Serious sins (especially moral sins) are cofessed to the bishop who will then decide if further action is needed.When I need to confess serious sins, I go to see the priest and confess my sins. I receive absolution for them in the confessional.
Do Mormons have to confess serious sins to their minister or do they just confess them to God alone? What exactly happens?
What kind of action would they take? If you’re willing to confess your sins aren’t you just absolved of them and allowed to begin again with a clean slate?Serious sins (especially moral sins) are cofessed to the bishop who will then decide if further action is needed.
No you aren’t absolved of them. Usually there is a period of either disfellowship, which means you remain a member but cannot participate in certain roles and activities or excommunication.What kind of action would they take? If you’re willing to confess your sins aren’t you just absolved of them and allowed to begin again with a clean slate?
What would be the difference between a sin that would cause being disfellowshipped and a sin that would lead to excommunication? Who decides this – just the minister for the congregation? It seems like they give that one person a lot of power.No you aren’t absolved of them. Usually there is a period of either disfellowship, which means you remain a member but cannot participate in certain roles and activities or excommunication.
in Christ
Steph
Honestly I don’t know. I’ve known some people who have committed the exact same sin and one is excommunicated and the other is not. The Bishop of the congregation (or ward) can call a court made up of others to talk about it. I think it matters on how sorry you appear, etc. I, myself, never went through all this. Thankfully I got out instead. If I were to try to return to Mormonism (which will never happen) I would probably have to go through a Bishop’s court.What would be the difference between a sin that would cause being disfellowshipped and a sin that would lead to excommunication? Who decides this – just the minister for the congregation? It seems like they give that one person a lot of power.
So other people find out about your sin in addition to the Bishop? I would think all of this would discourage people from confessing. I guess they would just confess to God then and assume they are forgiven. I guess it would be like some Catholics who never go to confession either. I guess it’s kind of a don’t ask, don’t tell policy since the priest never directly asks them if they’ve sinned. Mormons probably just do the same thing.Honestly I don’t know. I’ve known some people who have committed the exact same sin and one is excommunicated and the other is not. The Bishop of the congregation (or ward) can call a court made up of others to talk about it. I think it matters on how sorry you appear, etc. I, myself, never went through all this. Thankfully I got out instead. If I were to try to return to Mormonism (which will never happen) I would probably have to go through a Bishop’s court.
in Christ
Steph
That’s pretty scary. I imagine there are a few LDS marriages lost because of LDS confession practices. Sounds like there is very little to protect the sinner.But it sometimes happens that LDS bishops (or their counselors in the case of a bishop’s court) confide in their wives and the wives tell their friends and then everyone knows. I have seen it happen.
Paul
Not exactly. It usually depends on the situation but nothing is for certain. The position that the person has had in the church may have something to do with whether there is disfellowshipment, excommunication or nothing at all.No you aren’t absolved of them. Usually there is a period of either disfellowship, which means you remain a member but cannot participate in certain roles and activities or excommunication.
in Christ
Steph
Because of human imperfection this may happen but usually no it doesn’t happen. There should be confidentiality between bishop and wife, likewise for his counselors.That’s pretty scary. I imagine there are a few LDS marriages lost because of LDS confession practices. Sounds like there is very little to protect the sinner.
The others are church leaders who also must keep the proceedings secret. I don’t think that tundramom would need a bishop’s court. She would just be welcomed back with open arms. However the bishop’s court is certainly a mellowing experience. But in the end, many people who have been disfellowshiped or excommunicated and have returned to full membership have been thankful for the court.So other people find out about your sin in addition to the Bishop? I would think all of this would discourage people from confessing. I guess they would just confess to God then and assume they are forgiven. I guess it would be like some Catholics who never go to confession either. I guess it’s kind of a don’t ask, don’t tell policy since the priest never directly asks them if they’ve sinned. Mormons probably just do the same thing.
So your sin follows you the rest of your life in your records? Is the Bishop the only one who has access to these records?a bishop’s court will include the bishop, his two counselors and the ward clerk who will record the proceeding. He can impose any of the following: no action, informal probation (the person will have regular meetings with the bishop until he decides everything is okay), formal probation (same thing but documented), disfellowhiped (member can hold no callings, can’t take the sacrament {communion}, can’t pray publicly in church [on behalf of the group like invocations] and if male cannot exercise any priesthood authority, or excomunication (no longer a member)
if the person is a male and a melchizadec priesthood holder (most adult LDS men are) then the bishop must refer it to the stake president who MAY allow the bishop to handle it the person is cooperative and agrees to that, otherwise the court is in front of the stake high council where teh stake president, his counselors, the various stake high councilmen and the clerk are present.
in both cases after the person “confesses” to the group they are able to ask questions until all are prepared to render a decision. teh person then leaves the room and the court deliberates. the final decision will then be made by the bishop or stake president. the person returns to the room and is informed of the decision.
if a person was disfellowshipped they will meet with their bishop until the bishop or stake president approves the being restored to full fellowship.
If excommunicated they will have to be rebaptized after at least a year and requiring approval. if a melchisadec priesthood holder the rebaptism only restores their membership, temple blessings, priesthood etc. must be restored later in a temple ordinance called restoration of blessings that requires approval from the first presidency of the church.
there is no absolution equivalent only an end to disciplinary action. all of it is documented in your permanent membership records.
I don’t think so. He would be in for a reprimand if he did. And if he did do so, he made a terrible mistake by doing so.I had a friend in the military who was a Mormon and he confessed a sexual sin he and his girlfriend commited and the Bishop disfelloshipped him, not only that he told the vast majority of Church or ward or whatever it is.
Why don’t you ask your question on:So your sin follows you the rest of your life in your records? Is the Bishop the only one who has access to these records?