Should the LDS Church keep records of past disciplinary councils?

This is my comment to a blog post on Mormon Matters about whether the LDS Church should keep a record of past disciplinary councils for its members in light of the idea that God forgives and forgets.

I agree with Latter-day Guy that the practical reasons for keeping this information in certain cases are compelling, especially to limit the church's liability and to protect possible future victims.

However, from a spiritual, doctrinal perspective...

Why would we expect the institution to forgive and forget when that is not what the D&C teaches that God will do?

The statement in D&C 58:42 applies to those who have forsaken (never repeated) those sins. For those who are repeat offenders, it all comes back to haunt them:

"And now, verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, will not lay any sin to your charge; go your ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God." (D&C 82:7)

So, I am not surprised that the Church does not expunge these records because it doesn't believe God will either. Since we are natural man and are doomed to repeat them, let's keep them on file as evidence, if needed.

After becoming an evangelical Christian after more than 4 decades in the LDS Church, this doctrine--in hindsight--is a most devastating and depressing condition and is counter to the Grace of Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 31:34; Isaiah 43:25; Ephesians 2:8-10 to quote a few).

We will never be perfect here on earth. But rather than count that against us, God has imputed His righteousness to His believers through the once-and-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:24-28). By faith we are justified and thus freed to do good works without fear that if we stumble our works were all for naught.

Bottom line: Faith save us and gets us to heaven. Works determine our rewards in heaven. A lack of perfect works does not disqualify us.

I know this is nothing new to those who frequent the bloggernacle but even an EV feels compelled to bear testimony once in a while.