32.6.1

When a Membership Council Is Required

The bishop or stake president must hold a membership council when information indicates that a member may have committed any of the sins described in this section. For these sins, a council is required regardless of a member’s level of spiritual maturity and gospel understanding.

See 32.11 for potential outcomes of councils that are convened for the sins listed in this section. Informal membership restrictions are not an option for these councils.

Sins That Require Holding a Membership Council

Murder

Rape

Sexual assault conviction

Child or youth abuse

Abuse of a spouse or another adult (as outlined in 38.6.2.4)

Predatory behavior (violent, sexual, or financial)

Incest

Child pornography (as outlined in 38.6.6)

Plural marriage

Serious sin while holding a prominent Church position

Most felony convictions

32.6.1.1

Violent Acts and Abuse

Murder. A membership council is required if a member murders someone. As used here, murder is the deliberate, unjustified taking of human life. Withdrawing a person’s Church membership is required.

Murder does not include police or military acts in the line of duty. Abortion is not defined as murder in this context. If death was caused by accident or by defense of self or others, the taking of a human life might not be defined as murder. This may also be true in other situations, such as when a person has limited mental capacity.

Rape. A membership council is required for rape. As used here, rape is forced sexual intercourse or intercourse with someone who cannot legally give consent due to diminished mental or physical capacity. As used here, rape does not include consensual sexual intercourse between two minors who are close in age.

Sexual Assault Conviction. A membership council is required if a member is convicted of sexual assault.

Child or Youth Abuse. A membership council is required if a person abuses a child or youth as explained in 38.6.2.3.

Abuse of a Spouse or Another Adult. There is a spectrum of severity in abusive behavior. See 38.6.2.4 for when a membership council is required for abuse of a spouse or another adult.

Violent Predatory Behavior. A membership council is required if an adult repeatedly harms people physically through violent behavior and is a threat to others.

32.6.1.2

Sexual Immorality

Incest. A membership council is required for incest as defined in 38.6.10. Withdrawing a person’s Church membership is almost always required.

Child Pornography. A membership council is required if a person is involved in child pornography as outlined in 38.6.6.

Plural Marriage. A membership council is required if a person knowingly enters into a plural marriage. Some plural marriages may occur in secret, with a spouse not knowing about one or more other spouses. Withdrawing a person’s Church membership is required if a person knowingly enters into plural marriage.

Sexual Predatory Behavior. A membership council is required if an adult repeatedly harms people sexually and is a threat to others.

32.6.1.3

Fraudulent Acts

Financial Predatory Behavior. A membership council is required if an adult has a history of deliberately and repeatedly harming people financially and is a threat to others (see 38.6.2.4). This includes investment fraud and similar activities. Unintended financial losses due to economic conditions are not considered fraudulent. If litigation is involved, priesthood leaders may decide to wait until the outcome is final. See 32.6.3.3 if a member was involved in embezzlement of Church funds or property.

32.6.1.4

Violations of Trust

Serious Sin While Holding a Prominent Church Position. A membership council is required if a member commits a serious sin while holding a prominent position. These include a General Authority, General Church Officer, Area Seventy, temple president or matron, mission president or his companion, stake president, patriarch, or bishop. This does not apply to branch presidents. However, a branch president’s Church membership privileges can be restricted or withdrawn the same as for other members.

32.6.1.5

Some Other Acts

Felony Conviction. A membership council is required in most cases when a person is convicted of a felony.