Saying A Prayer

inthearmsofsleep · #1 (**permalink**) 09-18-2007, 05:39 AM

I went to a family home evening tonight at another member's house, and it was all young single adults. They asked me to give the opening prayer.

Backstory: I'm on church probation, and my bishop said I'm not to give prayers in certain situations. I can't give prayers in Sunday school, and I've refused to on several (very awkward and uncomfortable) occasions. However, he said that I could give a prayer if they asked me to at the missionary preparation class that I have yet to attend (tomorrow). I think he also said it's okay if I give the prayer while I'm on team-ups with the missionaries.

I was stunned.... didn't know what to say.... and I said "okay." There were only 7 people there, and I felt for a second that it wasn't wrong. My sister whispered "can you?" and I nodded "I guess so". I gave the prayer, shaky and stumbling on my words, and wondering if I was committing a serious sin.
I feel worthy, and I feel like I'm nearing being ready to take the sacrament again and be a full member of the church. I honestly don't know if what I did was wrong.

That being the case, I assume that it won't be held against me for this instance, but that I should ask the bishop what to do if I'm in that situation again. I'm just checking to see what you people think, and what you really would have done in my position.

Gwen · #2 (**permalink**) 09-18-2007, 08:15 AM

i am by no means a bishop or have ever been a bishop. lol so i don't really know if there are specific rules on that. my opinion, from what i can understand of the situation by your post, is that you did nothing wrong. if you should have said no i would imagine the bishop will insturct you to next time, but any "punishment" for having done so seemes unrealistic. the repentance process is very much determined by the individual, with the bishops help. the last question to go to the temple is "do you think you are worthy". if you feel worthy, that says a lot to me. my other thinking is you were told you could pray in some situations but not others. FHE is normally that, a family event. you would be able to pray in a family event? i think it should be seen as the same thing. just my opinions and quick thoughts, should talk to the bishop though. hang in there. sounds like you are really striving to improve yourself, that's wonderful.

AtlantaD · #3 (**permalink**) 09-18-2007, 04:03 PM

Being on church probation is much different than being disfellowshipped or excommunicated in that any restrictions placed upon the member is soley at the discretion of the presiding authority. Thus in your situation your bishop outlined situations in which you could and could not offer public prayers. Such variability is not the case in situations where the member has been disfellowshipped or excommunicated. Having served as a bishop, I would say that offering a prayer in a FHE setting like you mentioned was not wrong. Sure it was awkward for you and I imagine that was becuase you were self-conscious. In the future if you have any questions as to what the boundaries are regarding your participation in the church, I would suggest that you speak directly with your bishop as he desires nothing more than to see you return to full fellowship in the church.

inthearmsofsleep · #4 (**permalink**) 09-19-2007, 01:49 AM

Thanks for both of your input, it means a lot to me. I plan on speaking to the bishop about it, just to refresh my memory on what I can and can't do until I become a full member again. It's all very confusing at the moment because we changed bishops, and I haven't spoken very in-depth to the new one concerning my past problems. However, before the old bishop left, he told me that I'd have to wait another year until I could become a full member again and the end date for that would be next May. I suppose it makes a greater difference because I want to serve a mission, and the probation period is probably longer than if I wasn't to take on such a position to represent Christ and our church so directly. I said from the very beginning that I'd be willing to do anything to obtain forgiveness, and that's the attitude I'll maintain until I do.

Moksha · #5 (**permalink**) 09-19-2007, 02:47 PM

Being limited in your public communication with God does not seem right somehow.

AtlantaD · #6 (**permalink**) 09-19-2007, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Being limited in your public communication with God does not seem right somehow.
[/b]

I can see your point. However within the context of the "Church" the term "public" is meant as situations in which the setting is an LDS Church "public setting" (ie: Sacrament meeting, Sunday School, etc.) and secular "public settings" where the individual has been asked (or volunteered) to offer a prayer as an official representative of the LDS Church.

As an individual baptized member of the LDS Church, a person is entitled (and encouraged) to offer prayers when situations arise with family and friends regardless of any formal Church restrictions.

sixpacktr · #7 (**permalink**) 09-19-2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Being limited in your public communication with God does not seem right somehow.
[/b]

nobody is saying you can't pray. Just not as the official mouthpiece for the congregation/class.

Being able to pray in sacrament meeting is not a 'right'. You might have well as stated that not being able to pass the sacrament while on probation or disfellowshipment isn't right either.

It is a privilege to stand in for others and administer. We must remain as worthy as possible to do so...

russell · #8 (**permalink**) 09-19-2007, 04:06 PM

if you felt worthy to say a prayer,
then there is a 99% chance that it was ok.
Either way, "serious sin" is not something I would label it.

StrawberryFields · #9 (**permalink**) 09-19-2007, 04:56 PM

Interesting topic.

I don't know much about church probation, is it different than Bishops probation?

What are the guidelines?

What determines duration?

Are the facts of the probation given from one Bishop to the next?

Palerider · #10 (**permalink**) 09-19-2007, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Interesting topic.

I don't know much about church probation, is it different than Bishops probation?

What are the guidelines?

What determines duration?

Are the facts of the probation given from one Bishop to the next?
[/b]

there isn't much of a difference.....one is more severe than the other....The Bishop decides the guidelines one must follow etc....Church probation or Informal Probation could be more severe than Bishops Probation. As a Bishop you like to help the person out before going to a Ward or Stake Disciplinary Council. You should always let the Stake President know what is going on with any type of discipline.