An unvaccinated Latter-day Saint's response to the First Presidency urging vaccinations
NOTE: This post was written in 2021 as an initial reaction. For a follow-up post looking back after 3 years see: A Faithful Look Back at the First Presidency Urging the Covid Vaccine
I've never received a vaccine. So, on August 12, 2021 when the First Presidency urged all the members of the Church to wear masks and get the COVID-19 Vaccine I was not thrilled. In fact, if I am being honest, I murmured to my family a lot and tried to look for ways around following the counsel of the First Presidency. But all that changed over the next 24 hours and now I am planning on getting the COVID-19 Vaccine with my wife. What changed? I had a perspective check and a few epiphanies that I want to share with you.
"Anything else"
The first real paradigm shift happened that night as I got in bed. My wife Emily said we should talk about the First Presidency letter before we went to sleep. I told her that I thought that we should combine the counsel from earlier when the Prophet said to consult a physician and this counsel and that because her midwife urged us not to get it, we are obedient still not getting the vaccine. And for masks, we could simply avoid gatherings! Thinking it was the perfect idea, I asked her what her thoughts were? She then asked, "Had we been urged to do anything else; would we even think about hesitating?”
Her question hit me like a ton of bricks. And I thought: Why am I resisting the Prophet? What type of disciple am I being if I only obey when I agree with the Prophet? What type of disciple am I being if I only obey when it makes logical sense? Do not even the heathens follow Christ's commandments when they are logical, make sense, and they agree with Him?
Real intent is praying with the intent to obey.
I then suggested to Emily that we could go to the temple, pray, fast, and then ask for a Priesthood Blessing, and then only if it felt right, and we were promised protection in the blessing, we would schedule a date to get the vaccine. She disagreed. She said that she thought we should schedule a date first. Once again, my wife reminded me why I love her. She was right. When we pray demanding God tell us what to do, we are asking him to use our agency. We are commanded to pray with real intent. Real intent is praying with the intent to obey.
I realized we should show intent first and schedule a date to get the vaccine, then with the intent to obey the Prophet we will go to the temple, pray, fast, and get a priesthood blessing. WITH ALL INTENTION to get the vaccine. And unless we get a clear "NO" we will follow through with our plan.
When we pray and basically tell God, "Command me in all things before I obey" it is a lazy servant approach. Not only that, but it also won’t work. God rarely tells us what to do, rather He confirms our correct choices, but even more often He simply warns us before we make a mistake. We are expected to use our agency to obey.
God wouldn't risk our lives... Would He?
After agreeing with Emily that we would schedule a date to get vaccinated, I was still being bugged that the Prophet asked us to do this. I mean, my neighbor had a reaction to it and is in the ICU. How could he ask us to get vaccinated knowing full well people will have side effects? Including severe ones? Why would the Church ask us to do something that could risk our lives? God wouldn't risk our lives... Would He?
I then had an epiphany. Sometimes, as members of the Church, we get this idea that if we follow the Prophet we will be protected. We get the idea that that suffering is due to disobedience. A classical example is the Willie and Martin handcart companies. When we tell the story about the Willie and Martin handcart companies it is always pointed out that the Prophet warned them not to go so late in the season, and they ignored his counsel and that is the root of their suffering. But then my mind thought of Parley P. Pratt, he was shot and killed on his mission. Did he die because he disobeyed? Surely not!
My mind started to race through examples: you have John Tanner, he did so much for the Church always obeying and giving his all for the Kingdom. His daughter died on the trek to Missouri from Kirtland; then I thought of all those who have died serving missions; and all those who died trying to make it to Zion; how many were buried at sea and along the Mormon trail! Finally, my mind thought of Alma and Amulek and their converts in Ammonihah. They followed the Prophet and their wives and children all died as a result. The scriptures and history of the Church are FULL of stories of faithful Saints who followed the prophet and got hurt or died... But why?
Temporal vs Eternal.
This is when I had my next epiphany. I was looking at this completely wrong! I was looking at this only in a temporal context. If this life was the end, then the Church was awful for asking members to come to Utah and bury their loved ones along the way. Countless prophets and apostles would be considered "bad leaders" because they put the mission of the Church in front of individual lives. Alma not saving the converts of Ammonihah was selfish and ugly. God, the Father, asking Jesus Christ to perform the atonement would've been the height of evil. But it was not evil, it was the apex of love. Why? Because of eternity.
Unlike temporal organizations whose highest moral virtue comes from the preservation of life, The Church is an eternal organization. The eternal salvation of souls takes priority over temporal life. The Church's goal is to perfect the saints, not protect the saints. When I realized this, I had a sudden "click" moment. OHHHHH The Church through all ages has asked Saints to put their life on the line to proclaim the gospel and to build Zion! This is our chance to sacrifice to build the kingdom.
I then realized all my objections to following the Prophet were based purely on temporal fears. All the objections from friends, family, and that I had seen on social media were also purely temporal fears. I turned to Emily and asked, "What is the worst that could happen? I die?" And her reply was, "If you do, I will be blessed, I will know you are in the celestial kingdom, and I will have to do my part to get there too." I then remarked, "And if we disobeyed out of fear, I could get hit by a car tomorrow morning on my run and die, or you could get in a car crash and die. Our lives are always in God's hands!"
We decided that whatever happens, we will obey. As we placed our temporal fears regarding mortality on the altar of sacrifice to an eternal God with an eternal plan who has our eternal welfare at heart, suddenly we felt the peace of the Spirit, and both decided it was time for sleep.
Consecration and Sacrifice.
