Have I covenanted to go to church when I am sick?

This past weekend when we woke up for church my wife had come down with the flu. This is the first time either of us has truly gotten sick since we got married in August. I told her to rest in bed and I’d get some soup for her. She protested, it was Fast Sunday and she wanted to get ready for Church and could not eat soup as she was fasting. This baffled me and I replied, “What do you mean fasting and going to church? You are sick?” Her retort was simple, “And? You still go to church when you are sick.”

What ensued was a gospel conversation around the question: What is our covenant duty in regards to church attendance? I shared my thoughts with her regarding the topic. I want to share them with you too.

We are only expected to do what we can. 

On my mission, I met a convert in Vermont who was a state trooper. He who worked a rotating schedule where he would work six days in a row and then have two days off. This caused him to only have two Sundays out of seven he could even go to church. 

He refused to get baptized because he did not want to get baptized and covenant to go to church when he has a profession that prevents him from going to church almost 75% or the time. He explained that he was told by the bishop that the covenant he makes at baptism is not saying I will come to church every week, it is saying I will go to church every week I can. If you only can go to church two weeks out of seven then going the two weeks out of seven is being fully active. 

He was baptized, served in various church callings and his children have fulfilled missions. He still is a fully active member who comes 100% of the time he can, even though that is only once a month.

When you are sick with a communicable disease should you go to church? 

Within the context of the above story, the question of going to church if we are sick can be addressed. The answer is no. You not covenanted to go to church when you have a communicable disease (Even more, it is actually bad to go to church when you are sick, as you might get someone with a compromised immune system sick. In my homeward people kept bringing sick kids to primary and nursey that it became a cesspool of germs. It got so bad that they finally had to put a sign on the door to the nursery, “If your kid is sick, please keep them home to not get others sick. Your child is sick if they: are throwing up, coughing, a runny nose, or has diarrhea.” 

In August of 1989, the Ensign published an article by Dr. Glen C. Griffin entitled “When to Stay Home from Church,” in it the Ensign details:

“When should people stay home? When they have an infection. Many infections are bacterial or viral. Infections are things like boils, chicken pox, measles, eye infections and influenza. Some symptoms, or signs of infection, are fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, diarrhea or vomiting. If you have any of these problems, you could make someone else sick.”

Dr. Glen C. Griffin, “When to Stay Home from Church” Ensign, August 1989.

So on behalf of all members who have family members with compromised immune systems, little kids, or just don’t want to get sick, if you are sick, please stay home and rest. The saying that the Church is a hospital for sinners is only symbolic, when we are sick it is ok not to go to church.

“It is not neglecting one’s duty to stay away from others when one has an infectious illness. Rather, it is a kindness. Counselors in presidencies and bishoprics and other willing people can help complete assignments when someone is sick.”
Dr. Glen C. Griffin, “When to Stay Home from Church” Ensign, August 1989.

What about chronic and non-communicable diseases?

A lot of people suffer from chronic or non-communicable diseases. If you suffer from these diseases and are physically able to go to church, you should. And if you are physically unable to attend church, counsel with your Doctor and your Bishop to find out what is the best way to remain active in the gospel. If you are unable to attend church, then you should request that the Sacrament be brought to you.

And in case you think you are inconveniencing them, you are merely asking them to honor the Priesthood and fulfill their covenants. As someone who has taken the Sacrament to people who are homebound, let me say that administering the Sacrament to faithful brothers and sisters who can not attend church has produced some of the most powerful spiritual memories that I had growing up. I am thankful that they asked me to serve.

I find that often some of the most faithful spiritual giants have endured trials of having a chronic or non-communicable disease yet continued to give their all. The classical example of this is Elder Maxwell, a brilliant Apostle, and scholar who suffered from debilitating leukemia and dealt with the effects of chemotherapy eventually losing his battle against leukemia. But the entire fight he kept giving his all to the gospel, some of his most powerful sermons were given right before his death when it would’ve been easy to say that it is “too hard” to go to church and give up, but he did not. And it makes sense, as trails forge in us the attributes of deity.

What should I do when sick people come to church?

Least you think that by this article I am saying to judge those who come to church sick; the final question to address is, “What should you do when you notice someone at church who is sick?” Simple, love them and don’t judge them, maybe even serve them as Christ would? Is it hard? Yes, but it is not our place to judge them, it is our place to love and serve them.

As someone who suffers from severe allergies, I often look sick at church when it is merely being allergic to spring, summer, fall, and winter. Judging others not only is inappropriate, but it is also dangerous. This video shows the danger of judging others for coming to Church when they are sick. It is a POWERFUL lesson from a Hawaiian Father who was kicked out of the sacrament meeting because the Bishop did not want others to get sick.