In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 14 President Russell M. Nelson shared a message of hope and direction to individuals worldwide after the March 12 worldwide suspension of church meetings.
He said, “After prayerful consideration and with our deepest desire to be part of the solution to this challenge, we have recently made temporary adjustments to the way we worship and serve the Lord. ... Temporary changes in our normal routine may allow additional time to experience how precious home-centered gospel study can be.”
To heed the Prophet’s counsel, Church members worldwide transitioned to Sunday services at home. BYU–Hawaii students said this transition was both a blessing and a unique experience, adding they will remember it for the rest of their lives.
Ema and Conway Kaka, both BYUH alumni, said they found the transition to at-home church to be a positive experience. Conway Kaka said, “We actually love it. Obviously, we feel that it was inspired. It’s been a good thing for our family.”
The couple recalled their first sacrament meeting at home with their extended family members.
Ema Kaka noted, “We were singing ‘Love at Home,’ and I looked around the room and thought how grateful I was that we got to have church together as a family and to have worthy priesthood holders carry out the sacrament.”
Conway Kaka added, “It was a very memorable experience to conduct that sacred ordinance in our house. It’s a reminder that next to the temple, the holiest place is your home. I really felt and feel that every Sunday.”
Both Ema and Conway Kaka said having church at home affected their daily decisions and interactions. Conway Kaka said they are more focused on keeping the spirit in their home because it is also where they take the sacrament.
“I’d never think about having an argument in the sacrament room at church. It’s brought a new spirit and dynamic into our home for sure.”
Ema Kaka said having the “Come, Follow Me” manual as a guide was a blessing, and it deepened her love for the gospel and brought her family closer together.
She said, “They were very specific with what they wanted us to be teaching and learning in our homes. We’ve been very intentional about how we study the ‘Come, Follow Me’ manual both individually and as a family. It makes everything more unified.”
Siosilina “Lina” Polaapau, a junior from Tonga studying biology, said she had a unique experience living in the hales.
During the pandemic her ward shrunk and because of the small number of students, they have continued to meet every Sunday at the Stake Center for sacrament.
“There are only three girls left in our ward, so it’s just us and the bishopric. The boys do their own since they can administer the sacrament,” she said.
Since they are required to wear masks, Polaapau described how they are able to reflect on the hymns’ words instead of singing them.
Polaapau said she misses listening to her fellow ward members’ testimonies but said the “Come, Follow Me” manual helped her study the gospel more deeply.
“The ‘Come, Follow Me’ manual is a very helpful resource, especially during these difficult times. Each of us has the opportunity to feed ourselves spiritually and become fully converted into Christ’s gospel.”
Gerome Romero, a freshman from the Philippines studying biochemistry, shared his experience preparing the sacrament in the hales. Romero said when the lockdown began, the bishopric told them to prepare the sacrament on their own in their hale units.
Romero said this worked fine at first. “However, my unit mates started to return to their respective countries little by little. There was a time where I was the only remaining student in my unit. Thus, I needed to perform the sacrament on my own.”
Romero said blessing and serving the sacrament was difficult at times, but because of the help and support of the other students in the hale “every Sunday has become such a delight.”
Romero and his friends decided to meet together every week and found that their unified study of “Come, Follow Me” bound them together.
He shared, “Having these gatherings has helped us stay on track with the gospel and grow spiritually during this time of turmoil.”
President Nelson said, “I promise you that joy is always in the reach of everyone who will hear him and obey his laws. ... I love you, I pray for you and I promise that you will receive comfort and peace as you continue to hear Him.”