The final epiphany came the next morning while I was pondering the conversation of the night before and our resolution to obey no matter the cost. I thought about all of the sacrifices that others have made to build the kingdom when the words of Joseph Smith came into my mind, "A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things, never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation." I then realized that this whole ordeal was settled long ago when I was endowed and I covenanted to the Lord that I would consecrate and sacrifice everything I have, I am, even my very life, to the building up of the kingdom of God. Therefore, I had but one question to answer: "Will I be valiant in keeping my covenants?"
Choosing to Obey.
At first, when this letter came out, I was planning on avoiding all situations where obedience might be needed to wear masks. Then I decided, maybe I will simply wear one if someone asks. But after our commitment to actually seek ways to be obedient I turned to Emily, and we revisited masks. Whereas we both think they do nothing, and we hate them, we agreed that there was nothing special about the waters of Jordan for Naaman, it was obedience that brought the blessings. If the Prophet had asked us to eat watermelon every day and promised blessings, we would do it knowing the blessings would come.
So, then I asked about Church? Our ward does not require masks. Would we wear one when not required? Would we be proactively obedient, or would we demand to be commanded in all things? We both agreed that despite our detesting masks, we would wear one to Church, even if we were not asked to. Later that day, our Stake Presidency sent a letter to our Stake effectively saying, "We follow the Prophet, wear masks during Church." And then our Bishopric sent a letter reiterating the same thing. For us, those letters were merely affirmations to what we knew.
Closing Thoughts: Being an exception.
As I write this post, I know it will not be popular, in fact, I expect to get a lot more hate mail than normal (and normally get a fair amount of it). But there is one final point I want to make. It is about the concept of being an exception to the rule. A lot of people fail to understand the principles surrounding being an exception. Here are a few guiding rules about being the exception:
- You must be willing to obey.
Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac before he was told not to. If you were never willing to obey, then you lack real intent which is a prerequisite for an answer from God. If you do not have the intent to obey then any answers you have recieved, have come from Satan. - You must still believe in the principle/policy and most importantly, you still support the Prophet.
Think about mothers who work out of the home by necessity, but still long for and testify that it would be best if they could be home. If one truly is the exception, they will still uphold and advocate the rule. - You must understand it was personal revelation.
When someone is broadcasting their personal revelation to disobey the Prophet on social media you know it did NOT come from the Spirit! The Spirit would lay them under strict command to still testify of the rule, and the Prophet even if they are the exception!
I can't stress the final point enough: If someone is claiming to have received revelation from God telling them to disobey His mouthpiece and broadcast it on Social Media they are being deceived and they are on the road to apostasy. In the words of President George Q. Cannon and President N. Eldon Tanner:
“Whenever you see a man disobeying the counsel of the Lord through the Holy Priesthood, you may know that unless he repents, he will apostatize. It is a sure sign of apostasy. A man may be an Apostle, a Seventy, a High Priest, an Elder or a Bishop, yet if he tries to divide the people and persuades them to disobey the Prophet of God, he will surely fall, unless he repents with all his heart. The Lord asks us to obey Him. He tells us how to do so. He does not ask for blind obedience, because He gives His Holy Spirit to all who ask for it to show them that it is right to obey.”
George Q. Cannon (“Satan Hates a United People,” Gospel Truth, Vol. 1, p. 210–11 (italics and bold added))
"When we begin to choose which of the covenants, which of the commandments we will keep and follow, we are taking the law of the Lord into our own hands and become our own prophets, and believe me, we will be led astray, because we are false prophets to ourselves when we do not follow the Prophet of God."
N. Eldon Tanner (Conference Report, October 1966, p. 98. (italics and bold added))
I testify Russell M. Nelson is the Prophet on the earth today. We have agency. Now we must use it. Do we choose to be valiant in our obedience and keeping of our covenants? Or do we choose to disobey? If we choose to disobey, remember, there is a kingdom for that.
For more on this topic see "Are You the Exception or Just Disobeying? 6 Ways to Know if You Are the Exception", "20+ Amazing Quotes on Following The Prophet and the Dangers of Disobeying!" "When Satan Gives You a 'Revelation' That You Don't Need to Follow Your Church Leaders" and "Blind obedience is better than disobedience. But obedience based on faith is not blind!" and "Why it is dangerous to throw away prophets you dislike"
Debunking Common Objections:
"I hold the keys over my family, and I recieved revelation that we don't need to do this."
Now some people will claim that their right to receive revelation for their family extends to insubordination to the prophet. That is not true. The Church is like a fleet of battleships. You may be the captain of your ship, but the Prophet is the Admiral of the fleet. He receives orders from Allied High Command. It does not matter how big or small your ship is, when the Admiral says what to do, you do it. Even if it makes little or no sense. He has got the bigger picture. He is the watchman on the tower. If he says hold fire, you hold fire. If you go rogue against the Prophet your pride has paved the pathway to the destruction of your family.
"We were only urged, not commanded."
I defer to Erza Taft Benson who said, "The prophet does not have to say 'Thus saith the Lord' to give us scripture. Sometimes there are those who argue about words. They might say the prophet gave us counsel but that we are not obliged to follow it unless he says it is a commandment. But the Lord says of the Prophet, 'Thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you.' (D&C 21:4.)" ("Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet" Ensign June 1981)
"This was not an offical Church policy, just a suggestion." or "This is his opinion as a man" or "A prophet is a prophet only when he is acting like a prophet"
The First Presidency sent a letter, on Church Letterhead, with the headline, "OFFICIAL CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS" and it was sent to everyone who has subscribed to the "Official Church Announcements" mailing list aka through official channels, and it was signed by the entire First Presidency, yet you think this was a personal opinion?? This can't get any more official!
