Returning to Church Services

Our Stake Presidency recently sent out an email instructing us on how and when to begin opening up for Sacrament Services. Our Ward was assigned the fourth Sunday of each month and our first Sacrament Meeting will be July 26th. As a Bishopric, we have been discussing how best to do this for our Ward Family. Part of the instructions stated:

"High-Risk Individuals and Administering the Sacrament in Homes. The Utah state guidelines encourage particular care with respect to high-risk individuals (those 65 years and older and those with underlying medical conditions).  Out of love and concern for high-risk individuals, and in accordance with direction from the Utah Area Presidency, we discourage members 65 and older and those with underlying medical conditions from attending in-person sacrament meetings at this time.  However, we welcome all to worship at this time, and ask that you exercise wisdom and caution, and counsel with your Bishop, if you are in a high-risk category.

High-risk individuals and others who may choose not to gather in sacrament meetings for a time are encouraged to continue their Sabbath Day worship in their homes. Additionally, all members should continue their in-home Sabbath Day worship on the Sundays on which their wards are not scheduled to meet. Worthy priesthood holders, under authorization from their Bishop, may continue to prepare and administer the sacrament at home as part of their Sunday worship. If there are no worthy priesthood holders in the home, the Bishop may authorize other worthy priesthood holders in the ward to prepare and administer the sacrament in the homes of members who request it.  As with the temporary meetings described above, we remind you that in a coming day we will all be invited to gather together on the Sabbath as the only means to receive the Sacrament.

Members who have any of the principal COVID-19 symptoms (i.e., fever, dry cough, etc.) or who have been exposed to someone known or believed to have COVID-19 should not attend sacrament meetings until they have been symptom free for at least 14 days."

We want you to know that we will be taking precautions to keep those who attend as safe as possible. But, we also do not want anyone to feel any pressure to attend. Any that do not feel safe to come to the meeting can still have the Sacrament at home and the message given at the Sacrament Meeting will be published for all to read. 

We have been advised to only have 85 people in attendance during this meeting. Therefore, we may multiple meetings that day to ensure that all who wish to attend can safely have that opportunity. The number of meetings will depend on how many plan to attend. Could a member of each family please respond to this email and inform us how many from your family will plan on attending? This way, we can better know how many meetings to prepare. 

Thank you for all the love and service you have given during this current pandemic . I know that all things are for our benefit and learning and that our Heavenly Father is aware of our individual circumstances.

Bishop Reese Davis

reese.davis89@gmail.com