Comments on: Can a divorced man be called to be a Bishop?

By: BJMoose666

BJMoose666 — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 18:52:00 +0000

I find that not surprising at all.

By: forte

forte — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 23:41:00 +0000

Help me to understand, the Bible said ” …the husband of one wife “( 1Timothy 3: 2) how can we change God’s law?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 16:35:00 +0000

One my Bishops growing up had been previously divorced. He was one of the best Bishops I have ever had. Being a divorced person, I feel I am in a better position to counsel against divorce and to help those that are divorced than someone who has never been through the experience. Not that I would aspire to be a Bishop, but there are many people in the church who have gone through divorce and they need to know there is hope through the atonement of Jesus Christ. I hope there isn’t a written policy in the church related to where a divorced person can or can’t serve. I wouldn’t lose my testimony over it, but I hope that people realize that just because someone is divorced, it doesn’t mean they did anything wrong. I know I’m not perfect, but I fought for my marriage and my ex chose another path and used her agency. Marriage takes two and if one of the parties to the marriage wants out, there is nothing you can do unfortunately. I have been remarried now for 15 years and there is light out there for those who have experienced the devastating effects of divorce…hang in there.

By: DivorcedGrandma

DivorcedGrandma — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 18:59:00 +0000

I did a search on this subject since I, too, had recently heard someone say a man, previously divorced, could never be called to be a bishop. I wasn’t sure if that was true or not, but as I told my daughter, if true, I’m sure there are exceptions made (as Tim Sweet sweetly iterated), just as there are with other matters of policy. These exceptions still allow for the Lord to work through revelation; and the policy, if true, still protects the members, as well.

By: Brad

Brad — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 15:46:00 +0000

1 Tim 3:2 the Apostle Paul says a Bishop must be the husband of one wife. I believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it’s translated correctly. And don’t pull the polygamy card out.

By: Wen

Wen — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 16:59:00 +0000

It must be a case by case basis because my brother in law was divorced previously, but has recently
been a bishop and is currently an institute instructor.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 16:26:00 +0000

My husband is a counselor in the bishopric and he is only 22… I think that any bishop would be called on a case by case basis. If the Lord wants them to serve, they will. My father in law was previously divorced
and was in a bishopric. He wasn’t the bishop, but I firmly believe that if the Lord wants someone to serve, they will.

By: Marie Moxley

Marie Moxley — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 01:07:00 +0000

In reply to Highwinder. where did you get that information? is it reliable?

By: Tim Sweet

Tim Sweet — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 19:41:00 +0000

I am fairly certain that this is handled on a case-by-case basis. For example, previous sexual sins of a grievous nature or excommunication and subsequent reinstatement can prevent someone from serving as an ordinance worker in the temple. However, These are also handled on a case-by-case basis. Even though the church has a “policy” regarding certain aspects of who can or cannot serve, there is always room for exceptions depending on the Lord’s wishes and revelation to his anointed servants.

By: will7370

will7370 — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 18:47:00 +0000

Divorced members cannot be hired as LDS institute teachers either.

By: Wynton Marsalis

Wynton Marsalis — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 18:21:00 +0000

I have never seen or heard of the letter highwinder states that has supposedly been sent by the first presidency to stake presidents and bishops. However, I do know that the form stake presidents fill out to send to the First Presidency to get approval for a bishop to be called asks if the person has been divorced. Obviously this is an important factor when the First Presidency takes these names into consideration.

Obviously, despite this question on the form, people still get called to be bishop even if they have been divorced. But it is not very common. In fact, I have known of several cases in which a name was denied who was someone who has been divorced. That doesn’t mean the divorce was the reason, but one can assume it’s a strong possibility.

I suspect one of the core reasons for the First Presidency treading carefully in calling a divorced man as bishop stems from the very fact that a bishop generally spends a great deal of time working with couples whose marriages are in jeopardy. Since the church encourages people to work out their problems rather than get divorced, having a bishop who potentially (for all anyone knows) took the route of divorce rather than work out the problems is an issue of the perception of his example to those whom he is counseling.

I’m not saying that all men (and women) who get divorced had “working things out” as an option. Sometimes, because of any number of circumstances, divorce IS the only option. But certainly not always, and probably not most of the time. Regardless of the reason for divorce, the fact that a bishop is divorced and counseling couples to work problems out instead of get divorced poses a fundamental problem in the process of counseling.

By: Nicolas Anguiano

Nicolas Anguiano — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 17:35:00 +0000

This most certainly is not a Church policy. I’ve never had a divorced bishop, but I did serve as 2nd and 1st counselor at the age of 25, and know of several other wards which have members of the bishopric under 28. I agree that there shouldn’t be a policy about Church calls. After all policies might refrain revelation, which is at the very foundation of this Church.