2020 The Crowning Virus

Shopping rushes here in Utah, where 80% of the population are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), are somewhat humorous. LDS prophets, dating back to when I joined the church in the ‘70s. have advised church members to have a year’s supply of essentials, including fuel where allowed. Yet, the stores here have been just as jammed as most places around the USA; jammed with anxious shoppers wondering how they can survive two weeks at home.

I wrote nearly ten years ago in an LDS church newsletter about just this situation, and how members might one day think it too dangerous to even go to a grocery store, or the post office.

As in all groups, some listened and many did not. This crowning virus scare has been for many a sudden taste of just a little of what wartime in the USA would be like, if Americans had to survive on what is available….including toilet paper.

“Face, Hands, Elbows, Feet (six feet apart)!” For some who would follow through in observing this admonition, soap was also essential, along with hand sanitizers, sanitizers for counter tops/door knobs/etc., along with staying home as much as possible, and staying out of groups of 10 or more.

All LDS meetings were postponed worldwide, and essential group meetings were urged to be done by computer when possible. The semi-annual April Conference was to be broadcast worldwide without being held in the Conference Center, or with any but small groups assembled.

One shopper I interviewed, said that her daughter had sent her shopping for some last minute essentials because some people with a U Haul and out-of-state license plates had cleaned out the daughter’s small town’s store!

Another shopper said she had gone early to a local box store and before the doors even opened, the line stretched around that warehouse store with people lined up to get in.

The manager at a local supermarket, said there was a similar line when he opened his doors at 6:30 AM.

Fear and uncertainty were prevalent; a lack of even basic preparedness was common.

The U.S. Government has at least six emergency warehouses stocked with medicines, respirators, and other national security supplies. Those are guarded and secret. So, many essential supplies were available, had the pandemic worsened.

Fortunately President Eisenhower and others in the years since have anticipated the needs. America's national security remains provided for.

This crowning virus, if I can be permitted to call it that, became a social mirror, one that allowed Americans, governments, and people around the world, to truly see themselves as they are today.

This threatening virus was likely to have been of major concern for a relatively brief period of time. So wise people looked quickly at their reflection, and weighed the true significance of the moment.

Worse things can still come, and have,

If nothing else, make sure you have enough toilet paper to last for a month or two, food, water, and medicines turned out to be very important, too.