Pres. Eyring announces Tabernacle Choir members vaccinated, tested for COVID ahead of General Conference
Oct 2, 2021, 10:33 AM | Updated: 10:57 am
SALT LAKE CITY — In the Saturday morning session of 191st Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in The First Presidency, announced all members of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square have been vaccinated.
“All participating have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and were recently tested,” President Eyring said of Saturday’s choir.
Saturday morning’s session is the first time the choir has performed live for general conference since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020.
“We note the reduced number of choir members, in order to provide a measure of social distancing,” President Eyring also said. “Safe medical practices were also followed at rehearsals.”
In August, the First Presidency issued a statement urging Church members to get vaccinated and wear face coverings as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surged across the U.S. and globe.
The First Presidency, members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and most of their spouses received their first doses of the vaccine in January.
The Church has also encouraged missionaries and prospective missionaries to get vaccinated.
“In word and deed, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has supported vaccinations for generations,” according to a January statement from The First Presidency. “As a prominent component of our humanitarian efforts, the Church has funded, distributed and administered life-saving vaccines throughout the world. Vaccinations have helped curb or eliminate devastating communicable diseases, such as polio, diphtheria, tetanus, smallpox and measles. Vaccinations administered by competent medical professionals protect health and preserve life.”
