One of the fascinating stories from the Old Testament is that of the Syrian general, Naaman, who was afflicted with leprosy, a terrible and progressive disease of the skin, mucous membranes, and nerves. At the time, there was no available treatment or cure. But Naaman heard from a servant girl of a prophet in Israel named Elisha who, with God’s power, potentially could heal him. Naaman traveled to Israel, eventually arriving at Elisha’s home. But Elisha didn’t even go out to meet with Naaman. Instead, he sent a message to him that if he would wash himself seven times in the River Jordan, he would be healed.
Naaman was initially angry, both at the perceived slight from Elisha and from the suggestion that there were healing powers in the dirty little Jordan which the far larger and more prestigious rivers in his own land didn’t have. He left in a rage. But he eventually bowed to the urging of his servants, who pointed out that if the prophet had asked some great thing of him, he would gladly have complied. Why not at least try Elisha’s simple recipe? Naaman did, “and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” (2 Kings 5:14.)
We have a similar situation today. Millions worldwide are afflicted with another potentially deadly disease, Covid-19, and millions more are at risk. Today’s prophet, with the same authority and power as Elisha, is named Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, regarded by Church members as a prophet, seer, and revelator. Like Elisha, today’s prophet has issued instructions on a health issue. In a letter to Church members worldwide, sent August 12, 2021, President Nelson and his two counselors said:
We find ourselves fighting a war against the ravages of COVID-19 and its variants, an unrelenting pandemic. We want to do all we can to limit the spread of these viruses. We know that protection from the diseases they cause can only be achieved by immunizing a very high percentage of the population.
To limit exposure to these viruses, we urge the use of face masks in public meetings whenever social distancing is not possible. To provide personal protection from such severe infections, we urge individuals to be vaccinated. Available vaccines have proven to be both safe and effective.
We can win this war if everyone will follow the wise and thoughtful recommendations of medical experts and government leaders. Please know of our sincere love and great concern for all of God’s children.
Like Elisha’s words to Naaman, the instructions from today’s prophet are so simple that some dismiss them. Others are as angry as Naaman that anyone would try to tell them what to do. Others will comply and be blessed for it, as was the Syrian commander.
On the day The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, the Lord defined what the role of the prophet or president was to be. He said, “Thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith. For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory.” (Doctrine and Covenants 21:4-6.)
Does this mean Latter-day Saints believe their president knows everything and is infallible? Not at all. That’s where the need for “patience and faith” may come in. But it does mean that the Lord has asked us to do what the prophet asks, “as if” the Lord had asked us directly. Should the prophet happen to be mistaken, it would be the Lord’s prerogative to correct him, not ours.
So, is it 100% certain that if we all wear masks in indoor public meetings and get vaccinated, we’ll win the COVID war more quickly than if we didn’t? No. But what is 100% certain is that we’ll be blessed for following the prophet’s guidance, even if we can no more see the reason for it than Naaman could see anything to be gained from bathing in the Jordan.
During my years of teaching in the Church Educational System, I frequently asked students what we ought to do if the president of the Church told us, “I want you all to plant radishes in your front yard, as they are an excellent source of virtually every essential vitamin.” Would that mean we all had to believe in the nutritional benefits of radishes? Of course not. But it would mean that if we went ahead and planted the radishes, we would qualify for blessings from the Lord, whose authorized representative had asked us to do so.
But aren’t we entitled to make our own decisions on such matters as masks and vaccines without having to do what Church leaders tell us to do? Certainly, in the same way we have the option to get drunk every Saturday night, withhold our tithes and offerings, rob banks, and violate the law of chastity. But we don’t have the option of doing those things and still reaping the blessings available to the obedient.
A week ago, Church members had the option of wearing masks or not in Sunday meetings without it making a statement about their orthodoxy or faithfulness. But from now on, those who attend public meetings unmasked are essentially telling the world they don’t really believe in living prophets, seers, and revelators after all, and that they certainly don’t sustain the First Presidency as such, regardless of what answer they may have given to the related question in their most recent temple recommend interview. And they would certainly not want to be called upon to have to sing Hymn 19 again, “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet.”
Some fifty years ago then Elder Harold B. Lee of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said it this way:
“The only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized. We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet, ‘as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; … as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.’ (D&C 21:4–5.) There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory.’ (D&C 21:6.)”
I earnestly hope that increasing numbers of Latter-day Saints will follow both the counsel and the example of President Russell M. Nelson by getting vaccinated and by wearing masks in indoor public meetings until further notice. If so, despite my lackluster musical abilities, I look forward to once again energetically singing with them, ‘We thank thee, O God, for a prophet, to guide us in these latter days.”
This was so good! Thank you!