“Understanding
of Love”
cji
11/02/14
Coming
forth on the Sabbath Day
partaking
of the Sacrament pure
accepting
the Atonement fully
knowing
Jesus Christ died for us
understanding
of such deep love
makes us
accountable for our self
keeping
the covenants made by us
knowing
that if we choose not to
there
are ramifications of choice
hearing
and feeling the Lord’s voice
there
will be much we’ve to do
nothing
is without resolution thus
God
cannot abide sin and/or pelf
allowing
us an understanding of love
actualizing
our being with God thus
accepting
the Atonement fully
making
our calling/election sure
in Sacrament
each Sabbath Day!
Copyright © 2014 – cji
Having received multiple inquiries about
yesterday’s sending I thought it best if I went to the official position of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the subject of Discipline which
is widely misunderstood by both the general public and members of the Church.
Church Discipline
What is Church
discipline?
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints believe that men and women are placed on earth to learn, grow and become
better by following Jesus Christ. In the Church, this process is described as
“eternal progression.” Central to that process is freedom of choice, which
shapes who we are. Inevitably, as we make choices, we also make mistakes. Most
of life’s mistakes are easily overcome through simple, sincere repentance, a
process common to nearly all religious people.
In rare instances, we may commit serious transgressions
that jeopardize our progress. Church discipline — restrictions and conditions
of repentance that prompt a person to reevaluate their situation and return to
full fellowship and activity — is a process designed to help us overcome sin in
these instances.
For all sins, large and small, it is the sacrifice and
suffering, mercy and grace — or Atonement
— of Jesus Christ that makes repentance possible. Church discipline is designed
to help an individual more fully apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ, be
cleansed of their sins and move forward in their eternal progression.
The term “discipline” is an important one, especially in
this religious context. It shares the same Latin root as the word “disciple,”
meaning a true follower. Learning to discipline ourselves is what makes us
better people. Any athlete, artist, scholar or musician would acknowledge that
discipline is the key to improvement. And so it is with our spiritual progression
as well. Christ Himself taught repeatedly that we need to be disciplined in our
thoughts, words and deeds. Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ requires
self-discipline.
The purpose of any counseling or discipline in the Church
is to help the individual to obtain the peace and hope provided by Christ’s
Atonement. It should not be confused with punishment.
Church discipline is administered at a local level by
those who know the circumstances and the individual best and who can be at his
or her side throughout the repentance process.
What are the
purposes of Church discipline?
The purpose of Church discipline is not to punish but to
facilitate full repentance and fellowship for a person who has made serious
mistakes.
Written instructions for lay Church leaders outline three
purposes for Church discipline:
To help the
individual repent and return
Repentance brings peace when we place
our lives in harmony with the teachings of Jesus Christ. Church discipline is a
process that helps the individual feel that change of heart and change of
behavior necessary to bring full forgiveness and peace. Someone who has
fulfilled the requirements of Church discipline can be completely forgiven and
return to full participation in the Church.
To protect
the innocent
When someone poses a physical threat to
others or a spiritual threat to other members, Church discipline is conducted
to provide protection to potential victims. This includes predatory practices,
physical harm, abuse, fraud and apostasy
(see below).
To protect
the integrity of the Church
The Church teaches its members to
follow the example of Jesus Christ in leading moral, faith-centered lives.
Anyone who does not meet these standards and significantly harms the integrity
of the Church by their actions may face Church discipline.
Why would someone be
disciplined by the Church?
Church discipline, because it is part of the repentance
process, is most often initiated when an individual comes to their local
ecclesiastical leader to confess a significant sin and seek help in repenting.
Their leader would counsel with them on how to resist and overcome temptation
and the steps required for full repentance. Depending on the seriousness of the
transgression, this kind of counseling may prove sufficient to guide the Church
member back on the path they seek.
Church disciplinary councils are not legal proceedings
and are not held to legally try civil or criminal cases, nor are they meant to
address things such as failure to attend church regularly, to obey the Church’s
code of health or to fulfill Church responsibilities or to settle
disputes among members. Disciplinary councils are not used for members who want
their names removed from Church records or who have joined another church.
Those issues are handled through a simple administrative process.
Church discipline may be required for someone guilty of
serious criminal offenses. It is also used to address apostasy — the repeated,
clear and open public opposition to the Church, its leaders and its doctrine.
If someone seeks to teach as doctrine something that is contrary to the
Church’s beliefs, attempts to persuade other Church members to their point of
view or publicly insists the Church change its doctrine to align with their
personal views, they would be counseled by a local Church leader and asked to
cease that practice. If they fail to do so, Church discipline may follow. This
also applies to an individual who subscribes to the teachings of apostate
groups that engage in practices contrary to Church doctrine, such as polygamy.
In addition, other serious sin may require Church
discipline. The Church has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind, including
child abuse, spousal abuse, sexual abuse or child pornography, and anyone
engaged in these practices would rightly face both criminal prosecution and Church
discipline. Criminal activities, including fraud, robbery, burglary, the sale
of illegal drugs or the abandonment of family responsibilities, also warrant
Church discipline. And serious personal sin, including abortion or sexual sin,
may require disciplinary action as part of the repentance process.
What happens at a
Church disciplinary council?
Before Church discipline is ever considered, a local
leader will meet with the individual — often many times — to discuss the nature
of the behavior in question and to help them prepare to overcome their
challenges. If the local leader feels that Church discipline is a necessary
step, he will discuss that with the individual and notify them that a
disciplinary council will be held.
The large majority of disciplinary councils occur at the ward, or
local congregational level. For these councils, a bishop and
his two counselors
invite the individual into a private meeting that begins with prayer. The
person is invited to participate in a discussion where the bishop and the
individual describe the behavior and any steps that have been taken to repent.
