I write today to the orthodox, believing members of the Church who, facing the increasingly insane world of vaccine mandates, lockdowns and mask mandates over a virus with a 99 percent-plus survival rate for most people, are upset at the Church’s endorsement of vaccines and masks.
There have been two very large Church developments over the last month, one regarding vaccines and masks, and the other President Holland’s pleading with BYU faculty and staff to support the Church’s policies on social issues.
I think it is fair to say that a very large number of Church members, at least in the United States and Canada, have been tested by these two events.
Here is my message to the orthodox, believing members of the Church: cling to the rod of iron so you can partake of the fruit of the tree of life.
What does this mean in practical terms? Ezra Taft Benson said it best in 1980:
“There will be times when you will have to choose between the revelations of God and the reasoning of men—between the prophet and the politician or professor. Said the Prophet Joseph Smith, “Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof until long after the events transpire” (Scrapbook of Mormon Literature, vol. 2, p. 173).”
Choose the prophets. They have spoken regarding masks, vaccines and also regarding social issues like same-sex attraction and the situation at BYU.
Let me tell you who you do NOT want to be like: the left-wing woman I know about who left the Church noisily more than a year ago and was given nothing but love and support by nearly everybody in the ward. And there she was last Sunday crouched on the ground in front of the chapel writing anti-Church propaganda on the sidewalk in chalk for four hours. She was not friendly to any of the people who had been so kind to her for so many years. Her eyes were filled with hate and spite. In her mind she was so much more righteous than all of the people going to honor Jesus by taking the Sacrament, an ordinance she now refuses. In her mind the prophets hate gay people, and she is filled with love. In her mind she is some kind of hero, when the truth is she appeared to most people like Ophelia. It was a very sad scene indeed.
I have to say this to my orthodox, believing friends: some of you have reacted very poorly to the Church’s recommendations on masks and vaccines. Don’t go down that road. I have written before on this, and I feel a need to write about it again and add some additional thoughts. Two things can be true at the same time. It can be true that there has been a massive, unscientific overreaction to a virus that is relatively harmless to most people, but it can also be true that the Church has decided that the time is not right to challenge society’s response.