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Our high councilman said in his talk on Sunday that serious sins needs to be taken to the bishop, ‘BECAUSE HE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE’. (Caps added.) Isn’t it LDS doctrine that forgiveness is God’s alone to give? I have heard that bishops forgive on ‘behalf of the church’, but, IMO, whether or not the church forgives me for anything is entirely irrelevant. The church doesn’t let me into heaven, God does. Does being a ‘judge in Israel’ give license to forgiveness, or simply the power to determine on behalf of the church, whether a sin has been committed?
I’m probably choking on a gnat. This HC spewed a lot of pseudo-doctrine on Sunday, and, of course, we all just smile and not our heads as is expected.
Thoughts?
The HC was totally out of line. The Bishop has no power to forgive as far as I can see in the scriptures. That’s God’s jurisdiction. However, the Bishop does have some administrative power that might be confused with forgiveness by some people. For example, he can decide whether a court needs to be held for specific transgressions. And he can made decisions about penalties for certain transgressions in a disciplinary council, and I believe he has decision-making authority about when to restore blessings etcetera.
But he has not forgiveness power of any kind.
I agree with SD. The HC speaker was incorrect on those points. A Bishop is a “judge in Israel,” which is a religious administrative and legal title. They make decisions about one’s membership status in the earthly organization. They do not grant or deny forgiveness.
They can help counsel someone on the process of working toward a sense of forgiveness (giving and receiving). That might be the source of confusion.
The High Councilor was wrong. Period. Thanks all. So, now I’m wondering if I should say something to the bishop. I would just want to say that it should be clear to the youth especially that the bishop doesn’t ‘forgive’. Or, I guess I could assume that most of the congregation was fast asleep and didn’t even catch it. silentstruggle wrote:Thanks all. So, now I’m wondering if I should say something to the bishop. I would just want to say that it should be clear to the youth especially that the bishop doesn’t ‘forgive’. Or, I guess I could assume that most of the congregation was fast asleep and didn’t even catch it.
On that note, I’d let it go….make it clear to others in the course of your calling (if you have one) when you are asked to speak, to teach a lesson, or visit someone in the church, or in conversatiosn in the hall, but not in a way that grandstands or puts down the High Councilor. Disconnect it from him.
I say, give the High Councilor a pass. I remember when I was called to the High Council for the first time 15 years ago…I was young, inexperienced, didn’t know half the administrative procedures, etcetera. Realize that High Councilor was probably doing the best with the knowledge he has, and let it go. It sounds like he hasn’t been a member of the Church for very long if he’s making statements like that…or if he’s been a member, maybe he was away or less active for a while, or just said it wrong.
I realize now that one has to live life in the church with low expectations. I think people will be much happier that way…..if they don’t expect people to always be accurate, the programs to run well, the leaders to act in ways that are acceptable to us, etcetera. Now, there will be times when you have to speak up when things get out of hand, but I see this particular one as something that isn’t a huge issue.
The Bishop probably knows he doesn’t have the ability to forgive, and would make that clear if anyone asked him to invoke that “right” that doesn’t exist.
What SD said. I don’t think this is a potential battle that’s worth fighting. The HC might even believe what he said, but I would let it go, regardless. silentstruggle wrote:Or, I guess I could assume that most of the congregation was fast asleep and didn’t even catch it.
In your statement, SS, is another way to help us stay active in the Church. When you feel burdened by the boring meeting you happen to be in at the time, give thanks to God that all the inattentive people are missing all the false doctrine being taught! See..we must see the good in EVERYTHING!
😆 Sound advice all. I’m finding half the key to happiness is learning to let things go! Ditto to everything said so far.
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