SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is asking all members in the state to wear face coverings when in public.
The area presidency sent the request by email to Latter-day Saints in Utah on Friday evening.
“Please join with us now in common purpose for the blessing and benefit of all,” said the email, signed by the Utah Area president, Elder Craig C. Christensen, and his counselors, Elder Randy D. Funk and Elder Walter F. González. Each man is a General Authority Seventy of the church.
The area presidency operates under the leadership of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
The email noted that Utah set a record on Friday with 867 new COVID-19 infections, up from the previous high of 722. One health leader said that it felt like the state may be “headed for a disaster” as the percentage of hospital beds in use is rising.
“A growing chorus of medical authorities has confirmed that the simple wearing of a face covering when in public and when social distancing is not possible will significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19,” the email said. “This is true both indoors and outdoors. We note with appreciation the care exhibited by our members in returning to sacrament meetings wearing face masks.”
The area leaders said wearing the masks would be a sign of good citizenship. Church President Russell M. Nelson has said multiple times that church leaders and members want to be good global citizens during COVID-19.
The full email said:
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
We are in the midst of a global pandemic unlike any the world has experienced in more than a century. The effects of this escalating health crisis are being felt everywhere, with incidents of COVID-19 infection rising dramatically especially in the United States, including in Utah. Latter-day Saints are not immune. Just today, more than 800 new infections were reported in our state.
A growing chorus of medical authorities has confirmed that the simple wearing of a face covering when in public and when social distancing is not possible will significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19. This is true both indoors and outdoors.
We note with appreciation the care exhibited by our members in returning to sacrament meetings wearing face masks. Now we ask all Latter-day Saints in the Utah Area to be good citizens by wearing face coverings when in public. Doing so will help promote the health and general welfare of all.
We are most grateful for all you do to minister to one another and to your neighbors. Please join with us now in common purpose for the blessing and benefit of all.
Sincerely yours,
Elder Craig C. Christensen
Elder Randy D. Funk
Elder Walter F. González
Utah Area Presidency