The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announces today that the leadership sessions for General Authorities, Area Seventies, and General Officers presently scheduled to be held on April 2–3, 2020, in conjunction with April general conference, have been postponed for six months, until October 1–2 of this year. Therefore, General Authorities serving outside of the United States and all Area Seventies are excused from attending the general conference in Salt Lake City. Furthermore, in view of statements issued by governments and health organizations, members of the Church living outside the United States are discouraged from traveling to the United States to attend the general conference sessions. “Out of an abundance of caution and with deep concern for global health considerations, as well as sympathy for all who have been or may be affected by the COVID-19 virus, we are postponing leadership meetings associated with the upcoming general conference,” the First Presidency said in a prepared statement. “We wish to be good global citizens and do what we can to limit the spread of this disease. We also want to relieve concerns of our leaders, members, and their families related to the uncertainties of travel at this time.”
If prayers can bless the food and heal the sick, why aren’t they sufficient to protect General Authorities from Coronavirus?
“When we are confronted with evidence that challenges our deeply held beliefs we are more likely to reframe the evidence than we are to alter our beliefs. We simply invent new reasons, new justifications, new explanations. Sometimes we ignore the evidence altogether.” (Mathew Syed 'Black Box Thinking')
So, olive oil and faith won’t kill the coronavirus, nor prevent its spread? What’s the point?
- Doc
In the face of madness, rationality has no power - Xiao Wang, US historiographer, 2287 AD.
Every record...falsified, every book rewritten...every statue...has been renamed or torn down, every date...altered...the process is continuing...minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Ideology is always right.
Doctor CamNC4Me wrote:So, olive oil and faith won’t kill the coronavirus, nor prevent its spread? What’s the point?
- Doc
It’s so they can have the faith not to be healed, and also to know that by travelling down the wrong road, they will know with certainty that it was the wrong road, and therefore know which was the correct road.
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful.
Wise move. The most important of these anointed are, being elderly, the most at risk for the worst result. In the closest analogy to this (the 1918 flu), the Church president at the time died.
"As to any slivers of light or any particles of darkness of the past, we forget about them."
If the corona virus is found in any temple, it shall be torn down immediately and rebuilt on a 24/7 schedule thus saith head PSR Russell Marion Nelson.
Note to local leaders:Funds for the rebuilding of any temple due to the virus prophesy shall come from the generous donations of the faithful so that the sacred EP rainy day fund will be preserved!
I asked on the Sic et Non board if the Church might do something different from passing the Sacrament during a contagion. The answer I got was it will be okay since they do not use a communal cup. This, of course, misses how a virus can be spread just by sending the cups and bread around the pews.
Doctor CamNC4Me wrote:So, olive oil and faith won’t kill the coronavirus, nor prevent its spread? What’s the point?
- Doc
Very simple. Too many get a blend of oils because they believe the label. Have to check to makes sure 'Extra Virgin" Olive Oil is the real thing. A blend as is usually found in the big jugs they buy does not work for Priesthood Blessings. God is picky that way.
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Interesting they cancel the session for Leaders - but not general sessions for the rabble.
“Those who never retract their opinions love themselves more than they love truth.” ― Joseph Joubert
Looking back, I think belief in priesthood blessings was the first thing to go for me. Our stake had a hospital within the boundaries and we would have to take turns going to administer to the sick. No one seemed to want to do it as it made people face the inconvenient fact that priesthood blessings never cured anyone. I remember asking one of the Doctors in the ward if he had ever seen a priesthood blessing cure anyone. He kind of looked away and then said how they were for comfort and that they give the patient hope (placebo effect), if the patient believes in such things.
"Religion is about providing human community in the guise of solving problems that don’t exist or failing to solve problems that do and seeking to reconcile these contradictions and conceal the failures in bogus explanations otherwise known as theology." - Kishkumen
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announces today that the leadership sessions for General Authorities, Area Seventies, and General Officers presently scheduled to be held on April 2–3, 2020, in conjunction with April general conference, have been postponed for six months, until October 1–2 of this year. Therefore, General Authorities serving outside of the United States and all Area Seventies are excused from attending the general conference in Salt Lake City. Furthermore, in view of statements issued by governments and health organizations, members of the Church living outside the United States are discouraged from traveling to the United States to attend the general conference sessions. “Out of an abundance of caution and with deep concern for global health considerations, as well as sympathy for all who have been or may be affected by the COVID-19 virus, we are postponing leadership meetings associated with the upcoming general conference,” the First Presidency said in a prepared statement. “We wish to be good global citizens and do what we can to limit the spread of this disease. We also want to relieve concerns of our leaders, members, and their families related to the uncertainties of travel at this time.”
This is the rainy day that Ensign has been waiting for....use some millions for all kinds of help/reassurance and research for this disease. Then with the membership in full agreement consecrate these dollars to enlist the help of doctors and science to find a cure. With that and the powers of right hand voting the faith will be enough for the Prophet during conference...live or on internet...whatever...finally use their powers from God to sustain those that are already sick and dying.