Sign of the Times

Well who could have guessed that we'd be prisoners in our own homes with no place to go? Yes, thanks to another scourge upon the earth called Coronavirus (COVID-19) as of Mid-March 2020 not only are local gatherings limited to 50 or less people in my county but all major events including professional sports has been canceled. Entire school districts have canceled school. What are working parents to do? We learned that Sunday church services are canceled at least for two Sundays beginning tomorrow and shortly after learned our temples will be closed except for live scheduled ordinances. General Conference will be televised only. Our local temple was closed for annual maintenance two weeks and now the opening is TBD. Lamb of God oratorio normally held over Easter is postponed until the end of June. I've been eating a well-balanced lunch at the local senior center off and on since July 2019 and it will be open to only give a lunch to go and we're not to stay and congregate. All other events and activities are canceled there. The library is still open thankfully and all other events and activities are canceled. I've long avoided handshakes but now it's highly recommended. Washing hands well for 20 seconds is also the norm. Wet hands, turn off water, wash well with soap at least 20 seconds. Election 2020 gatherings: canceled. The two Democratic candidates V.P Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders are no longer holding rallies. To think that baseball season is postponed is beyond belief. To my knowledge our county has the fewest allowed in a gathering: 50. The elderly with breathing and heart issues, etc. are dying when hit with the virus so visiting nursing homes is not allowed now. I did go to Kaiser yesterday for my monthly shots and no one checked me at the door for illness or fever but personnel wore face masks. My friend Kathy doesn't want to go out of her house, catch the virus and die. I don't want to die either. I want to live and know my seven beautiful grandchildren as they grow up, and serve in the temple. Some 2,740 temple ordinances have been completed over seven years since I started using familysearch.org. The Church becoming a home-centered, Church-supported Church is all the more evident. Sunday I'll be following Come Follow Me, Ensign, and Saints Vol 2. Some countries like Italy are on lock-down. Flights from Europe to the United States are banned for a month. It has now been labeled a global pandemic. Good luck to the human race.

As promised in our letter of March 11, 2020, we continue to monitor the changing conditions related to COVID-19 throughout the world. We have considered the counsel of local Church leaders, government officials and m~ Thank you ~