Jan. 22, 2012

High Council Disciplinary Councils

I have had the opportunity to be on The Mapleton Stake High Council and the BYU 3rd Stake High Council. 6 years in the first one and 2 and a half in the second. I am currently reading the Doctrine and Covenants and was reminded as I read the 102nd section the other night about the responsibilities when we hold a disciplinary council. I was only in one while at BYU but served in several while in Mapleton. I remember how hard we tried to make each council a special one full of love toward the person for whom it was held. I never had a negative one during that time even though I did have to miss one that apparently was not very good. I remember how when we would go into the room that we had the slips of  paper laying face down on the table and would have to pick one up. The slips each had a number on them and we would always feel relieved if the number was above 6 and especially happy if it was 11 or 12. That is how the seating was determined and how the speaking either for the Church or for the accused was also determined. I can only remember a couple of times when I had a number between 1 and 4 and thus was guaranteed that I would need to speak. I do remember feeling the responsibility to treat the discussion fairly and with love no matter which side of the room I sat on. They were special experiences and most special when it was a case involving the completion of a period of repentance when the person was being brought back into full fellowship. I was involved in only a couple as a Bishopric member in Mapleton wards but was involved in several BYU Bishop’s councils. Most of them were for the purpose of being brought back in and they were all very special. It is not easy to be a judge but was required in those circumstances. I am glad I don’t have to do it all the time.