England Leeds Mission Update

Dear Family and Church Leaders,   (And missionaries). 

 

 

Tonight, we finally got some good, albeit, difficult news from the UK government. Britain’s Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has ordered intense restrictions on assembly and gatherings in England (see details below). This action will do much to keep England from following the path of other European countries.   

 

 

Given some of the nonchalant attitudes of some citizens, this step was required and is welcomed.  Had others taken the action our mission took a week and a half ago, the spread of the Covid 19 would have been dramatically slowed.  We are grateful for the guidance we have received from Church leaders and especially from the Spirit. 

 

 

All of our missionaries are safe and healthy, though they are a bit restless.  We are helping them to appreciate this time for in depth study, on-line service and personal growth. Your love and support is critical.   

 

 

There are 16 missionaries who have been training in the England MTC who will be joining the England Leeds Mission tomorrow.  The new elders and sisters will travel directly to their new homes.  Their companions are eager to welcome them. We have a very tight transition plan.  

 

 

Many of you are legitimately concerned about your missionary.  Be assured that their youth and health will serve them well, but more importantly, their obedience will bless them.  They are wonderfully independent and are learning that things don’t always go as planned.  We are all discovering that we can adapt and still flourish.  

 

 

We are praying that the sickness of the invisible virus will be stopped and that the power of the gospel can go forth with a new urgency.  We are patient.  We will wait upon the Lord, as we know that it is His work.  

 

 

The Book of Mormon teaches this simple truth:

 

 

And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things. (Jacob 5:72)

 

 

We know that we labor with the Savior.  This will pass, and we will be in place to teach those who will be willing to hear the voice of Heaven.  

 

 

Just one interesting story.  A senior couple who were allowed to stay and run the office stopped by the grocery store on Saturday night.  As it was closing time, the store manager got on the PA system and announced, “Shoppers it is only 15 minutes to closing time.  Tomorrow is Sunday. Maybe you should go to church”.  

 

 

The hearts of all people are turning to God.  We are blessed to be a part of this hastening of the work. 

 

 

Thanks for your love and support.  

 

 

President and Sister Green



 

NEW RULES ON STAYING AT HOME AND AWAY FROM OTHERS

 



The single most important action we can all take, in fighting coronavirus, is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives.

 



When we reduce our day-to-day contact with other people, we will reduce the spread of the infection. That is why the government is now (23 March 2020) introducing three new measures.

 



1. Requiring people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes

2. Closing non-essential shops and community spaces

3. Stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public

 



Every citizen must comply with these new measures. The relevant authorities, including the police, will be given the powers to enforce them – including through fines and dispersing gatherings.

These measures are effective immediately. The Government will look again at these measures in three weeks, and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible.

 



1. STAYING AT HOME

You should only leave the house for one of four reasons.

- Shopping for basic necessities​, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible.

- One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household.

- Any medical need​, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.1

- Travelling to and from work​, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.

These four reasons are exceptions - even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are 2 metres apart from anyone outside of your household.

These measures must be followed by everyone. Separate advice is available for individuals or households who are isolating​, and for the ​most vulnerable who need to be shielded​.

If you work in a critical sector outlined in this ​guidance​, or your child has been identified as vulnerable, you

can continue to take your children to school.

 

 

2. CLOSING NON-ESSENTIAL SHOPS AND PUBLIC SPACES

Last week, the Government ordered certain businesses - including pubs, cinemas and theatres - to close.

The Government is now extending this requirement to a further set of businesses and other venues, including:

- all non-essential retail stores - this will include clothing and electronics stores; hair, beauty and nail salons; and outdoor and indoor markets, excluding food markets.

- ​Where applicable, this includes moving children under 18 between their parents’ homes.

- libraries, community centres, and youth centres​.

- indoor and outdoor leisure facilities​ such as bowling alleys, arcades and soft play facilities.

- communal places within parks​, such as playgrounds, sports courts and outdoor gyms.

- places of worship, ​except for funerals attended by immediate families.

- hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, caravan parks, and boarding houses for commercial/leisure use (excluding permanent residents and key workers).

More detailed information can be found ​here​, including a full list of those businesses and other venues that must close. Businesses and other venues not on this list may remain open.

 

 

3. STOPPING PUBLIC GATHERINGS

To make sure people are staying at home and apart from each other, the Government is also ​stopping all

public gatherings of more than two people​. There are only two exceptions to this rule:

- where the gathering is of a group of people who live togethe​r - this means that a parent can, for example, take their children to the shops if there is no option to leave them at home.

- where the gathering is essential for work purposes - but workers should be trying to minimise all meetings and other gatherings in the workplace.

In addition, the Government is stopping social events, including weddings, baptisms and other religious ceremonies. This will exclude funerals, which can be attended by immediate family.

 

 

DELIVERING THESE NEW MEASURES

These measures will reduce our day to day contact with other people. They are a vital part of our efforts to reduce the rate of transmission of coronavirus.

Every citizen is instructed to comply with these new measures.

The Government will therefore be ensuring the police and other relevant authorities have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings where people do not comply.

They will initially last for the three weeks from 23 March, at which point the Government will look at them again and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible.