It has been more than a year since regular church meetings were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us have been eager to return to regular meetings, and some have been anxious about the prospect of returning. It has been tricky determining how and when to hold meetings during a public health crisis that affects some more than others. But, as infection rates in Utah continue to decrease and vaccination rates increase, we feel ready to take a step closer to “normal” Sunday meetings.

On May 23^rd, 2021, all members of the Geneva Heights 12^th Ward are invited to attend in-person meetings for sacrament meeting and class, quorum, and Sunday School meetings. As we do so, your health and safety remain priorities to ward, stake, and area leadership. Please review the following details about protocols and plans for our meetings going forward.

Relief Society, Elders Quorum, Young Womens, Young Mens, and Sunday School Classes

Second hour meetings for all organizations and Sunday School classes will resume in-person instruction. Due to internet bandwidth limitations in our meetinghouse, these classes and meetings will no longer be broadcast as of the 23^rd.

To avoid congestion in hallways and foyer areas with respect to our members and members of the other wards that meet in the building, second hour classes will dismiss 45 minutes after the hour (10:45am). Members are encouraged to directly retrieve their children from their Primary classes and not to linger or visit indoors—particularly in hallways and foyer areas—but to visit outside the building, if desired.

To help maintain as healthy an environment as possible in these second-hour classes or meetings, the following protocols will be implemented:

• To the degree possible, chairs will be spread out to accommodate distancing in classroom spaces while enabling in-person attendance of all who wish to participate.
• Members are encouraged to wear masks, especially where optimal social distancing is not possible in classrooms and hallways.
• Hand sanitizer will be available in all classrooms and in foyer areas for use by all members.
• Members should remain home if there is any sickness in their household or if there has been known exposure to COVID-19 of individuals without antibodies (whether from full vaccination or previous, verified contraction of COVID-19).

Organization leaders may communicate additional details specific to their meetings or classes as necessary.

Primary

It has been a long time since our children have been able to gather in their Primary classes. Throughout the pandemic, our Primary leaders and teachers have dedicatedly provided video lessons to complement in-home Gospel instruction which has been so appreciated! We are grateful to the service provided by these good members on behalf of children and families in our ward. Now we are excited to welcome your children back to Primary beginning May 23^rd. As with all 2^nd hour classes at this time, Primary will last 45 minutes. The adjusted schedule will be as follows:

Time	Junior Primary	Senior Primary
10:00 – 10:20	Sharing Time (Primary Room)	Classes (in assigned classrooms)
10:20 – 10:25	Passing Time	Passing Time
10:25 – 10:45	Classes (in assigned classrooms)	Sharing Time (Primary Room)

You will receive additional information in the coming weeks confirming which class your child is currently assigned to, who their teachers are, and to which room their class is assigned.

Since children are currently unable to be vaccinated and not all teachers can or will be fully vaccinated by the time we resume in-person classes, we strongly recommend the following precautions:

• All children and Primary teachers should wear masks—especially in classrooms and in the Primary room where social distancing is difficult to maintain.
• Hand sanitizer will be available in each classroom. All children and teachers are encouraged to use hand sanitizer at the beginning and end of their instruction period, and during class as necessary.
• Members and children should remain home if there is any sickness in their household or if there has been known exposure to COVID-19 of individuals without antibodies (whether from full vaccination or previous, verified contraction of COVID-19).

Upon the return to in-person Primary classes, Primary leaders and teachers will no longer be posting video-based lessons; though teachers may provide class materials or other outreach to those children who are unable to attend primary for extended periods of time.

Nursery

We understand that it would be difficult, or even impossible, for many families in the ward to participate in second-hour classes and meetings without a nursery. We also recognize that even in pre-pandemic times, the nursery was often a breeding ground for sicknesses. We are aware of the special challenges that come with hosting a nursery during the pandemic recovery phase. That said, we are committed to hosting a nursery when we resume in-person second-hour meetings on May 23^rd. Look for more information to come in the following weeks about how the nursery will be administered in a safe and uplifting way.

Sacrament Meeting

The agendas for our Sacrament Meetings will remain largely unchanged at this time as we will continue to broadcast our meetings; however, as of May 23^rd access to the broadcasts will be made available only to those who request a link from a web form which will be posted to our ward website. Links to the broadcasts will no longer be posted publicly. (Please note: we will not place any requirements on obtaining a link to the broadcast other than asking members to request access.) The meeting will conclude 5 minutes early (9:55am) to permit teachers and leaders to prepare instructional areas before class members arrive. Parents are asked to remain in the chapel/overflow areas with their children until the general membership is dismissed for classes.

The distancing currently implemented in the chapel and overflow areas will continue to be maintained during this first phase of returning fully to in-person meetings. The Sacrament will continue to be administered using the core precautionary measures previously implemented.

As currently directed, members must still obtain specific permission from Bishop Kenworthy to administer the Sacrament in their homes. Usually permission is granted only to those with exceptional circumstances that prevent them from attending in-person meetings for an extended period of time.

Weekday Activities and Meetings

In addition to Sunday meetings, we are expanding support for in-person weekday activities—particularly for the Young Women, Young Men, and Primary Activities. The Relief Society and Elders Quorum may also plan and support in-person weekday activities, too. At this time in-person activities are not only approved but encouraged immediately (if such activities had not already been held in-person prior to this announcement). Organization leaders will ensure that all activities are held with proper health and safety protocols in place. Since each activity may be held in different locations or require specific measures based on the nature of the activity, leaders will outline the activity-specific health protocols each participant will be asked to adhere to in their communications.

Our ward has been assigned the use of the meetinghouse for all ward activities on Thursdays. Since most of our organizations have been holding activities on Wednesdays to-date, each organization will determine where and when they will hold their weekday activities given the current guidance. While we want to ensure that parents can plan on a consistent day and time of the week that their children or youth could expect to attend activities, there may be need for occasional adjustments in order to use the building. Some organizations may elect to change their meeting night entirely to Thursday to take advantage of the building availability. Please look for additional details from activity leaders in the coming weeks.

Concerning High-Risk Individuals

While the majority of our members A) are not considered high-risk for severe COVID-19 complications, B) are already fully vaccinated, or C) have already contracted COVID-19 and presumably have developed the associated antibodies, there are some in the ward who remain at risk. Though we plan to resume in-person meetings, we will continue to make the following accommodations for those who must avoid large gatherings for the sake of their health:

• As described above, Sacrament Meetings will continue to be broadcasted, though access links must be requested in advance of the meeting.
• Members remain strongly encouraged to wear masks and observe social distancing while in the ward meetinghouse per state and local guidelines.
• Each organization presidency will enact plans for individual outreach and ministering to those who are unable to attend in-person meetings for an extended period of time.