I agree that it's time. I am unreliably informed that Everybody Wang Chung's post has inspired four Kirton McConkie junior associates to begin burning the midnight oil analyzing the relevant General Handbook provisions on
repentance and church membership councils to determine if Cain has a case for membership and priesthood and temple blessings restoration. Let's go to the handbook:
32.16.1
Membership Councils to Remove Formal Restrictions or Readmit a Person
When membership privileges are restricted or withdrawn in a membership council, another council must be held to consider removing the restrictions or readmitting the person to the Church. This council should also have the same level of authority (or higher) as the initial council. For example, if a stake or mission president presided over the initial council, a stake or mission president presides over the council to consider removing the restrictions or readmitting the person.
The Old Testament seems to indicate that YHWH presided over Cain's initial membership council back in ca. 4,000 B.C., so today's First Presidency would be the right body to oversee the membership council for Cain.
The current bishop or stake president holds the council. He first ensures that the person has repented and is ready and worthy to enjoy the blessings of Church membership.
See above. The First Presidency will need to handle this one.
Those who have had their Church membership formally restricted usually need to show genuine repentance for at least one year before consideration is given to removing the restrictions. Those who have had their Church membership withdrawn almost always need to show genuine repentance for at least one year before they can be considered for readmission. For a member who held a prominent Church position at the time of the serious sin, the period is generally longer (see 32.6.1.4).
It isn't entirely clear from the biblical record whether Cain held a prominent Church position in his service as a "tiller of the ground," but let's assume that he did. Everybody Wang Chung has identified solid evidence that Cain has shown genuine repentance for a least a year by "saving the lives of many people by guiding them to safety during inclement weather." The candid photo furnished by Everybody Wang Chung is additional evidence that Cain feels genuine remorse and sorrow for his sins.
A council to consider removing restrictions or readmitting a person to the Church follows the same guidelines as other membership councils. A bishop needs approval from the stake president to hold the council. In a mission, a branch or district president needs approval from the mission president.
The following guidelines apply when holding a membership council to consider removing Church membership restrictions or readmitting a person to the Church. Not all of these guidelines may apply in each case.
1. Review the initial membership council. The bishop or stake president reviews the Report of Church Membership Council form. He requests a copy through LCR. After reviewing the form, he may contact the bishop or stake president where the initial council was held to seek clarification.
The First Presidency may experience some difficulty making contact with YHWH to get details on Cain's original council, and original records of the original council were probably lost during the global flood. But Genesis 4 provides a reliable record of the original disciplinary action taken against Cain:
11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth."
Back to the handbook:
2. Interview the person. The bishop or stake president interviews the person thoroughly to discern the strength of his or her faith in Jesus Christ and the extent of repentance. He also determines whether the person has met the conditions outlined in the initial action.
If Cain can be located by the proprietor, the interview can be scheduled rather easily, I would think.
3. Determine the status of criminal or civil court action. Sometimes a person has admitted to or has been convicted of a crime. Sometimes a person has been found liable in a civil action of fraud or other illegal acts. In these cases, the leader generally does not hold a council until the person has fulfilled all the conditions of any sentence, order, or judgment made by legal authorities. These conditions may include imprisonment, probation, parole, and fines or restitution. Exceptions require the approval of the First Presidency before holding a membership council. These exceptions might include someone who has completed legal requirements and has shown genuine repentance but is on lifelong probation or has a substantial fine.
It seems clear that Cain has long "fulfilled all the conditions of any sentence, order, or judgment made by legal authorities." Cain has been a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth for 4,000 years.
4. Contact the priesthood leaders of the victims. The bishop or stake president contacts the current bishop or stake president of any victims (see 32.10.2).
That would be somewhat difficult in this case, but the current First Presidency can play that role.
5. Give notice of the council. He notifies the person of the date, time, and place of the council.
See the comment above about locating Cain.
6. Conduct the council. He conducts the council according to the guidelines in 32.10.3. He asks the person what he or she has done to repent. He also asks about his or her commitment to Jesus Christ and the Church. When all relevant matters have been presented, he excuses the member. With his counselors, he prays to consider what action to take. The three possible decisions are:
a. Continue membership restrictions or withdrawal.
b. Remove restrictions or authorize readmission.
c. Recommend to the First Presidency that restrictions be removed or readmission be authorized (if necessary according to “Apply for First Presidency approval” below).
For obvious reasons, there will be no need to make a recommendation to the First Presidency in this case.
7. Share the decision. After the council makes a decision, the presiding officer shares it with the person. If approval from the First Presidency is necessary, he explains that the decision is a recommendation to the First Presidency.
I would hope that
The Church News would share the decision with the world.
Skipping a bit:
9. Apply for First Presidency approval (if necessary). In the following circumstances, the approval of the First Presidency is necessary to remove formal membership restrictions or readmit the person into the Church. This approval is required even if the conduct occurred after Church membership was formally restricted or withdrawn.
The stake president submits an application to the First Presidency only if he recommends approval (see 6.2.3).
a. Murder
b. Incest
c. Sexual abuse of a child or youth, sexual exploitation of a child or youth, or serious physical or emotional abuse of a child or youth by an adult or by a youth who is several years older
d. Involvement with child pornography when there is a legal conviction
e. Apostasy
f. Plural marriage
g. Committing a serious sin while holding a prominent Church position
h. Transgender—actions to transition to the opposite of a person’s biological sex at birth (see 38.6.23)
i. Embezzling Church funds or property
Obviously, Cain murdered his brother, but, again, the First Presidency will be conducting the council, so no recommendation is needed.
10. Give written notice of the decision. The bishop or stake president ensures that the person receives prompt written notice of the decision and its effects.
11. Baptize and confirm. If a person’s Church membership was withdrawn in the initial council, he or she must be baptized and confirmed again. If First Presidency approval is necessary, these ordinances may be performed only after this approval is received. A Baptism and Confirmation Certificate is not created (see 32.14.4).
I suspect that President Nelson would be the one to perform Cain's baptism and confirmation. Turning now to 32.17.2 of the General Handbook:
32.17.2
Restoration of Blessings
Persons who previously received the temple endowment and were readmitted by baptism and confirmation can receive their priesthood and temple blessings only through the ordinance of restoration of blessings (see Doctrine and Covenants 109:21). They are not ordained to priesthood offices or endowed again. These blessings are restored through the ordinance. Brethren are restored to their former priesthood office, except the office of Seventy, bishop, or patriarch.
Only the First Presidency can approve the performance of the ordinance of restoration of blessings. They will not consider an application for this ordinance sooner than one year after the person is readmitted by baptism and confirmation.
The bishop and stake president interview the person to determine his or her worthiness and preparedness. When the stake president feels that the person is ready, he applies for a restoration of blessings using LCR. See 6.2.3 about the stake president’s responsibility when submitting applications to the First Presidency.
If the First Presidency approves the restoration of blessings, they assign a General Authority or the stake president to interview the person. If the person is worthy, this leader performs the ordinance to restore the person’s blessings.
It would appear that Cain would need to wait a year after his baptism and confirmation to have his priesthood and temple blessings restored. However, the First Presidency could fast track the process by silently changing the relevant language in the General Handbook.
“But if you are told by your leader to do a thing, do it. None of your business whether it is right or wrong.” Heber C. Kimball, 8 Nov. 1857