Ezra Taft Benson taught, "In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord refers to the First Presidency as 'the highest council of the Church' (D&C 107:80) and says 'whosoever receiveth me, receiveth those, the First Presidency, whom I have sent …' (D&C 112:20)... The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer." See also Doctrine and Covenants 1:38
"Brigham Young once said that he feared blind obedience..."
A lot of people share a quote from Brigham Young stating that his greatest fear would be people obeying blindly. This article, "Blind obedience is better than disobedience. But obedience based on faith is not blind!" Starts with a thorough debunking of using that quote to justify disobedience.
Thank you!
I think it would be completely impossible for me to love this post any more!! Thank you for being a voice of reason in the madness that seems to have descended upon so many in the church. Keep up the good fight!
This is one of the best things ever written on the internet. I'm sad you would get any hate mail at all. The tares are vocal, apparently.
Thank you! My heart feels encouraged today.
@Kenneth, I got a good laugh with your quip about the tares. 🙂 Don't we all know that's true!
Thank you a million times over!!!! This is spot on!!!!! I think I've had every single thought you have expressed- except my example was eating spaghetti instead of watermelon. Thank you for being brave and standing with the Prophet!!!!
Thank you for this post. It takes courage and humility to be so open about your misgivings and so clear about your eventual conversion. I also appreciate that you left room in your position for people who are genuinely concerned about vaccine reactions but still want to follow the prophet. My own social environment and media ecosystem left me convinced that the vaccines are an answer from God and I was vaccinated as soon as it became available to me. But I'm grateful there are voice like yours who may be better able to influence those who beliefs about and experiences with vaccination are hard for me to understand. I pray that you and your wife will be blessed for your faithful decision and your willingness to share it.
I relate the vaccine to the serpent on the staff. Moses said to look and be saved. Sadly, many refused and suffered. So, too, with the vaccine. We have a prophet urging us to look to something we may not understand. For me, I choose to look up the staff and follow the prophet, regardless of my fear
@Lorrie Monn, I thought of the serpent on the staff too, Lorrie!
I received my vaccine doses in March and then the 2nd in April. “Come follow the prophets voice,” Plus he is a renowned surgeon! I followed the science, not social media. Search, ponder and pray! Good article!
I appreciate and agree with your reasoning. I wasn’t wanting to get the vaccine and hate masks- but my wants aren’t as important as my being able to hear and follow. Thank you! Your words are comforting. I hope people realize where the hate comes from!
I love this article, it's is so articulate. Thank you for being willing to share this experience. ❤
I for one am happy to do as the prophet has asked us but first I will ask the lord for my own personal witness if this is right for me. When the savior appeared and taught the nephites told them to go home and pray about it to receive their own witness, of what he the savoir of the world, had taught. It is so important the we search it out for ourselves and then ask the lord if this is right for us, just as you would if extended any calling. As a missionary in the early 80's my mission was shortened by six months by a decision of the first presidency which was reversed just a few short years later when it was realised that shorter missions weren't working, the lord would have known this but it still happened. If you have your witness then there is no doubt.
It is important that you realize that your right to personal revelation is not to find out if it 'is right' your right to personal revelation is to ask for that confirmation as you move forward. With all plans to obey unless directed otherwise. For most people they are warned more often when they are on the wrong path than what they are doing is right. Mainly because He wants us to use our agency to act rather than to wait to be told everything is right.
Amen! To the original post and Ditto! To the comments that love the original post......I like it when I can find those who are able to articulate my thoughts/feelings.
@Peter, while I really liked reading this point of view with some valid points, I appreciated yours too. Thank you for bringing this up.
Joseph Smith was commanded to introduce plural marriage. Like the Saviour, he too suggested the saints pray and seek personal revelation. It's so important to honour people's free agency otherwise we are no better than satan as we force and coerse. Blackmailing people into doing things by saying you are on the road to apostasy is also not the Lord's way. Let us not forget that this is the Lord's Church led by mere mortals. Joseph Smith was indeed called by the Lord himself but he was not a perfect man. He made mistakes and was rebuked just as we all do and are. We worship Jesus Christ. May we never forget that this is His church. May we obey His voice as we receive personal revelation. May we pray for, sustain, love and support our beloved prophet and his councilors as they navigate The Church of JESUS CHRIST during these perilous times. And above all, may we not only believe the articles of faith but live then by doing good including refraining from name calling and forcing others.
Very well said. This is certainly a great example of how to keep on the covenant path.
I applaud your decision and conclusion. You have said everything so well! I just hope certain people I know will see this. I would share it with them except I am pretty sure they're sick of hearing from me.
Thank you for this post!
I am so thankful that you published these comments!! I have been shocked and appalled at the negative responses and blatant criticism of the prophet and his counselors in response to the last letter from the first presidency. I was accused of being judgmental and “holier than thou” for trying to support the prophet. Most of all, I felt sad in my heart for the attitude that some good members of the church have taken towards the counsel of the church leaders.
I have a family member who is against any kind of vaccine for any of his children. This is the first time the Prophet has urged us to consider getting one. I’m with you, I don’t necessarily trust the government in many instances, but the Prophet of the Lord will not lead us astray.
I trust them as far as I can throw them. But I trust the Lord who has given me a witness Russell M. Nelson is a prophet of God. Therefore I will obey.
