Posted by:
Lot's Wife
(
)
Date: September 01, 2021 12:01AM
As you all know, the church quietly endorsed the vaccines at the beginning of the summer and then doubled down a couple of weeks ago. Now the Q15 is fully committed both to the Fauci Ouchie, if I my purloin that juvenile phrase, and to full masking.*
The question is why an organization so intent on avoiding political topics that may offend the Mormon Right would take on a lightning rod like COVID countermeasures. I mean, they won't punish Ammon Bundy's illegality nor overtly criticize the attempted coup of January 6, both of which are stark violations of Mormon doctrine and rules. So why would they go out on a limb regarding one of the most sensitive topics around? What would motivate them to take such a step.
My surmise is that the alternative--conducting services remotely, accepting that attendance must be low--is proving too costly. In short, Mormons are realizing that they don't need to go to church and that their lives are better when the do not. We've all commented on this and wondered aloud whether the church will be hurt irreparably by the isolation caused by the pandemic.
I believe the church has now acknowledged that this is a real threat. The Q15 appear to have recognized that the church must get the members back in the pews lest it forever lose a good portion of them. They are so anxious on this score that they are willing to risk a deeper rift between the mainstream and the DezNat movement and its sympathizers.
Does that make sense?
*
https://www.abc4.com/news/religion/get-vaccinated-church-urges-latter-day-saints-in-new-letter/