Additionally, they explain the role of bishops and stake presidents in helping with repentance. Information may also come from a family member, another Church leader, a victim, or a participant in the sin. It is expected that the entire handbook will be updated by the end of 2021. Developing a broken heart and a contrite spirit is aided by confession (2Nephi 2:7). In some countries, the Church has established a confidential abuse help line to assist bishops and stake presidents. This handbook has been prepared for use by general and local Church leaders to administer the affairs of the Church. If the person invited the ward Relief Society president or the elders quorum president to be present and provide support, she or he is also welcomed into the room. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. When assisting members with repentance, bishops and stake presidents are loving and caring. There is a spectrum of severity in abusive behavior. A previously endowed person is eligible to receive a restoration of blessings only with First Presidency approval and after at least one full year from readmission (see 32.17.2). If the member confirms the misconduct, the bishop or stake president proceeds to number5 below. A persons circumstances are an important consideration in determining: The appropriate setting for helping him or her repent of serious sins (see 32.5 and 32.6). The stake president decides if a council should be held to address the conduct. Sometimes a person has admitted to or has been convicted of a crime. Missionary Recommendations and Service, 25. However, only the stake president decides if a council should be held to address the conduct. If it is being held for a family member of one of the stake presidents counselors, the stake president assigns another high priest to take the counselors place. These actions are accompanied by conditions of repentance. Church leaders do not have authority to initiate contact with victims who are not members of the Church. When we exercise faith unto repentance, Heavenly Father forgives us, granting mercy through the Atonement of Jesus Christ (Alma 34:15; see also Alma 42:13). They also consider the following factors: The severity of the sin and Church policy about whether a council is required (see 32.6). The stake president reports one of the following in Leader and Clerk Resources: That he counseled with the Area Presidency and determined a membership council was not necessary. General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1. Members of the high council do not normally participate in stake membership councils. May not wear the temple garment or receive any kind of temple recommend until their blessings are restored. See 32.6.3.3 if a member was involved in embezzlement of Church funds or property. The First Presidency has final authority over all Church membership restrictions and withdrawal. Over time, it will be translated and published in an additional 51 languages. If approval from the First Presidency is necessary, he explains that the decision is a recommendation to the First Presidency. When a mission president holds a membership council, he appoints two Melchizedek Priesthood holders to assist him. In connection with this, content from the Mormon and Gay website has moved to the Life Help section of ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Bishops and stake presidents are loving and caring as they help members repent. v The bishop and his counselors help prospec-tive full-time missionaries, including sisters and couples, prepare to serve missions. The Savior taught the Nephites: Ye shall not cast him out of your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them (3Nephi 18:32). Interviews and Other Meetings with Members, 32. Must give approval before a ward membership councils recommendation to withdraw an unendowed persons membership is final. When a membership council is necessary for a person who had received the temple endowment, the stake president holds it. Worldwide - English at Church headquarters. A membership council is required if a member is convicted of sexual assault. Immediately after baptism and confirmation, may have the priesthood conferred on them and be ordained to the priesthood office they held when their Church membership was withdrawn or resigned. For those who have committed especially severe sins. Those who have had their Church membership withdrawn almost always need to show genuine repentance for at least one year before they can be considered for readmission. $3.00 - $3.20. The stake president must counsel with the Area Presidency on the matters outlined in 32.6.3. They wait in a separate room until they are asked to speak. The same duty of confidentiality applies to all who take part in membership councils. In a ward, the bishops counselors assist in membership councils. Mormon Church Handbook of Instructions, full, 2006. Publicly contradicting the actions or teachings of general or local Church leaders. Sharing the Gospel and Strengthening New and Returning Members, 24. If a council is held, the stake president or bishop decides the outcome. In some cases it may also be appropriate to delay a membership council until the period of legal appeal has expired or the appeal has been rejected. Keeps written notes of the council only for as long as is necessary to submit the Report of Church Membership Council form. 8General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Not sure who or why, but you can download a full scan of the Church Handbook of Instructions - 2010 version here: http://martinluther537.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/2010-church-handbook-of-instructions-book-1a.pdf http://martinluther537.