours in operating rooms."
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"As a man of science and as a man of faith, the current pandemic has been of great concern to me."
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"As a man of science, I appreciate the critical need to prenvent the spread of infection."
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"As a man of faith, however, I view the current pandemic as only one of the many ills that plague our world, including hate, civil unrest, racism, violence, dishonesty, and lack of civlity."
"Skilled scientists and researchers are laboring diligently to develop and distrubute a vaccine against the coronavirus."
So at least 2 members of the top 15 leaders of the church, who are sustained as prophets, were not only physicians, but cardiologists. With the recent increase of heart problem in vaccinated people, these two men ought to be the most qualified to detect if there were a problem with the vaccines. They should be able to read the literature, understand the studies, and be aware of complications. But they weren't. They were completely supportive of the vaccines. Why would two highly skilled men in the medical field get vaccine risks more wrong than an uneducated, low-IQ Joe Schmoe on Facebook? How did they get it wrong, but regular people get it right? And even aside from being prophets, how does that happen?
Now the leaders are backpedaling. Although many of them made polished videos and gave prepared talks about the vaccines, and testified that they were lead by the Holy Ghost to make these vaccine policies....now they send out a lowly church historian to try to convince the members that they had the wrong idea all along about prophets. They don't even have the courage to do the backpedaling themselves. They make others do the gaslighting.
This is a serious situation. Many people have been injured by the vaccines, and many more will likely manifest problems. But beyond that, it's extremely serious that President Nelson, the Apostles of the Lord, and other church leaders have claimed to have spoken the mind and will of the Lord and were wrong. And tried to get members to comply using various means, including implying members are not faithful if they don't get vaccinated. This is very bad, very damaging to the church. This will destroy faith in a lot of members. And it doesn't speak well to the prophets being able to receive and proclaim the will of God, but in fact...someone of something else. We should not just let this slide or brush it off.
