Dearest Parents of the Greatest Missionaries in the World,
How grateful we are to serve with your sons and daughters in the Lord’s cause. We love
these young women and young men as our own. Please know that with the coronavirus,
or COVID-19, affecting people here and around the world, our highest priority right now
continues to be your missionary’s personal health and safety.
To help ensure the missionaries’ continued physical and spiritual well-being, we are
following the inspired and well-informed direction of the First Presidency and Quorum of
the Twelve, our Area Presidency, and the Missionary Department. We are also
instructing the missionaries in following local and national government guidelines and
precautions.
Last night we received instructions from our Area Presidency who preside over the
missions in the Southeast Area of the United States. We immediately implemented the
guidelines given, but have also been reminded “all this may change” tomorrow. It is a
very fluid situation and we can expect adjustments.
All missionaries in the Southeast Area of the United States are asked to be in a state of
“self isolation”. The term means they will confine themselves to their living quarters for
at least the next two weeks. They may leave in case of any emergency or to grocery
shop. Additional funds will be provided for them to purchase food and supplies. This
becomes our “new normal” as of this morning.They will be following a schedule that is
outlined for missionaries in this very situation.
We are asking your missionary to contact us immediately if they feel sick so that we can
involve health care professionals and our area medical advisers. If your missionary has
chronic or critical health issues that we need to be aware of, we also invite you to reply
to this email to make sure we address any concerns. We understand very well that the
current situation may be stressful and cause concerns for some of our missionaries and
their families, but we will watch over your missionary carefully and will communicate
with them often.
Their association with members will be limited. Most of their teaching and contacting
will be done electronically. The church has provided a “Suggested Activities for
Missionaries Working from their Apartments” document which has many ideas to
help them continue to focus on their purpose which is to, “ Invite others to come unto
Christ” using new and creative ideas. They will continue studying the scriptures and
Preach My Gospel, language learning, family history, online community service and
other activities as needed. This is also a significant opportunity for missionaries to work
closely with local Church leaders to reach out to new and returning members, families
where some individuals are not yet members, and members with special ministering
needs. Our missionaries will continue to go outside for exercise and fresh air while
observing wise guidelines for personal contact. All of these activities will help them continue the Lord’s work, grow spiritually, and bless those in the communities they
serve.
Going forward, we will continue to send updates to you as mission circumstances
evolve. If your missionary is working from their apartment, they may communicate with
you twice a week to share their status and experiences.
Please be assured that we are completely dedicated to keeping your missionary healthy
and safe. And we are most grateful for our loving Heavenly Father’s supporting hand in
caring for them. May He continue to abundantly bless you and your family, each and
every missionary, and the people we have been called to serve.\
With our greatest love and appreciation,
President and Sister Garns
