As the novel coronavirus continues to hit the nation, states are still operating with varying guidelines and intensities. Without a consistent federal response to this ongoing public health crisis, many people are turning to people they may trust more—like religious leaders. As CNN reports, Mormon church leaders in Utah have asked church members to wear face masks while in public in order to help slow the spread of the virus. And as Daily Kos has covered in the past, not all people of faith are using their leadership position to encourage safety.
In an email from the Utah Area Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to church members, leaders Randy Funk, Craig Christensen, and Walter González wrote: "We are in the midst of a global pandemic unlike any the world has experienced in more than a century.” The email, obtained by The Desert News, notes: “Latter-day Saints are not immune." The email also praises members for wearing masks during church services, though most temples are still closed.
