Latter-day Saints cancel all activities and meetings to slow spread of coronavirus
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has canceled all meetings and activities as the coronavirus continues to spread.
The First Presidency announced the change in an email to church members, according to Deseret News.
“Beginning immediately, all public gatherings of church members are being temporarily suspended worldwide until further notice,” the First Presidency email said, according to Deseret News. “This includes stake conferences, leadership conferences and other large gatherings; all public worship services, including sacrament meetings; (and) branch, ward and stake activities.”
There have been two cases of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, in Utah, according to KSL-TV. Nationally, there have been more than 1,500 cases in the U.S. as of Thursday, and the number is quickly growing, according to The New York Times.
On Thursday morning, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said he wanted to limit all Utah gatherings of more than 100 people to help slow the spread of coronavirus, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. That included church gatherings.
“So we are eliminating mass gatherings above 100 for the next two weeks beginning Monday, March 16,” he said, according to Deseret News. “This includes church gatherings.”
The cancellation of all meetings and activities isn’t the first change the church has made. On Wednesday, LDS leaders said it wouldn’t allow church members to attend its General Conference that is scheduled for early April, according to previous Idaho Statesman reporting.
“We have counseled with worldwide governmental, ecclesiastical, and medical leaders and have prayerfully considered the current circumstances. We want to be good global citizens and do what we can to control this contagious illness,” the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said in a statement.
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 7:12 PM with the headline "Latter-day Saints cancel all activities and meetings to slow spread of coronavirus."