What's up with the "countenance" concept?

[Hagoth]

Here's what fallen countenance looks like:

Before:


After:

[Advocate]

Just remember, we shouldn't judge a book by its cover. But in the church we are ok to judge a person by their countenance.

[Cnsl1]

There is something to be said regarding countenances. When a person sins their behavior changes, or rather their spirit that moves them was distracted elsewhere since the last time you observed them so they are not interacting with you on the same conscious level.

I think most would at least kinda agree. But I'd suggest caveats.

When a scrupulous member of a church does something they believe is sinful, they feel guilty enough that their behavior changes because they worry someone might know and/or they might lose blessings. They're particularly more distressed at church because, well the gift of discernment for one. What if someone can tell? What if everyone knows what I did? Those are distracting thoughts that make them act a little differently.

When a member doesn't think he's sinned but feels judged or looked at differently at church, he'll not be real comfortable there, which could be perceived by the scrupulous types that his countenance is darkened by sin rather than darkened by being around a bunch of judgy jerks. These types of folks usually don't and can't interact on the same conscious level. The genie is out of one's bottle and the rosey glasses are still on the other. This isn't to suggest they can't still be friends and interact very well together, but there's always that big thing. That very deep core piece that's markedly different and will probably always separate them unless one or both has a serious change of mind.

Another caveat is that a sociopath won't feel bad for doing socially or culturally or religiously bad things no matter what church they belong to or how often they attend and magnify their callings.

[Hagoth]

Also, when someone stops attending LDS church, they often grow some facial hair, change their hair style, start wearing sleeveless tops, get a second piercing or a tattoo, wear non-white shirts to funerals, etc. They might also frown back and all of the frowns, judgmental looks and passive-aggressive comments they suddenly start getting from from still-actives. All are interpreted as fallen countenance.

[Cnsl1]

Don't forget they're also no longer wearing their eternal smile tshirts!