All visitors and workers to temples run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must wear face masks at the temple “at all times”, according to a letter sent by top church leaders Wednesday to local church leaders around the world.
Church President Russell M. Nelson and two of his top advisers, Dalin H. Oaks and Henry B. “We want to do everything we can to keep the temples open,” Eyring wrote. “These safety protocols are tentative, based on COVID-19 conditions, and will be canceled as soon as circumstances become favourable.”
Mr. Nelson, 97, is a retired heart surgeon and is revered as a prophet by Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormons. He has repeatedly urged the 16.6 million church members worldwide to wear masks and get vaccinated. in one august letter, he wrote that the approved vaccines were safe and effective and added: “We can win this war if everyone follows the wise and thoughtful recommendations of medical experts and government leaders.”
According to the church, there are 167 temples around the world, of which dozens are under construction or planned. The church closed them all in March 2020 to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, and began reopening them in phases in May of that year.
The shrines are not used by later-day saints for Sunday worship services, and are not open to the general public, unlike the church’s more common meeting houses. They are usually only open to members who have a current “Temple Recommendation”, a card that verifies that they believe in the doctrines of the church and follow certain rules such as abstaining from tithes and alcohol. Live. Members visit temples for a variety of rituals, including pseudo-baptism for the dead.
Jan Rees, a senior columnist for Religion News Service, said, “Temples are the most important holy site in contemporary Mormonism, so restricting access to temples for people wearing masks is a matter of concern for our church leaders about how important masks are. Sends a big message.” writes about the church.
Although the letter said the church only asks members to wear masks in temples, Ms Rees said this could be interpreted as “instruction that is not to be violated”.
In August, Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, announced It will be mandatory for students and staff members to wear masks on campus. The private school, which is sponsored by the church, also urged students to get vaccinated “so the fall semester can go ahead as planned.”
The letter on Wednesday emphasized that there was enough precedent to urge church members to protect themselves from the spread of the disease. In 1900, church leader urged the members vaccination against smallpox, and issued in 1957 a Similar message about polio vaccine.