Moroni 6

People got baptized when they were ready for it. That meant they had to show everyone they were sorry and mutable. No guarantees they’d not relapse, of course. But the evidence of a new life had to sparkle.

Once they were members of the church, God’s spirit kneaded them inwardly like dough, in order to shift their vision and wash their minds, narrow their options a little, and provoke prayer. At these meetings they usually had the bread and wine ritual.

They policed each other’s behavior. Anyone caught blatantly sinning got publicly shamed by the elders—especially if it was an elder doing the sinning. (No besmirching the reputation of the priesthood.) If they persisted in the behavior, the non-sinning elders blotted their names from the church roster.

Still, as often as anyone honestly pled for forgiveness, the church forgave them.

[Meeting agendas? Ad hoc, driven by God’s spirit. Preaching, praying, encouraging, confessing, singing, always singing.]