The statement says to follow ‘the wise and thoughtful recommendations from medical experts and government leaders’. I plan to do that, when I find wise medical experts and government leaders. The medical experts and government leaders who are in charge are neither wise nor thoughtful. There are many wise and thoughtful voices we can follow. For the past two years the message has been to ‘hear Him’ and to seek personal revelation. I have and apparently you have too. I will not challenge your revelation and I hope that you won’t challenge mine or other peoples. The announcement clearly gave us an out.
Don't say that it says something it clearly does not say. I don't want it to say what it says, but it does say it.
"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."
That is the whole paragraph. There are no outs unless you are twisting words. The NEXT Paragraph is where it says "We can win this war if everyone will follow the wise and thoughtful recommendations of medical experts and government leaders."
Thanks, my friend. I am inspired by your and your wife’s humility and devotion. Thank you for being so vulnerable and transparent. This is a hard thing for some people, and you’re willingness to trust in the Lord, maintain an eternal perspective, and seek revelation even when it knocks against existing beliefs is a testament to your faith and devotion. Thank you. So grateful for your example.
Thank you Bishop Johnston. We love your family and are grateful for y'alls example too!
This has been such a comfort to me after reading so many negative comments about our beloved prophet You have such a wonderful testimony and you have increased mine Thank you
@Deanna, You are correct. The Prophet is not responsible for my health or for my care of my body. We are counseled to do our own research, come to a decision and then pray about that decision and then follow that counsel from the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost will not lead us astray, we have no such promise about the Prophet. Nowhere in the writings or teachings of Joseph Smith does he say anything like this. Elder Ballard was the first General Authority to teach this and it is NOT Doctrine.
Linda, that is simply not true. We have been repeatedly promised by over 25 different prophets/apostles that the Lord won't allow the prophet to lead us astray. See https://mylifebygogogoff.com/2022/02/25-times-we-have-been-promised-that-the-prophet-will-not-lead-us-astray.html
Thank you! I needed see this today. It is something I was really struggling with.
Thank you so much for your well thought out words. I've been on the same thoughts about the vaccine and masks, and I appreciate your call to repentance and awareness of choice, accountability, faith, and direction. Just as when the Proclamation to the Family came out and we were all wondering why it was so important to define what a family truly is. We don't know all the reasons the prophet tells us to do things, but we always see later just how inspired they are.
Amen!
I hope more members will listen to this. If they do, it will save lives. Thank you for speaking up.
Great article, well-thought out and well written. Thank you! You made points based on principles and doctrine. In my opinion - one minor item- that I wish you would've included, as the prophet did- was if you are willing to do whatever the Lord asks and you have sought to Hear Him (The Lord) and you have (medical issues, etc) you can feel confident that the Lord is willing to accept the intent for the offering. Some are told by medical professionals NOT to get the vaccine
That was kinda the point of the conclusion and teaching about being the exception. IF you pass all three tests it is a sign your revelation that you are the exception is correct.
I'm so grateful for what you've written and stated.
I am immunocompromised and have feared being around those that are unvaccinated - even if they wore a mask.
We've now gotten the "official" word from our First Presidency. Hopefully, all will follow our Prophet.
I have shared the thought a few times that the guy standing on the edge of the Red Sea pointing out very validly that it is really not safe taking families, tents, children, aged people and all through the water because water had been established to be hazardous stuff in such a situation, well he was right, wasn't he? But he was using man's thinking without factoring in God's arithmetic that can be a little different to our arithmetic
@Leslie Ward Powrie, Good analogy.
Thank you SO much! I absolutely agree with everything you said. I hope some of my Stake friends see this and really take it to heart. The Lord loves us and our Prophet speaks for Him. Thank you for putting your thoughts so succinctly.
Thank you so much for this! I had already decided that I needed to follow the prophets counsel, 2 weeks ago while in our temple workers meeting, the Temple President said that if we know our prophet is a man of God, then we should follow ALL of his counsel. He didn’t say about any particular thing. But in my heart I knew what he meant. I had been struggling with wanting to get the vaccine. After that I knew what I needed to do. I will be making my appointment tomorrow. I am not afraid to die either way. My husband passed away almost 3 years ago, so death doesn’t scare me. I said, if I die from getting Covid I would be fine. But now I realized that if I die from getting the vaccine I am fine with that too. It was fear that was keeping me from getting the vaccine. I am not afraid because I trust in whatever the Lord has in store for me. I will Follow our Prophet! So thank you very much for this very insightful article. ❤️
Thank you, Jeremy. This is almost identical to the path my mind and heart took. Through much prayer and tears (I was completely against the vaccine and think masks are ridiculous) I was able to shift from the "issue" of masks and vaccines to the "principle" of obeying the prophet and keeping my covenants. Though this has been painful, your article perfectly explains truth.
Thank you so so much for daring to say you follow the prophet. Thank you for so eloquently putting together all of the pieces of this.
I put a video out on Friday about following the prophet and have been attacked for days. I have a weekly podcast that follows Come Follow Me and I had follower after follower unfollow me because I dared talk about this. One follower, a friend l, cautioned, “you better watch what you say!” I’d love for your to watch my video. It had so little to do with the vaccine and everything to do with following the prophet.
I’m sorry if you have a hate-storm follow you after this. Especially after I share it, (haha) but it’s so good and contains so much of what I have prepared to put in this week’s podcast.
Thanks for being brave and humble and obedient. You’re a great example!
Whenever I touch an issue like this I see fairweather followers jump ship. But the point is to share the gospel not amass a following.
@Melanie Stroud, I saw both your videos as well. I loved what you said and totally support you as well. It has made me
so sad, to see members act the way the have towards the prophet and his counsel. Thanks for your cousel as well.
