Repentence process for missionary with call.


Phillip11
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Hi, I'm Phillip11. I'm 19 and I'm from Provo Utah, and I need advise. Over a year ago I had a serious issue with Pornography and Masturbation. I confessed these things to my Bishop over a year ago, and turned my papers in during July and became an elder. Due to serious depression and anxiety, I my papers were held and my call took a extremely long time to get here. This period of waiting was a dark time for me, because I allowed the advisory to fill me up with feelings of worthlessness, and in result I reverted back to my pornography and masturbation. As soon as I got my call to serve these evil feelings went away and I haven't had anymore issues with masturbation or pornography. Since then I've gone through the Temple a few times and yeah. I haven't confessed what I did to my Bishop yet and was wondering if I need to, and if I did what will happen? Would I be excommunicated and not be allowed to serve my mission, or will it delay my mission, or will I just need to skip the sacrament a few weeks? Please don't judge me, I've been having these really bad guilt trips.

Edited by skippy740
removed full name, mission called & time received call - all identifying info.
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This is my opinion: Worthy temple recommend holder = worthy for missionary service.

HOWEVER, do NOT assume that you should not confess of this. You must be able to serve the Lord with a full, clear, and confessed conscious.

If you don't, the Adversary will work and gnaw at you during your service... just like it happened to this poster: http://www.lds.net/forums/advice-board/53649-sent-home-mission-so-confused.html

Let the Bishop decide and have faith that you're on the right path. Excommunication is usually for the Unrepentant. I don't think that describes you.

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I don't think you need to worry about excommunication. But going on your mission without resolving this would be a far bigger problem than resolving it now. If you're having big guilt trips on a frequent basis, I'd say you need to go see your bishop and put it behind you.

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Hi, I'm Phillip11. I'm 19 and I'm from Provo Utah, and I need advise. Over a year ago I had a serious issue with Pornography and Masturbation. I confessed these things to my Bishop over a year ago, and turned my papers in during July and became an elder. Due to serious depression and anxiety, I my papers were held and my call took a extremely long time to get here. This period of waiting was a dark time for me, because I allowed the advisory to fill me up with feelings of worthlessness, and in result I reverted back to my pornography and masturbation. As soon as I got my call to serve these evil feelings went away and I haven't had anymore issues with masturbation or pornography. Since then I've gone through the Temple a few times and yeah. I haven't confessed what I did to my Bishop yet and was wondering if I need to, and if I did what will happen? Would I be excommunicated and not be allowed to serve my mission, or will it delay my mission, or will I just need to skip the sacrament a few weeks? Please don't judge me, I've been having these really bad guilt trips.

Disclaimer: I am not and never have been a bishop, nor have I ever been in your position.

I feel quite confident in assuring you that masturbation and even pornography usage will not result in your excommunication. But you absolutely need to get that taken care of BEFORE you serve your mission, especially (IMO) the pornography. You should not wait. Do it as soon as possible, maybe tonight or tomorrow morning.

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Sure, it's possible. Only your bishop can say for sure. But I hope you would be more concerned that you serve the Lord with clean hands, having fully repented, than you are about saving face and leaving on your mission when everyone expects you to.

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CHI 1 specifically mentions that pornography issues should not be dealt with via disciplinary council. Without a disciplinary council, there can be no formal church discipline, period, let alone the most extreme form of formal discipline (excommunication). There's no mention of masturbation one way or the other; so no comment there from me. I don't know the extent of your problem.

I'm no expert on things like delaying or cancelling of mission calls due to worthiness issues, so I won't advise (read: potentially mislead) you on that either.

The sooner you can honestly speak with your Bishop and with the Lord and return to the path of repentance, the better. Honesty with yourself is a huge part of the process too (which is not to say I'm accusing you of being dishonest with yourself).

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you will be teaching people about repentance .... I beleive u should talk to your bishop and if your mission is delayed, dont be embrassed about it...Just take the time to do what u need to do....and when u go u will feel much better and be proud of yourself..and be a better missionary too.

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Phillip11, welcome to the forums!

Is it possible this delay my departure date a while?

Hi Phillip11. Please take time to recognize and understand your missionary service for what it is. It is NOT a right of passage. It is NOT something you do for your family and in my view it is not something that you should be primarily doing for yourself. Don't look at your mission as going off to college or having some two year adventure.

You are chosen to represent Jesus Christ. You are going on your mission to tell others that Jesus Christ lives and that He is mighty to save the weak who humble themselves. How can you "witness" of something that you have not experienced? How can you tell others to come on to Christ, to repent, if you do not understand what this means yourself?

Whether this delays your mission, gets you excommunicated (not likely), or whatever else I am saying that your main concern ought to be to make things right with the Lord no matter the personal cost to you!. Confess, become clean, and truly allow the atonement to work in you.

Have you had the mighty change of heart as described in Mosiah? Do you feel the peace that comes from knowing God is pleased with your decisions in life and the direction you are going? Has your disposition to commit sin been replaced with a yearning to bring about God's purposes? Are you bowels filled with love and charity for all? These ought to be your goals.

You have been saved for these latter days. God has a mighty work for you if you will allow God to shape you and to direct your path. Seek counsel from Him. Put your trust in Him. The Atonement is real. It can heal you and sustain you despite your weaknesses if you allow it to.

-Finrock

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