There is opportunity for questions and discussion, and the individual may ask
that others give testimony on his or her behalf.
Following that discussion, the bishop and his two
counselors meet privately to pray, deliberate, consider Church policies and
doctrines and counsel together about the possible outcomes. They take into
consideration many factors, including whether the member has broken marriage
covenants; whether a position of responsibility or trust has been abused; the
repetition or seriousness of the transgression; the age, maturity and
understanding of the individual; the degree of the individual’s understanding
and evidence of repentance; and the interests of victims or family members. As
the conclusion of this discussion, the bishop proposes a course of action,
which must be ratified by his counselors.
At this point, the individual is invited back into the
room, where the decision is presented and instructions are given about the
timeframe, restrictions and conditions associated with the repentance process.
Those who have participated in disciplinary councils
often describe them as some of the most significant, spiritual experiences of
their lives. Deep feelings of love, sorrow, hope and gratitude for the
Atonement of Christ are prevalent in these proceedings. The individual seeking
reconciliation is supported and encouraged in every way to meet the conditions
of repentance and to look forward to a full restoration of his or her
membership.
A similar process may be conducted at a stake level
by a stake
president, his counselors and members of the stake high
council. Stake disciplinary councils are required for men who hold
the higher levels of the priesthood or Church leadership positions of
significance and whose Church membership may possibly be ended through the
proceedings.
What are the
possible decisions of a disciplinary council?
The outcome of a disciplinary council is greatly
influenced by the outlook and understanding of the individual. Someone who is
repentant and contrite, as the scriptures describe, is likely to recognize that
the discipline may be necessary and will welcome any action that will help them
overcome their mistakes. An individual who is defiant, unrepentant and
contentious will face a longer road back. The Church is always eager to welcome
back any person who sincerely repents.
In counseling with an individual, a Church leader may
determine that no formal discipline is required. He may conclude that temporary
restrictions on Church participation (including partaking of the sacrament —
or communion — holding a Church responsibility, or participation in temple worship)
may be all that is necessary. This is sometimes referred to as informal Church
probation.
If a disciplinary council is held, there are four
possible outcomes:
No action
The council may determine there is no
need for any further action and that the individual should continue to work
with their local Church leader to overcome their challenges.
Formal
probation
Formal probation is a temporary state
of discipline where the member may be asked to refrain from taking the
sacrament, holding Church positions, participating in meetings or engaging in
temple worship. During this probationary period, the individual meets
frequently with their ecclesiastical leader to help encourage progress toward
repentance.
Disfellowshipment
Like formal probation, disfellowshipment
is usually temporary, though the timeframe may be longer and is generally at
least a year. Someone who has been disfellowshipped is still a member of the
Church, and they are encouraged to attend meetings, though they are not
permitted to pray, teach, take the sacrament, attend the temple or give sermons
in public settings. Men are not able to perform priesthood
duties.
Loss of
membership (excommunication)
The most serious sanction the
disciplinary council may prescribe is a loss of Church membership. This is a
course of last resort and is only taken when less serious disciplinary measures
are insufficient. Those who have lost their Church membership may continue to
attend public Church meetings, though they are restricted in their
participation in the same way as someone who has been disfellowshipped.
Additionally, they would not be permitted to pay tithes to
the Church. Though they are no longer a Church member, their local leader may
offer continued counsel and guidance.
If a person shows sincere and full
repentance and wishes to return to the Church, they will be welcomed. Rebaptism
is necessary in such cases.
What if someone
disagrees with the decision?
If there is dissatisfaction with the process or outcome
of a disciplinary council, decisions made at a ward level are appealed to the
stake, and decisions at a stake level may be appealed to the First
Presidency of the Church. Such appeals are uncommon.
What happens
following Church discipline?
Church discipline is not designed to be the end of the
process, but the beginning of the road back to full fellowship. Depending on
the severity of the sin and the resulting decision of the disciplinary council,
the discipline may last from a few weeks or months to a period of years. The
length is determined by the progress of the individual.
When someone has received Church discipline, their local
Church leaders meet with them frequently and in confidence to provide
encouragement and counsel on their repentance process. During that time, the
leader will help them avoid repeating their offense and encourage them to seek
personal forgiveness through the Atonement, make restitution for their mistakes
and focus on completing any steps outlined for them at the time of the
disciplinary council.
Church discipline is ended when another council is convened
and concludes that the progress of the individual warrants a return to full
fellowship.
Will the discipline
remain part of their Church record?
For most disciplinary actions, no record of the
discipline is retained once the person has been restored to full fellowship.
Following restoration after loss of membership, a new membership record is
created with the original dates of baptism and other ordinances, with no record
of the loss of membership.
In some cases, including domestic abuse, incest, sexual
or physical abuse of a child, plural marriage, predatory activities or
embezzlement of Church funds, a permanent annotation remains on the record of
the individual to ensure they are never again in a position to harm another.
What details are
shared about the discipline?
All Church discipline is carried out in complete
confidence. Church leaders have a solemn responsibility to keep confidential
all information they receive in confessions and interviews. To protect that
confidence, the Church will not discuss the proceedings of a disciplinary
council. A confidential record of the proceedings is kept by a clerk, but even
if an individual decides to publicly share information about the process and
seeks to position that process in their own light, the Church will be
circumspect in any public statement. In rare cases, the decision of a
disciplinary council may be shared publicly to prevent others from being harmed
through misinformation.
Conclusion
God loves all His children and wants them to feel the
peace and restoration that come from the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Discipline at any level, from personal repentance and self-discipline to formal
discipline in a Church setting, is intended to make us better, to help us
overcome weakness and sin and to lift us as we seek to become true followers of
Jesus Christ.
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