The Excommunication of John Dehlin Pt. 6 - President Bryan King (1/14/2015) | Ep. 1269

The Dehlin Disciplinary Council: A Documentary Record of Process, Timing, and Institutional Response

When the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints conducted John Dehlin's disciplinary council in January 2015, few outsiders understood the procedural questions that would later emerge. According to testimony preserved in the Mormon Stories Podcast, the five-month delay between the initial notice (August 2014) and the actual council hearing raised substantive questions about institutional process, pastoral care, and the consistency of stated rationales. This episode offers researchers and observers a documented case study of how the Church handles formal disciplinary proceedings in high-profile circumstances.

The timeline itself warrants scrutiny. Dehlin waited nearly half a year between receiving formal notice and facing the High Council. During that period, he claims, President Bryan King, the local stake president overseeing the process, offered no counseling or pastoral outreach. The stated explanations for the delay shifted: King later suggested it reflected "the Lord's timeframe," yet simultaneously characterized extended delays as potentially cruel. This internal contradiction raises questions about how Church leadership communicates institutional processes to members facing formal discipline.

Background: The High Council Disciplinary Framework

The Church Handbook of Instructions provides specific guidance on disciplinary councils. According to the Mormon Stories source material, a High Council consists of fifteen individuals: twelve high counselors, the stake president, and the stake clerk who serves as recorder. If a high councilor cannot attend, another high priest from the stake may substitute.

The handbook outlines a structured approach: the council hears the case, members deliberate in private, and leadership presents a recommendation to the full council for a sustaining vote. The timeframe for decision-making remains discretionary, King told Dehlin that councils may take "a long time depending on the nature of the council and how we feel and how we prepare."