Can A Mormon Lose Membership?
Can a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints lose their membership in the Church?
Yes, they can indeed. There are some sins that will ultimately lead to excommunication. These are for example murder, adultery, child abuse etc....
However, excommunication is a process where the member goes through a disciplinary counsel. It doesn't just happen in the twinkle of an eye. The member is given a fair chance to "defend" him/her self, and is given counsel on what to do further on....
Yes. Excommunication is done with a counsel of 12 Elders in the LDS church. The Stake President resides over the meeting with his counselors. Then 12 of the High Counsel and the Bishop are there. One Elder, usually from the bishopric, is selected to sit with the member in question and to help defend the member. A family member can be invited to be with this member if invited and wanted by the member in question. The Elders talk to the member in question and then excuse the member as they kneel in prayer and ask God for his answer. Then the member is called back in and asked to bare his or her testimony and with great love and counsel give the discipline needed which could be excommunication or disfellowship. Instruction then is given to the individual to let them know how to eventually return to the church. I have sat in on one of these disciple actions. It was a family member. We can only hope and pray for this individual. It's up to this individual as to if they return to the LDS faith or not at all. I pray they do.
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