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{{draft}} | {{draft}} | ||
− | ==Criticism== | + | =={{Criticism label}}== |
*Critics charge that the LDS Church penalizes members for "merely criticizing officialdom or for publishing truthful—if uncomfortable—information," and "shroud their procedures with secrecy." | *Critics charge that the LDS Church penalizes members for "merely criticizing officialdom or for publishing truthful—if uncomfortable—information," and "shroud their procedures with secrecy." | ||
*The LDS Church prosecutes "many more of its members" than other religious groups. | *The LDS Church prosecutes "many more of its members" than other religious groups. | ||
− | === | + | ==={{Criticism source label English}}=== |
*{{CriticalWork:Ostling:Mormon America|pages=354}} | *{{CriticalWork:Ostling:Mormon America|pages=354}} | ||
− | ==Response== | + | =={{Response label}}== |
===Purpose of Church discipline=== | ===Purpose of Church discipline=== | ||
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Individuals who have apostatized, however, sometimes use their excommunication as a means to gain publicity. They may have their own reasoning as to why they were ''really'' excommunicated, and this is what they communicate to the media. Since the Church remains silent on the real reason for the excommunication, the subject of the proceeding may spin the story any way that suits their purposes. Some excommunications have even been used to generate publicity in order to sell items such as books (or in one case, a calendar). {{ref|midgley1}} {{ref|wallst1}} | Individuals who have apostatized, however, sometimes use their excommunication as a means to gain publicity. They may have their own reasoning as to why they were ''really'' excommunicated, and this is what they communicate to the media. Since the Church remains silent on the real reason for the excommunication, the subject of the proceeding may spin the story any way that suits their purposes. Some excommunications have even been used to generate publicity in order to sell items such as books (or in one case, a calendar). {{ref|midgley1}} {{ref|wallst1}} | ||
− | ==Conclusion== | + | =={{Conclusion label}}== |
The purpose of excommunication is not to simply purge people from the Church. The purpose is to provide the individual with a chance to start over. Elder Ballard states: | The purpose of excommunication is not to simply purge people from the Church. The purpose is to provide the individual with a chance to start over. Elder Ballard states: | ||
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#{{note|ballard4}}{{Ensign1 | author=M. Russell Ballard| article=A Chance to Start Over: Church Disciplinary Councils and the Restoration of Blessings|date=September 1990|start=12|}} {{link|url=http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=edc72150a447b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1}} | #{{note|ballard4}}{{Ensign1 | author=M. Russell Ballard| article=A Chance to Start Over: Church Disciplinary Councils and the Restoration of Blessings|date=September 1990|start=12|}} {{link|url=http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=edc72150a447b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1}} | ||
− | ==Further reading== | + | =={{Further reading label}}== |
− | ===FAIR wiki articles=== | + | ==={{FAIR wiki articles label}}=== |
− | ===FAIR web site=== | + | ==={{FAIR web site label}}=== |
− | ===External links=== | + | ==={{External links label}}=== |
* {{Ensign1|author=M. Russell Ballard|article=A Chance to Start Over: Church Disciplinary Councils and the Restoration of Blessings|date=September 1990|start=12}} {{link|url=http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=edc72150a447b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1}} | * {{Ensign1|author=M. Russell Ballard|article=A Chance to Start Over: Church Disciplinary Councils and the Restoration of Blessings|date=September 1990|start=12}} {{link|url=http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=edc72150a447b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1}} | ||
* {{Ensign1|author=James E. Faust|article=Keeping Covenants and Honoring the Priesthood|date=November 1993|start=36}} {{link|url=http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=248a425e0848b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD}} | * {{Ensign1|author=James E. Faust|article=Keeping Covenants and Honoring the Priesthood|date=November 1993|start=36}} {{link|url=http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=248a425e0848b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD}} | ||
* {{Ensign1|author=Dallin H. Oaks|article=Sin and Suffering|date=July 1992|start=70}} {{link|url=http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=f47594bf3938b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD}} | * {{Ensign1|author=Dallin H. Oaks|article=Sin and Suffering|date=July 1992|start=70}} {{link|url=http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=f47594bf3938b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD}} | ||
− | ===Printed material=== | + | ==={{Printed material label}}=== |
[[fr:Church discipline]] | [[fr:Church discipline]] |
This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
==
==
Church discipline has three purposes:
The term "court of love" was used in a general conference talk by Elder Elder Robert L. Simpson in 1972. [1] At that time, disciplinary councils were referred to as "priesthood courts." The purpose of these courts was not to convict someone of a crime, but rather to help the person on the road to repentance and bring them back into full fellowship in the Church. Elder Simpson noted:
Priesthood courts of the Church are not courts of retribution. They are courts of love. Oh, that members of the Church could understand this fact.
