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RENEE - When a teenage boy is disciplined with probation for an issue regarding chastity, is it standard that he is prohibited from wearing a white dress shirt to sacrament meeting - (in addition to not being allowed to pass the sacrament, offer prayers, hold a calling, etc.) If he does wear a white shirt, he is not allowed into the chapel until the sacrament has already been passed? Isn't that like forcing him to wear a scarlet letter?
If our charitable deeds should not be done for all people to see, then shouldn't misdeeds (especially adolescent ones that have been duly handled with the proper authority) also be done in kind?
JOEL - You did not provide a valid Email address so that is why you are hopefully seeing the answer to your question here.
Most of what you have said is absolutely correct, especially that last statement. However, he could most deffinatly still wear a white shirt and tie and sit in on the entire Sacrament meeting, but perhaps not partake the sacrament when it passes by him. I have never heard what you said being prohibited as a requirement for discipline. The only reason I can think of where a Bishop might counsel (not prohibit) a boy to not wear a white shirt and/or tie, is so that the other Aaronic priesthood boys would not cause him any embarrassment if they ask him to participate in administering the sacrament. If he is not wearing a white shirt or tie they simply wouldn't ask him or expect him to, thus avoiding the embarrassment of him having to tell them he is not allowed. I can even see the Bishop advising the boy (who is wearing a white shirt and tie) to not be in the chapel during the Sacrament, because other members who see him sitting there properly dressed to participate but isn't, might wonder why. If he is not in the chapel everyone would just think he was absent that day or late for church, plus noone would see him not taking the sacrament. Bishops are very considerate of the boy's feelings and do all they can to make their repentence process as painless as possible. The way this is handeled would depend on the boy's personality, character, and level of faith. Any restrictions placed on a boy by the Bishop might differ from one case to the next. Church discipline is (supposed to be) a very private and confidential matter. There could be many members in the congregation undergoing some form of discipline and noone else would know about it or notice it unless they were personally involved in the situation that brought about the discipline.
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