Mormons Cancel Church

From the official site:

Update: Gatherings of Church Members Temporarily Suspended Worldwide

Local leaders will counsel to determine how to make the sacrament available to members at least once a month

Beginning immediately, all public gatherings of Church members are being temporarily suspended worldwide until further notice. This includes:

[*] Stake conferences, leadership conferences and other large gatherings

[*] All public worship services, including sacrament meetings

[*] Branch, ward and stake activities

Comments

[Michael W. Towns]

I'm grateful that we Mormons (we prefer Latter-day Saints) made Reason and Volokh Conspiracy. Thank you.

[Eugene Volokh]

Well, when many people and groups make the Volokh Conspiracy, it's not always because of their good qualities .... But in this case, I'm inclined to say you folks are likely right.

By the way, as to the name, I have a preference for avoiding Latter-Day Saints largely because it has a literal meaning that (without trying to start a theological argument) I wouldn't personally endorse: In my experience, the Mormons I've known have been very nice people, but the jury is out on the Saints part. (Mormon is also shorter, and probably more instantly recognizable, just as Quakers is probably more recognizable than Friends.)

I wouldn't use Mormons if I thought it was archaic (cf. Negro or Hebrew) or insulting, but I actually checked the Church's site first, and my read of it is that Mormon is fine even if not (as you point out) the preferred term. So I'm inclined to stick with it; plus "Mormons Cancel Church" strikes me as a punchier headline.

[Michael W. Towns]

No worries Mr. Volokh. And I actually agree with you on the jury being out on the Saints part. At the very least, I am certainly not there yet. Not sure if you know, but the next in line to be president of the Mormon Church is former Chicago law professor & former Utah Supreme Court Justice, Dallin H. Oaks.

[Krychek_2]

I have the greatest of respect for Mr. Oaks, though I do question the wisdom of having a polity that guarantees that an organization is going to be run by people in their 80s and 90s.

[Michael W. Towns]

Krychek_2,

That's a perennial criticism, although I would point out that most of the actual running of the church happens at the local level.

That being said, I've met a few of the octogenarians and nonagenarians and have been blown away by their general excellent health and mental acuity.

I should point out that Berkshire Hathaway does pretty well with an octogenarian as CEO and with a nonagenarian as vice president. (However, I understand those folks who have a different perspective on the age factor.)

[Krychek_2]

And my outsider's perspective is that the Mormon church appears to be well run. To be clear, my criticism is not that nonagenarian CEOs exist, so much as having a structure in place that virtually guarantees that *only* an octagenarian or nonagenarian can be a CEO, coupled with the fact that there is no ability to skip over the next-in-line if he's past his use-by date or there's a younger man who would be a better choice.

The current pope is about to turn 84 but there's nothing to prevent the next conclave from electing a much younger pope should they believe he's the best man for the job.

[Eugene Volokh]

What is it with Chicago law professor-presidents?

[Michael W. Towns]

I forgot. Oaks was also on Ronald Reagan's short list for Supreme Court justice in 1981. I think that if he hadn't gone with Sandra Day O'Connor, he was going to pick Oaks.

[Longtobefree]

"I find your lack of faith disturbing."

[Eugene Volokh]

Trust in Allah, but tie your camel.

[Halykan]

Ha, is that an actual proverb? Cause it's pretty good - short and punchy.

[Eugene Volokh]

Indeed it is, supposedly straight from Mohammed.

[Johnimo]

It's interesting when everyone goes insane all at the same time. (I'm riding my bicycle and looking forward to the gardening season and hoping to work in one or two more days of skiing on the Bighorn Trail down in the northwest corner of Yellowstone Park.) The dems have been convulsed ever since Trump beat Hillary, and now the Republicans are trying to appear just as concerned about EVERYTHING. Two big groups of people, nutty as a fruit cake!

[Doug Huffman]

We have traveled 1000 miles from the snowy north, where the maple syrup taps are just out (freezing nights, warming days), traveled to ride bicycle on the Withlacoochee SP trail.

This frenetic circus would be amusing if we were not all embedded in it.

Compare and contrast CoViD with influenza FluViD. “When in doubt, wash. If you can’t wash, nap.”

[regexp]

What’s wrong with “Thoughts and Prayers” (tm)? It’s demonstrated time and time again to solve all problems.

[Eddy]

What an excellent rebuttal to the Christian Scientists, who limit themselves to thoughts and prayers because they don't think disease exists.

Mormons aren't Christian Scientists and seem (if their history is any indication) to believe it's both/and, emphasizing the value of human action as well as prayers.

[Eddy]

It's like if someone believed in posting on the Internet *and* in doing productive activities.

[EscherEnigma]

So, impossible?

[Doug Huffman]

Well said. Congregation is not essential to worship. Participation in the Sacrament of Communion with the Eucharist is a comfort.

[apedad]

"Congregation is not essential to worship."

But it is essential to conditioning, indoctrination, and control.

[Doug Huffman]

Well named, eponymously.

[Á àß äẞç ãþÇđ âÞ¢Đæ ǎB€Ðëf ảhf]

In other Mormon news, ABC Announces New Fundamentalist Mormon Bachelor Where Every Girl Gets A Rose Every Time.

Too soon?

[EscherEnigma]

Next you should do a post giving the run-down of religious leaders (mostly fundamentalist) who are mocking folks for social distancing and hand-washing.

[Eugene Volokh]

I hadn't heard of any -- who are they?