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/2010-church-handbook-of-instructions-book-2a.pdf In other languages, Handbook 1 and Handbook 2 should continue to be used until the new General Handbook is available. This information may come in interviews, counseling, and confessions. A stake membership council must be held in those situations. They are also encouraged to pay tithes and offerings. It includes the following information: The [bishopric or stake presidency] is holding a membership council in your behalf. Only the stake president decides if a council should be held or its outcome. If a member has confessed, the leader explains that the confession will need to be used in the membership council. The Lord knows each persons circumstances, capacity, and spiritual maturity. Repentance requires that sins be confessed to Heavenly Father. Nor may they serve in a Church calling. The new General Handbook replaces Handbook 1: Stake Presidents and Bishops and Handbook 2: Administering the Church with a single volume. Any communication with a victim for this purpose is made by his or her current bishop or stake president. The leader may gather additional information if needed. It increases the likelihood of a membership council being necessary. In personal counseling, leaders can also give informal membership restrictions to help a member repent of some serious sins (see 32.8.3). They also delete or destroy the information when they no longer need it. They also minister to other family members. Personal counseling is often sufficient to help protect others and help a person access the redeeming power of Jesus Christs Atonement through repentance. The purpose of confession is to encourage members to unburden themselves so they can fully seek the Lords help in changing and healing. They are not presented for sustaining. A person who appeals a decision specifies in writing the alleged errors or unfairness in the procedure or decision. Civil authorities might challenge the confidentiality required of a priesthood leader. A membership council is required if a member commits a serious sin while holding a prominent position. English. He asks those present not to discuss it. See 6.2.3 about the stake presidents responsibility when submitting applications to the First Presidency. The record makes no reference to the loss of Church membership. Any information about unresolved sins is noted when the request is submitted through LCR. As part of this process, he may need to restrict some Church membership privileges for a time. The bishop or stake president may give counsel and caution about future actions. If the clerk was excused, he is also invited into the room. If the member still wants to resign Church membership, he or she gives the bishop a written, signed request. In a spirit of love, he asks about serious sins the person may have committed either before or after resigning membership. The Church released six rewritten chapters of the General Handbook on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. May be issued a temple recommend for proxy baptisms and confirmations. This approval is required even if the conduct occurred after Church membership was formally restricted or withdrawn. The current bishop or stake president holds the council. A membership council is not held for the actions listed below. Some members have been convicted of a crime and are incarcerated. If the stake president is unable to participate, the First Presidency may authorize one of his counselors to preside in his place. A bishop or stake president typically learns about a serious sin through confession or from another person. The bishop or stake president may remove informal restrictions as guided by the Spirit when the person makes specified progress in genuine repentance. Some suffer from mental illness. May not be ordained to any priesthood office. Where possible, holds membership councils for those who have not been endowed. The leader could also restrict the person from giving a talk, lesson, or prayer in Church settings. Informal restrictions are removed after genuine repentance. However, their Church membership privileges are restricted as follows: They may not enter a temple. If a council is held, the stake president or bishop decides the outcome. This could include the knowledge of a participant and some other reliable source. After a member has confessed to a bishop or stake president, follow-up counseling may occur in several ways. A district or branch membership council may recommend withdrawing a persons Church membership if he or she has not received the temple endowment. As used here, murder is the deliberate, unjustified taking of human life. Some plural marriages may occur in secret, with a spouse not knowing about one or more other spouses. The Church Condemns Itself in its Own Handbook! Serious Sin While Holding a Prominent Church Position. He or she also informs the bishop of the members progress and needs. This chapter will help you gain a vision of God's plan of happiness, the work of salvation and . He notifies the person of the date, time, and place of the council. After a person is readmitted to the Church, the bishop submits a Report of Church Membership Council form. Sexual abuse of a child or youth, sexual exploitation of a child or youth, or serious physical or emotional abuse of a child or youth by an adult or by a youth who is several years older, Involvement with child pornography when there is a legal conviction, Committing a serious sin while holding a prominent Church position. They do not unnecessarily share personal information. Formal restrictions are removed after genuine repentance, a membership council, and, if necessary, First Presidency approval. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Summary of Recent Updates. When assigning someone to assist with follow-up counseling, the leader gives only enough information necessary to help the member. He asks the person what he or she has done to repent. On difficult matters, the stake president may seek counsel from his assigned Area Seventy. 