Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Photo: Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints urged members at a conference on Saturday to take precautions when it comes to COVID-19 and thanked those who have followed church guidance, which includes getting vaccinated, the Associated Press reports.
Why it matters: The Mormon Church, one of the largest Christian denominations in the U.S., has faced internal division among its 16 million members worldwide over pandemic guidelines.
The big picture: Church President Russell M. Nelson said Saturday that the world is "still dealing with the ravages of COVID-19 and its variants.”
- “One of the plagues of our day is that too few people know where to turn for truth," Nelson said, per AP. "I can assure you that what you will hear today and tomorrow constitutes pure truth."
- The church's twice annual conference is taking place without full attendance due to the coronavirus, but several hundred people returned Saturday to watch in person.
- In Utah, where the church is headquartered, roughly 65% of residents ages 12 and older have been fully vaccinated as of Saturday, according to state data.