The phrase "court of love" has become a favorite phrase of ex-Mormon critics as a way to mockingly describe any Church disciplinary council. The term is rarely used among active Latter-day Saints. The term has even made it into popular media: One example is a reference made by a character in HBO series to a pending disciplinary proceeding that she (quite seriously) referred to as a "love court."
Leaders of the Church have various options for discipline. Bishops or stake presidents impose Church discipline, and do so after discussing the matter with the member, hearing from other witnesses (if any), and after prayerful consideration.
From most to least severe, disciplinary options include:
The last two penalties may be imposed by a bishop privately upon a member. The first two penalties require a formal "Church disciplinary hearing," held by either the bishop and his two councilors, or by the stake presidency and stake high council.
The goal in every case of Church discipline is to have the member's altered status be temporary; the goal is to encourage them to reform and return to full activity and participation in the life of the Church.
Church discipline cannot impose any financial or legal penalties (see DC 134꞉10-12).
The remainder of this article will focus solely on disfellowshipment and excommunication.
Why might a member of the Church be subject to Church discipline?
Elder M. Russell Ballard notes:
The purpose is threefold: [1] to save the soul of the transgressor, [2] to protect the innocent, and [3] to safeguard the Church’s purity, integrity, and good name.[2]
Elder Ballard:
President Gordon B. Hinckley on Larry King Live:
Generally, most Church discipline falls into two broad categories:
Serious moral sins which could result in a Church disciplinary hearing include committing various felonies, such as: murder, rape, sexual abuse, theft, or fraud. Other acts considered to be serious sins by the Church include: adultery, fornication, homosexual acts, and submitting to, encouraging, or performing an abortion except in cases where competent medical authority has determined that the mother and/or fetus' life is in serious jeopardy by a continued pregnancy.
Other acts contrary to Church teachings that would not result in excommunication or disfellowshipment include failure to pay tithing, failure to attend meetings, failure to observe the Word of Wisdom, failure to attend the temple.
The Church understands apostasy to be the repeated public teaching of ideas contrary to the doctrines, principles, or ideals of the Church. Those who are "apostate" continue to teach or preach their ideas even after being cautioned by their Church leaders.
Apostasy is the act of trying to persuade or mislead others; it is not the fact that one disagrees with Church actions, policies, or leaders. As President George Q. Cannon explained:
Elder Ballard:
Paul, who had suffered much, observed in his epistle to the Hebrews: "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Hebrews 12:11.) [7]
The Church does not usually publicize the reason for one's excommunication. This is done in order to protect the privacy of the individual, and give them a chance to rectify issues so that they can eventually come back into full fellowship. The purpose of excommunication is not to humiliate the individual in a public forum. Those who sincerely want to return to the Church are given the chance to do so without having to endure public scrutiny of their past sins.
Individuals who have apostatized, however, sometimes use their excommunication as a means to gain publicity. They may have their own reasoning as to why they were really excommunicated, and this is what they communicate to the media. Since the Church remains silent on the real reason for the excommunication, the subject of the proceeding may spin the story any way that suits their purposes. Some excommunications have even been used to generate publicity in order to sell items such as books (or in one case, a calendar). [8] [9]
====
The purpose of excommunication is not to simply purge people from the Church. The purpose is to provide the individual with a chance to start over. Elder Ballard states:
When members need to have certain blessings withheld, the Lord’s object is to teach as well as to discipline. So probation, disfellowshipment, and excommunication, when they become necessary, are ideally accompanied by eventual reinstatement and restoration of blessings.
I remember as a child occasionally coming unkempt to the dinner table. My mother wisely sent me to clean up and then return. My parents would have been pained if I had taken offense and had run off—and I would have been foolish to do so. In the same way, the servants of the Lord occasionally find that they must, in loving concern, send some of Heavenly Father’s children out the door so they can return clean once again. The Lord does not want us to “miss supper.” In fact, he has a great feast prepared for those who return clean and pure through the door. He is greatly saddened when anyone decides they prefer to be unclean and miss the meal, or when they find an excuse to take offense, or when they run away. He is pleased to extend the chance to start over.
I’ve known a few rebellious people who disregard the commandments and are influenced by the evil one or by other rebellious people to transgress God’s laws. I’ve seen their distress and pain. I’ve also seen their joy when, humbled and fully repentant, they have returned to the Church and have had all their blessings restored. [10]
Although excommunication does not always result in the individual returning to the Church, the hope that this will happen is indeed the desired outcome.
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