AtlantaD

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.

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.