Doctrine and Covenants 103-105
“After Much Tribulation ... Cometh the Blessing”
September 15 - September 21
scripture
commentaries
Commentary on D&C 102:1–8
<p>The high council in Kirtland was unique because the First Presidency also presided over it as a stake presidency. As the first high council in the Church, the Kirtland high council was established before wards came into existence. Today the Church has a different system in which a stake presidency presides over a group of high priests that constitute the high council for that stake. Modern high councils assist stake presidencies in carrying out the Lord’s work in the various wards of each stake. The Kirtland high council was established as “standing council” (D&C 102:3), meaning that it was responsible for a specific geographical area designated as a stake but consisting largely of branches. Beginning with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, traveling councils not limited by any geographic area were established by later revelations (D&C 107:23). Using terminology common in the Church today, we refer to standing councils as <em>local</em> or <em>area</em> <em>authorities</em> and those councils with no specific geographic responsibility as <em>general authorities</em>. In addition to a high council, section 102 also refers to a “bishop’s council” (D&C 102:2). </p> <p>The establishment of councils in the early Church was an important step toward disseminating the divine power first given to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. Today, councils remain one of the most important methods for receiving revelation in the Church. Stephen L Richards, a member of the First Presidency under David O. McKay, taught: </p> <blockquote> <p>As I conceive it, the genius of our Church government is government through councils. The Council of the Presidency, the Council of the Twelve, the Council of the Stake Presidency . . . the Council of the Bishopric. . . . I have had enough experience to know the value of councils. . . . I see the wisdom, God’s wisdom, in creating councils: to govern his Kingdom. In the spirit under which we labor, men can get together with seemingly divergent views and far different backgrounds, and under the operation of that spirit, by counseling together, they can arrive at an accord.<a href="#_ftn1" id="_ftnref1" title="" class="see-footnote">[1]</a></p> </blockquote> <div class="footnotes"> <p class="footnote"><a href="#_ftnref1" id="_ftn1" title="" class="footnote-label">[1]</a> Stephen L Richards, in Conference Report, Oct. 1953, 86.</p> </div>
Doctrine and Covenants Minute by Casey Paul Griffiths
Commentary on D&C 102:9–12
<p>Verses 9–12 explain the procedures for holding a Church membership council. As noted in Doctrine and Covenants 102:2, these councils convene to deal with difficult cases that cannot be resolved by a bishop’s council. Most repentance is handled between an individual, the Lord, and sometimes those who have been affected by the individual’s sins. More serious sins are resolved with the assistance of a bishop, who holds the keys to act as a judge in Israel. Church membership councils, which have also been known as Church courts or Church disciplinary councils, deal with sins for which a membership council is required and usually involve a person who has made temple covenants or who holds an important position of trust in the Church.<a id="_ftnref1" class="see-footnote" title="" href="#_ftn1">[1]</a></p> <p>Church membership councils are generally held for three reasons. First, they are held to help protect others. As the <em>General Handbook</em> states, “Sometimes a person poses a physical or spiritual threat. Predatory behaviors, physical harm, sexual abuse, substance abuse, fraud, and apostasy are some of the ways this can occur. With inspiration, a bishop or stake president acts to protect others when someone poses a threat in these and other serious ways (see Alma 5:59–60).”<a id="_ftnref2" class="see-footnote" title="" href="#_ftn2">[2]</a></p> <p>Second, a Church membership council may be held to help a person access the redeeming power of Jesus Christ through repentance. “Through this process, he or she may again become clean and worthy to receive all of God’s blessings.”<a id="_ftnref3" class="see-footnote" title="" href="#_ftn3">[3]</a> When serious sin has occurred, these councils can help individuals come to terms with what has occurred, use the power of Jesus Christ to overcome their sins, and repair the damage done to themselves and the important relationships in their lives. These councils are conducted in the spirit of love—every involved individual seeks to do what is best for the individual who has fallen into transgression.</p> <p>Finally, Church membership councils are held to protect the integrity of the Church. “Restricting or withdrawing a person’s Church membership may be necessary if his or her conduct significantly harms the Church (see <a href="#p11">Alma 39:11</a>). The integrity of the Church is not protected by concealing or minimizing serious sins—but by addressing them.”<a id="_ftnref4" class="see-footnote" title="" href="#_ftn4">[4]</a></p> <div class="footnotes"> <p class="footnote"><a id="_ftn1" class="footnote-label" title="" href="#_ftnref1">[1]</a> For a list of situations that require the convening of a Church membership council, see <em>General Handbook</em>,32.6.1. For a list of situations in which a Church membership council is not normally necessary, see <em>General Handbook</em>, 32.6.4.1.</p> <p class="footnote"><a id="_ftn2" class="footnote-label" title="" href="#_ftnref2">[2]</a> <em>General Handbook</em>, 32.2.1.</p> <p class="footnote"><a id="_ftn3" class="footnote-label" title="" href="#_ftnref3">[3]</a> <em>General Handbook</em>,32.2.2.</p> <p class="footnote"><a id="_ftn4" class="footnote-label" title="" href="#_ftnref4">[4]</a> <em>General Handbook</em>, 32.2.3.</p> </div>
Doctrine and Covenants Minute by Casey Paul Griffiths
