I can just imagine the scenario. You're a JW, but you're waking up to it all. You know your eternal salvation doesn't depend on obeying every 'particle of a letter' in the Law of the Watchtower. So you take up smoking. You're at your workplace, enjoying a smoke, when Sister Enya Bidniz strolls by and sees you. She confronts you privately at the next meeting. "Brother Ouddabocks, I saw you smoking. I fear for you, and I only want to help you. If you won't go to the elders and get this cleared up, I will have to do it."
What do you do?
"Thank you sister, you're right. It's been weighing on my conscience for weeks now. I will go see Brother Bygphish now." You go off, find Brother Bygphish -- as sister Bidniz watches you -- and invite him into a backroom for a chat. When you get him back there, you ask him about his day, does he ski?, good talk last Thursday... After a while you emerge, chase down the tattle tale and thank her profusely for helping you get back on your feet. Explain that thankfully, as it has not become widely known in the congregation, Brother Bygphish is certain it can be handled with private reproof. "Just please, sister, keep this between us."
It would take a little luck, but I think you could pull this off, couldn't you? Has anybody done it?
Dave