I did not vaccinate too but the first time the prophet issued a statement encouraging us to be vaccinated, I followed immediately. I fear more the consequence of not following the prophet than the possible side effects of the vaccines. We will all die anyway, and I would rather die demonstrating I have faith in what the Lord says through Pres Nelson, and not in men's wisdom. The same reasons shared in this article.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Good rational, well thought out, and inspired by the spirit.
This reminds me so much of the "Look to God and Live" - to look at the serpent on the staff and live! ....to think of how simple it was and many still chose not to "Look and Live"! Thinking about the current "urging" of our Prophet - it really is such a simple thing (even though I still worried a bit about getting the vaccine) to wear a mask.
Thank you for sharing your message. May God bless you!
I can’t say how much I love this article. I’m ashamed to say that I got sucked into a heated Facebook conversation over following the prophets counsel. I would love to send this person your article but their feelings are too raw. I think there is an amount of embarrassment about being so vocal against the vaccine and other recommended precautions that they are struggling with humbling themselves to accept the counsel of the First Presidency. They are dissecting the letter looking for any out. I’m so grateful you point out the process of receiving personal revelation. I hope they are able to read this with an open mind, but I doubt it.
Thank you so much for sharing this, I absolutely LOVED it!!!!! Your thoughts are spot on and I agree with all of your points, which were well thought out. You seem solid in your testimony and am sure any attacks from others will bounce off you like a nerf dart, stay strong!
I was reminded of the law of witnesses.
"At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death."
(Deuteronomy 17:6)
"This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." (2 Corinthians 13:1)
The August 12, 2021 First Presidency letter came from three witnesses. When the pandemic first hit we heard from only one witness, the prophet President Russell M. Nelson. Now we are hearing from three. I would take the counsel given in that letter very seriously. I would rather die obedient following a prophet, than die rejecting the witness of three of them.
Thank you!
Beautifully written post! Thank you!
I can’t thank you enough for putting the struggle that a lot of us saints have gone through in such a perfect article. We have been told our whole lives to follow the prophet and this is our test. And if we can prove ourselves to God he will bless us even more. This is such an important principle/ doctrine to have the faith to follow God through the voice of his prophets. It really is that simple. Put aside all the lies, secrets combinations, false teachers, political views and focus on God. Thank you for your truths in this article. I will share and pray it can touch my family and friends hearts. And if anybody wants to learn more doctrine based teachings go follow the II LDS Archives and The Two brothers on youtube. They have helped me to see what is really happening with the wheat and Tares and what is coming. Zion or bust!! So grateful for you and those who share with all of us.
Thank you for sharing your real path to deciding to obey the prophet. It is so well written. I definitely will be sharing this.
My family and I are vaccinated but we cannot mask. Why is no concern of anyone but us, but it is real and unavoidable. While I appreciate the article and the urging people to have faith and follow the prophet, we have to remember That exceptions do occasionally, maybe rarely apply.
From Elder Oaks: “As a General Authority, it is my responsibility to preach general principles. When I do, I dont try to define all the exceptions. There are exceptions to some rules. For example, we believe the commandment is not violated by killing pursuant to a lawful order in an armed conflict. But dont ask me to give an opinion on your exception. I only teach the general rules. Whether an exception applies to you is your responsibility. You must work that out individually between you and the Lord.”
The entire point of the conclusion is to explain how exceptions work.
Thank you! I enjoyed this post very much and am grateful that you were willing to share your experience working through something that was clearly a great personal challenge. Would prefer that you not publish this comment, but wanted to mention that I believe you mistakenly used the word “covenants” instead of “converts” in the sentence about Alma and Amulek in Ammonihah in the paragraph that begins “My mind started to race through examples….” I had a brief moment of confusion there but quickly saw what you meant. Thank you again for your post!
You always find the best quotes from our leaders to support your thoughts. One that I thought of while reading your post is from Pres. Harold B. Lee: "You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory.' " Thank you for your courage in letting your light shine!
Believe it or not, my thoughts often stem from the quotes on a topic. I've listed to over 3,000 conference talks, the missionary library (including the standard works) 5x times, and earlier this year I started a study of the Ensign and I am currently 75 editions in. When I write about a topic typically I will read over the quotes and then organize my thoughts around them. This is how I ensure the accuracy of my personal revelation.
@Ali Evans, this quote by Harold B Lee really helped me, along with Jeremy’s article. I remembered it as a favorite quote back in the 1970s and it reminded me that being vaccinated when I don’t want to be vaccinated is a small sacrifice I can offer to the Lord to keep my covenant to follow the prophet. This week’s “come follow me“ lesson has a scripture that I hope can apply to me: “Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me.” D&C 97:8
“If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?” (2 Kings 5:13).
@Ryan, Basically sums up the entire blog. XD
I loved this! Thanks so much for sharing your journey of realizing following the prophet is always right.
I did see one small mistake. Your wife said she would know you were in the Celestial Kingdom if you died. You would be in the Spirit World where you would be helping those who are in Spirit Prison learn the gospel of Jesus Christ. The final judgement of which kingdom will you be in will be after the millennium. My husband recently passed because he had served our country in Vietnam and was exposed to agent orange. I know he is in the spirit world doing what I am suppose to be doing on this side of the veil and that is, as the Prophet has told us to do, work to gather Israel.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It echoes much of my own thinking, especially your point about how to sincerely pray. A lesson I've had to learn over my life again and again, because I am so darn stubborn.
I keep thinking of this statement from President Nelson in the final address of Sunday, April 2021 General Conference. "You may be wondering when you will be able to return to the temple. Answer: Your temple will be open when local government regulations allow it. When the incidence of COVID-19 in your area is within safe limits, your temple will be reopened. Do all you can to bring COVID numbers down in your area so that your temple opportunities can increase."
