Tech Forum

I've been told by local leaders that virtual Sacrament, Priesthood, Relief Society, Sunday School, Primary, etc. meetings are banned. Is that a church-wide policy?

I'm not aware of a church-wide ban on such virtual meetings. But it might be something from the area or the stake.

I just heard this same thing from my mother in Utah. She said the area president had told the bishops not to hold virtual meetings. But I haven't heard anything similar in my area of the South and we have had some online meetings for certain groups (not every week but occasionally) and a few are still scheduled.

In my stake in Oklahoma, organizations are allowed to have presidency meetings via Zoom or similar platforms. Those with priesthood in their home are allowed to administer the Sacrament each week. When the restrictions are lifted (and before Sacrament meetings resume), those without priesthood in their home will be served the sacrament by their ministering brothers or as otherwise arranged. There are no Sunday "meetings" (Sacrament, Sunday School, Priesthood, Relief Society, YM/YW, Primary) allowed, virtual or otherwise. We are encouraged to reach out to members of our ward by whatever means we can as appropriate. We have a ward Facebook page and Primary has been using that to engage the children through their parents - they recently had a virtual talent show where videos and pics were sent to a member of the primary presidency who posted them for everyone to share.

I suspect there may be different instructions handed down by the various area presidencies to the stakes depending on the specific circumstances in their area. We should follow our leaders and not worry if their direction is slightly different than other parts of the world. The Stake President has the keys of revelation for his stake.

eblood66 wrote:I just heard this same thing from my mother in Utah. She said the area president had told the bishops not to hold virtual meetings. But I haven't heard anything similar in my area of the South and we have had some online meetings for certain groups (not every week but occasionally) and a few are still scheduled.

The policy of the Utah Area President was reported on in the Salt Lake Trib on 23 April 2020. His policy pertains to large groups, and not to leadership meetings.
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2020/04 ... ay-saints/

Utah Area President Craig C. Christensen sent a letter to the state’s lay leaders saying, “We have noted that some local leaders or members are attempting to hold sacrament meetings, Sunday school classes, and elders quorum and Relief Society meetings via technology.”

Such online gatherings “should not be held until the First Presidency lifts the directive to suspend those meetings,” Christensen wrote. “Accordingly, please counsel leaders and members against holding online Sunday meetings.”

The Church sometimes asks local leaders (maybe Area Presidencies, maybe Stake Presidents, maybe Bishops) to receive revelation for their stewardships, which inevitably will be different. Our Area President has actually encouraged us to have virtual meetings - Sunday worship services (sans sacrament of course), Ward Councils, Ward Youth Councils, Youth Presidency meetings, Bishopric Youth Discussions - as often as Bishops feel inspired is appropriate. While a blessing, this definitely does increase the stress level a bit for leaders who aren't very tech-savvy...