I want to put something out here which is a principle of faith for me, and it really doesn’t have anything to do with politics.
If you do not agree with my opinion, please just carry on. I am not here to debate “Stars on Thars” (see The Sneetches).
As a Latter-day Saint Christian (I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), I believe in modern day revelation and prophets. Certainly the Lord has revealed His will for His children through the prophets throughout the history of this earth. In this modern day, the prophet often speaks to us through written letter. I give it as my opinion that he does not pass onto the membership of the Church and the people of this world trivial opinion. Why would he? He gives us council to bless our lives currently and in the future.
The Lord has told us that all His commandments are spiritual. Certainly many of them pertain to us as physical beings and are there for our physical safety; but, if we adhere to what the Lord asks us to do, we will receive spiritual blessings that otherwise are unavailable to us (see D&C 29:34-35).
This year we have been studying the Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord tells us in the first section, “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:38). Because of my understanding, knowledge, and testimony of this, and because I firmly believe what President Woodruff said concerning the Manifesto (“The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty”), I choose to follow the prophet. (see Official Declaration 1)
When the world was waiting for the Covid vaccination to become available, and then when it became available, I did not want to get it. I was pretty adamant about not getting it. I did not want it. I did not trust it. And then the prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, encouraged us to get it (see Church's Stand on Vaccinations . I still didn’t want it, but I wanted to be true to my conviction to follow the prophet. So I made the appointment to get it. With misgivings still, I trusted that what I was doing was for my spiritual well being, and that was by far more important to me than any fear or any pride. (It doesn’t matter that our prophet is a retired world reknowned heart surgeon to me; that is not what influenced my choice. I count him as a prophet of God, and I want to stay in favor with my Heavenly Father.)
When the state mandate was lifted and we no longer had to wear masks if we had been vaccinated, I was ready to never put on a mask again. I cherish the freedom of not wearing one, and I like to see others’ faces and smiles. Then recently the prophet (The First Presidency) wrote us a new letter (see First Presidency Urges). This is the middle paragraph in the short letter, “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.”
Those words are from a prophet of God. We can all weigh them and take them as we may; but once again, I don’t think the prophet is spending his time with trivial matters. If he wrote us a letter, it’s got to be important. The word “urge” is strong, and it was used twice. I choose to listen as if to the voice of the Lord with the promise that I will not be led astray. So when I am in meetings or hallways of meetings where I cannot social distance, I will be putting on a mask.
I was vaccinated and I am wearing a mask when in close quarters with others (with whom I’m not regularly with) because I was asked to do so by a prophet of God. I believe His words and I trust His prophets.