Do all you can to bring COVID numbers down in your area... I think a lot of people forgot about this urging from him too. I remind myself of this statement quite often.
I believe I am not the only one who has felt the Spirit in this example: when the freed Hebrews were in the wilderness, fiery serpents were sent by the Lord to "straighten" them, and Moses was instructed to make a brazen serpent and place it on a staff in the middle of their camp, and whoever obeyed and looked at the "snake on a stick" was healed, and others who thought it was too simple and would not look, perished. Could our brazen serpent be as simple as wearing a mask, and/or receiving a vaccination? I appreciate your thoughts, thank you for writing! (Numbers, 21 and 1 Nephi 17:21)
Thank you so much. This was exactly what I needed. I recently decided I am going to get the vaccine, but I didn’t feel at peace with the decision. Now I do. May God bless you for providing this important perspective & sharing it with us!
I applaud this. Your journey to follow the prophet was inspiring, however, I am a little appalled that you think a midwife is the same thing as a physician. As an actual physician, I find this absolutely offensive. The most basic midwife certification involves a high school diploma and attending 50 births (according to their own certification board). I know some high school graduates who are barely literate. This is not where we should be getting our medical recommendations from. A nurse midwife has more training but is still a nurse and is still not a physician.
I spent nearly a decade studying the body, immune system and pathogens in school. I worked in clinics and hospitals, putting in countless hours during residency training and passed several high stake exams to prove my skills. Please don't cheapen my degree and knowledge by comparing me or other physicians to a midwife.
Those who take offense where no offense was meant…
This midwife in particular has been in her profession for over 30 years and has been helping mothers and saving lives for even longer. Please don’t think you are better than she is simply because you have a “smarter” degree.
Great and well thought out insights. Obedience brings blessings even if it is in the next life.
While I trust you have been led by the Spirit to have the experience and learning with this issue that you have had, let’s all be careful not to apply it to others in judgment of them. Others are having equally deep and meaningful spiritual experiences which are leading them to customized conclusions that are essential to their learning and experience, as well as to their individualized health needs.
The church handbook / manual actually states it is a choice. It was not a mandate.
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/38-church-policies-and-guidelines?lang=eng#title_number238
38.7.13
Vaccinations
Vaccinations administered by competent medical professionals protect health and preserve life. Members of the Church are encouraged to safeguard themselves, their children, and their communities through vaccination.
Ultimately, individuals are responsible to make their own decisions about vaccination. If members have concerns, they should counsel with competent medical professionals and also seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
Prospective missionaries who have not been vaccinated will likely be limited to assignments in their home country.
It’s never a mandate to follow counsel, just like with keeping the commandments. There are just blessings to keep them and consequences when you don’t.
Thank you so much! That letter covers everything. I was so against taking the shot that I had accepted the fact that I was going to be in a camp sometime in the future. When the Prophet's letter came out, I got to the health department to take the shot just as soon as I was able. There is no question for me about following him, and I am so relieved! It's like a great burden was lifted for me.
I just had the second shot and I have to say I had a miserable reaction to it. I can't begin to describe all the things I am doing to mitigate that problem, but it came, nevertheless. However, I am so glad I have followed the prophet's counsel. I know it was the right thing to do.
Thank you for sharing this. I too was absolutely against getting the vaccine and wearing masks. I had even been told by my son that unless I got the vaccine, I couldn't come near him and his wife and my grand children. That didn't change my mind. When this request came out recently, I was very disturbed. I had a 2 day wrestle with The Lord on this. Over that 2 days, I went from not willing to obey and be defiant to being greatly humbled and joyful to obey the Prophet. It was quite a journey that involved a lot of scripture study, prayer, reasoning with others, Journaling, etc.
When I received my answer that I was putting "Isaac on the Altar" I had so many more scriptures come to me and situations in the past where someone was asked by The Lord to do something that didn't make sense, but was a pure act of faith.
I thought of Moses in the Wilderness with the Children of Israel being bit by fiery, flying serpents. I remembered The Lord told him to make a bronze serpent and fasten it on a pole and tell the Children of Israel that all they had to do to be healed, was look upon it. It made no sense at all. In fact, it was like a Pagan symbol to them. But those that looked were healed. It just took faith.
I was led to a scripture in the Doctrine & Covenants 84:71"If a man shall administer poison to you, you will not be harmed." The Lord told me that this scripture applied to me with the vaccine. I was also told to journal my experience, so that when I felt weak later to follow through that I would have my hand written experiences to look back on.
I asked that The Lord would confirm to me many times, in many ways that I had received the answer to my prayers and searching. I did experience many confirmations, many times as I requested. I wasn't trying to be a slothful servant, just really needed such solid confirmation to do something I was so against.
I went a couple of weeks, thinking, "OK, since I was willing to get the vaccine, that it was enough." I prayed again and asked if being willing to do it was enough. That day, we had Stake Conference. I didn't know my prayer would be answered, but I feel like many of those talks were catered specifically to me, as the very examples of what led to my change of heart were mentioned in those talks. The Spirit testified to me that it was my answer. I was determined to go get the jab that next week.
Time went on, and I started hearing more adverse information about the vaccine. I had several friends and family I greatly trust tell me not to get it. That it was foolish, and the only reason our Prophet said to do it was because the government threatened to shut down our temples if they didn't make the announcement to get the vaccine and wear the masks. I started to have doubts again and thought it would be best to wait.