5.1.2 Ward Council Member missionary work is most effec- For example, a council may be needed for a student or a member in the military. Formal Membership Restrictions (see 32.11.3). For adults, readmission is not usually considered until at least one year after resigning membership. A membership council is required in most cases when a person is convicted of a felony. A council is more likely to be necessary to help a member repent if he or she has violated temple covenants or if the sin was repetitive. The opportunity to repent is one of the greatest blessings Heavenly Father has given us through the gift of His Son. As directed by the Spirit, withdrawing a persons membership may also be necessary as follows: For those whose conduct makes them a serious threat to others. File size in bytes. May participate in Church activity as a new convert would. A membership council is required for incest as defined in 38.6.10. Withdrawing a persons Church membership is almost always required. If Church policy requires a membership council, he explains this (see 32.6 and 32.10). If the members bishop is present for a stake membership council, he is also invited into the room. Before holding the council, the bishop or stake president may determine that informal membership restrictions would be best for a time. The Lord commanded, Thou shalt not kill, nor do anything like unto it (Doctrine and Covenants 59:6; italics added). The bishop or stake president may also meet with the person. Abuse of a Spouse or Another Adult. Teaching false doctrine or other forms of apostasy. Leaders consider: Whether the embezzlement was a one-time event or a repetition. A Baptism and Confirmation Certificate is not created. For example, a member who is accused of adultery may deny the charge. If the member moves outside the stake, the stake presidents of both stakes confer and decide where the council should take place. The bishop or stake president must hold a membership council when information indicates that a member may have committed any of the sins described in this section. Threatens physical violence, whether in person or online (see 32.2.1). A membership council is required if a person knowingly enters into a plural marriage. 32. To know how to best help, the stake president must counsel with the Area Presidency about the situations in this section. It should notify the person that he or she may appeal the decision (see 32.13). Withdrawing a persons Church membership is required for murder (as defined in 32.6.1.1) and plural marriage (as explained in 32.6.1.2). You are invited to attend the council to give your response. In these cases, the leader notifies the new bishop or stake president about the concerns or pending action (see 32.14.7). Has authority over membership councils in mission branches and districts. In that instance, he confidentially contacts that members bishop. If a member is in good standing after a membership council (see 32.11.1), the bishop or stake president may communicate that to dispel rumors. These leaders teach that there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth (Luke 15:7). This could be written. Repentance and Church Membership Councils, General Handbook. Consistent with their duty of confidentiality, a bishop, stake president, or their counselors may share such information only as follows: They need to confer with the members stake president, mission president, or bishop about holding a membership council or related matters. Prepares the form if asked by the leader who conducted the council. Through this process, he or she may again become clean and worthy to receive all of Gods blessings. In the following circumstances, the approval of the First Presidency is necessary to remove formal membership restrictions or readmit the person into the Church. The contents are prepared by the church's First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. If leaders keep notes or communicate with each other electronically, they safeguard access to this information. The bishop or stake president ensures that the person receives prompt written notice of the decision and its effects. File type information. He should not keep a watch on a persons home or record him or her without consent. In addition to the counseling you provide, some members would benefit from behavioral counseling. This may include presenting reliable documents and reading aloud any written statements from victims (see 32.10.2). The baptismal covenant includes a promise to strive to live according to Christs teachings and commandments. Membership privileges are formally restricted. He gives the person (if present) an opportunity to confirm, deny, or clarify this statement. The first purpose is to help protect others. If a membership council is held to consider an appeal, one of two decisions is possible: First Presidency decisions are final and cannot be appealed again. For exceptions, see 38.6.6 and 38.6.13. It could also include counsel about having membership restrictions removed or being readmitted into the Church. This detailed information is A person who requests readmission must meet the same qualifications as others who are baptized. He is then able to exercise the keys of the gospel of repentance on their behalf (see Doctrine and Covenants 13:1; 84:2627; 107:18,20). With inspiration, a bishop or stake president acts to protect others when someone poses a threat in these and other serious ways (see Alma 5:5960). However, the high council may participate in difficult situations (see Doctrine and Covenants 102:2). Three Purposes of Church Membership Restrictions or Withdrawal, Help a person access the redeeming power of Jesus Christ through repentance. Latter-day Saints should "avoid all statements of prejudice toward others" and avoid . He invites someone to offer an opening prayer. However, more serious action may be needed if they persist in the conduct. Supporting . He also explains the decisions the council may reach and their results. If this occurs in the United States and Canada, the stake president seeks legal advice from the Churchs Office of General Counsel: Some people who are repenting have broken civil or criminal laws. As outlined below, this chapter is organized to guide leaders through the key decisions and actions necessary to help someone repent of a serious sin and to help protect others. Teach that family history and temple work can reduce the influence of the adversary. Although He did not say her sins were forgiven, He did not condemn her. When the member makes specified progress in genuine repentance, the bishop or stake president holds another council to consider removing the restrictions (see 32.16.1).