In 1900 when Smallpox was the fearsome pandemic, vaccination was also the subject of strong public disagreement. At that time, President Snow had the below editorial published in the Deseret News. This item shows a consistency between that day and ours regarding this matter, though no one is ever forced to do anything. (At that time the Deseret News was considered the voice of the church, which it no longer is and hasn’t been for a while, although it is still a business entity owned by the Church). November 17, 1900, Deseret News editorial:
To the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Greeting:
The widespread feeling of fear and anxiety concerning the prevalence of smallpox in this city has caused us to advise that the Latter-day Saints college be closed for a short time, until the excitement is allayed concerning that institution of learning and others where people are in danger of exposure to this dread disease. We take this opportunity of suggesting to the people generally that they employ every precaution to prevent the spread of the contagion, by seeing to it that those who are or have been exposed exclude themselves strictly from public association with others, lest they be the means of communicating the disease. To the question of vaccination we have given careful thought and consideration; and our conclusion is that where care is taken as to cleanliness and purity of the vaccine matter, the treatment is beneficial, in that if it does not prove a preventative, it at least acts as a palliative, that is, it robs the plague of much of its terror by causing it to assume in the case of a vaccinated person, a lighter form. We are aware that there is a difference of opinion in the community as to the merits of this question; and, while we have regarded it largely as a matter of individual choice, we have felt reluctant to express ourselves publicly upon it. Now, however, we feel to publish the foregoing as our conclusion; and we therefore suggest and recommend that the people generally avail themselves of the opportunity to become vaccinated, using the utmost care to procure the services of those who are competent and will be conscientious in supplying only the purest virus that can be obtained. We feel in our minds justified in making this recommendation, and trust that it will be generally adopted. Signed: Lorenzo Snow and George Q. Cannon.
This reminds me that one of Heber C. Kimball's sons, Charles S. Kimball, was of the anti-vax camp at that time. They had been practicing Christian Scientists for a time, which may have contributed to their stance.
ReplyDelete"The worst case of smallpox that has been reported to the city board of health this year is that of Mrs. C. S. Kimball. She is 39 years of age and resides at 1163 Emerson avenue with her husband and five small children. Where the woman contracted the disease is not known. It is thought that she caught it from one of the many cases of that disease which flourished is Sugar ward some weeks ago. The mother refused to be vaccinated, as did also the husband. They would not permit their children to be vaccinated, either. The woman also refused to be removed to the isolation hospital, so accordingly their house was placed in quarantine. The health authorities expect the other members of the family to contract the disease in the due course of time." [The Salt Lake Herald (Salt Lake City, Utah) · Sat, Nov 28, 1903 · Page 8]
This is so interesting to see the statement from 1903. It's so respectfully written and so well-thought out. It could be used today. What I got from reading President Nelson's tweet about getting vaccinated was that he consulted his doctor and consulted God, and he felt like it was the right thing for him to do. That is a good example. Some may have received different answers for their unique physical conditions. And that the vaccines were a no go for them. And that's their right. My husband and I prayed about it and decided that the J&J vaccine was the right one for us.
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