However, today, I prayed again, asking for guidance, and to show me the answer once again. I came across this article. I will schedule my vaccine for next week. I am so grateful that The Lord knows me well and knows my heart. He knows I am not a slothful servant. I am so grateful He led me to this article tonight. I love our Prophet and Church Leaders. I know they would not lead us astray. I will joyfully and quickly obey.
Diane Galicia
Thank you!!!
Very inspiring and uplifting words. Thank you from Germany !
I appreciate your thoughts. Let me address why most members in the January 2021 portion of the pandemic did not get vaccinated and fully support and sustain the Lord's Prophet, First Presidency, and Quorum of the Twelve as prophets, seers, and revelators' command to be immunized. In what you you share this, I would put particular emphasis on the last word of this January annoucnement first: "As appropriate opportunities become available, the Church urges its members, employees and missionaries to be good global citizens and help quell the pandemic by safeguarding themselves and others through immunization.”
Immunization also means the following: "A person can become immune to a disease when the body is exposed to the disease-causing organism (pathogen) and develops antibodies to fight it." Many people including myself had already been asymptomatic or symptomatic with the disease and bore the infection-induced antibodies to fight it. We opted to follow the Prophet with our bodies' own God-given miracle of self-immunization already in place.
Fast forwarding to the August announcement, it is crystal clear on the matter of masks and vaccines. To protect yourself from severe infections, get vaccinated. In public Church meetings, wear a mask if you cannot socially distance. That's as about as direct as you can get after removing the urging without diluting plainness of the two prophetic directives.
Having spoken with Church leadership, they have stressed the importance of reading the First Presidency direction firsthand and praying about it and not allowing others' (even bloggers') diluted interpretations to add or subtract from it. Recalling again the clause in the first directive of protecting one's self from severe infection, some faithful members, for example, who would categorize themselves as not in an at-risk category and/or already immunized through natural immunity have understood that direction to mean they do not need to get vaccinated since the natural protection is there.
I appreciate your voice but I would remind that anything else added by well-meaning bloggers like yourself is not doctrine and should be taken as either personal judgement or personal revelation. At this point, I have see Church member bloggers go so far as to say "wear a mask at Church" or even in some cases "wear a mask everywhere" and if you are not, you are a dissenter and not following the Prophet.
I also see some bloggers (not necessarily yourself so thank you for your kind and respectful writing!) create straw men, claiming there are negative comments stating to not follow the prophet (e.g. do not get vaccinated no matter what, do not wear a mask when you are not socially distanced at Church, etc.). One who has searched their comment sections sees none of these so-called posts. I get the impression that they see themselves like Samuel on the wall for their own extreme, beyond-the-mark interpretations, setting themselves up as blogger-prophets.
I would ask that we listen and be slow to judge in this time especially when many are choosing to marginalize and generalize. The gospel is extremely simple: God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to the young Joseph Smith and through him restored Christ's Church, the Prophet Joseph Smith restored the Book of Mormon as a pure and undefiled volume of scripture to testify of it, and the Lord's current Prophet and voice to the world is President Russell M. Nelson. Once you know, you follow with exactness and I echo that sentiment from in between the lines of your post!
You might my experience and that of my husband into words beautifully on each and every point! Similar story is now being recorded in my personal journal!
I fully support what you gave to say! Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you! I appreciated your thoughts! I never comment on things, but I felt this was worth commenting because I appreciate boldness. I have wondered about this declaration and tried to justify it in many ways, some which you mentioned, and it made me stop and think about many different things so again, thank you for your thoughts. I can look at it in a different light now.
Your post among with your others is making me seriously consider getting the Covid-19 vaccine and wear masks. How and when or if I will do this, I can’t say. You certainly planted a seed that is now growing in me though. My family is against masks and vaccines though, so it won’t be easy if I choose to do what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Jesus’ word through his prophets and apostles) asked me to do. I have a hard time understanding why I should do this in everything but with my spiritual eyes.
I will keep studying what you’ve made me start thinking about. I’ll have to pray, talk with family and my Bishop about this maybe.
Loved this!!!
Thank you Jeremy! I love your perspective on this!
You are the answer to my prayers. I have been confused and anxious about my feelings and impressions that were very clear also. Thank you for this article.
I am a convert to the church and always follow the prophet in spiritual and doctrinal matters and respect the authors views he is genuine and I can tell he loves the Lord I still haven’t had the vaccine because I have underlying serious health issues, I am concerned about the statements wise government leaders and health officials in Australia they will,not allow us to choose what we can have like ivermectin which works, they are taking away agency from individuals which I have also believed from Satan 583 people have died from the vaccine and 77,000 have had serious side affects like paralysis and miscarriages an ex Pfizer scientist who recently came out with research statistics has been banned by Twitter, also in Australia it has been found out a lot of our government leaders have ties to Pfizer I always verify before I give information out, members of our church who have had the Vaccine have ended up with shingles or leaky heart valves.
In Australia we have 5 states and 2 Territories and each state leader and or chief health officer have each conflicting ideas except we have no choice we must have Pfizer or moderna, two Aussie vaccines have been developed that do not require boosters do work haven’t been approved yet but under testing appear to be more effective and safer than Pfizer, the beloved prophet had also stated in the last conferences the importance of being worthy to receive personal revelation and I follow him on this, it is my believe that both the decision to be vaccinated or not to be are right choices for the individual, those that support vaccines should be respected and those that don’t also in one Australian state, Victoria the Premier has brought in draconian laws in which he and his state health minister have power to fine and goal people without trial and the police of that state have been weaponised against its own peopleI never thought I would see socialism in Australia, I served in the Australian military for over 20 years including Vietnam, Borneo and Middle East-and also in law enforcement so I am not anti police only anti corrupt police. That’s why I struggle with wise counsel of government leaders, but thanks to the article my mind is more open I am still praying about it.
First and foremost we are to receive personal revelation for our own lives especially in something so important as to what we would inject into our bodies. All of our bodies are different and will react differently to different medicines, supplements, treatments, etc. That is why you may feel at peace about getting the vaccine for your body, but I may not for mine. Please, we should not be judging anyone else for what they feel at peace about for their own bodies. It is not a commandment to get the vaccine...it is urged to come to a conclusion yourself. Plain and simple.
There are always exceptions. I've always held and taught that this is NOT saying there are no exceptions. But there are rules to being an exception, see https://mylifebygogogoff.com/2021/09/are-you-the-exception-or-just-disobeying-6-ways-to-know-if-you-are-the-exception.html.
God told you not to do something and then you decided to go against it because of someone with a certain church calling? I am afraid we have totally forgotten how God operates today.
Many have been led astray by their leaders because they simply didn't know how to get revelation for themselves.
You are welcome to read the stories of the Mountain Meadows Massacre and Helmuth Hubener.
Your argument would be good... If it was not completely wrong.
I can say with 100% certainty that God did not tell you that the First Presidency was wrong and to disobey them. That revelation would violate the principles that govern personal revelation. We are not talking about a bishop or an elders quorum president, or even a stake president, but the FIRST PRESIDENCY. These are not just "leaders" they are God's anointed mouthpieces on earth. We have repeated promises that God will NOT allow them to lead us astray. What is more, the Church is not only repeatedly teaching this via devotionals, talks, addresses, newsletters, they are ACTIVELY spending tithing money on it.
If you are receiving revelation The First Presidency is wrong and they are leading us astray, then you have only TWO options.
1st. The source of your 'revelation' is not God and you are being led astray.
2nd. The source of the First Presidency revelations is not God, and they are leading us astray.
It is rather self-righteous and arrogant to think you have better communication with God than the prophet. We authenticate the source of our personal revelations to ensure they are NOT from Satan by comparing them with the declared words. If your revelations don't align, then the source is bad. Christ is NOT divided. He will not be telling the prophet to do one thing, and then tell you that the prophet is wrong. God is a God of Order, that does NOT work.
Yes, Patrick, I am afraid some people have completely forgotten how God operates today, via prophets. Many are led astray because fallen members listening to Satan lead them into forbidden paths of murmuring.
You are welcome to read the words of God's prophets, seers, and revelators, they are clear on this topic. Personal revelation is NOT a replacement for Priesthood authority!
Great read and as someone with a testimony I appreciate it, albeit a year or so later. My question is have you changed your views at all now that we have countless peer reviewed journal articles that show that the vaccine has harmed countless people? I am a physician and have seen the harm first hand. I'm personally struggling with this and was curious your take as your voice of reason has been so grounding. Thank you.
Hey John,
This is an issue that many people really are struggling with. I have seen a LOT of people forsaking what they know to be true over this issue because it is so upsetting and unsettling to them.
So, do I know WHY the First Presidency said what they said? No, I do not. But let's go over what we DO know to set the groundwork.
Do I know that President Nelson is a prophet? YES.
Do I know that God promises us that a prophet will not lead us astray? YES.
So therefore what he said was acceptable to the Lord (this is a vital part that if you don't understand will throw off the whole thing, so if you don't understand it please let me know).
Do I believe that there are some serious issues with the vaccine? Yes, I fully believe that.
So how do I square their statement that it was "safe and effective?" Well, Rasband said it was required to keep missionary work and temple work going, which is the primary purpose of the Church.
The only way I've squared it is that it was safe enough and effective enough to get missionary work going. And that any who have suffered while following it were acceptable to the Lord, like the women and children at Ammonihah that were burned to death for following the Lord, but the Lord allowed that to happen so that their blood could cry for vengeance and justify his wrath in destroying the wicked.
TWO points here. 1st. I think a lot of members forget this, they think that if they follow the prophet they will not have any adverse side effects, but historically, and scripturally, that is not the case. 2nd. A lot of people forget that God does not wipe out the wicked until the blood of the righteous they have killed will call for it. Which unfortunately means that the wicked will be permitted to kill some of the righteous.
Back to the point at hand, even as recently as this year many nations required the vax for us to get missions reopened or temples. And Rasband said that Missionary + Temple work was the main reason it was done.
I hope that helps some. I would recommend reading this -> https://mylifebygogogoff.com/2022/09/7-ways-latter-day-saints-get-following-the-prophet-completely-wrong.html?
@Jeremy, I really appreciate the response Jeremy and it gives me a lot to think about. You bring up great points and the example of Ammonihah feels quite relatable in this circumstance. One of the most difficult aspects of this for me is that the evidence is sufficient to know for a fact that the vaccine is not safe or effective for all as the Prophet stated, so since I can't trust that statement, how can I trust anything else that he asks me or my family to do in the future... I guess I have a lot of soul searching to do. Cheers and thanks for your time and thoughts.
Hey John,
Sorry it has taken so long to review and approve your comment, but in wait time I have actually written an article addressing this: https://mylifebygogogoff.com/2024/02/a-faithful-look-back-at-the-first-presidency-urging-the-covid-vaccine.html
Just ran across this today. I am really curious years later if everybody has the same thoughts they did back when this was published?
See the note at the beginning of the article, here is the article written this year on this issue. https://mylifebygogogoff.com/2024/02/a-faithful-look-back-at-the-first-presidency-urging-the-covid-vaccine.html