This is exactly how it was for me!
Before I was hauled in the little room, my older MS friend in the hall (who knew cos I told him) said to me not to lie or even omit or misrepresent anything as the holy spirit would tell the elders and that it would be the holy spirit that would decide if I was truly repentant or not!
Well, I lied my ass off!
I didn't deny anything, but I wasn't sorry one bit!
And they bought it.
Then second time, when someone told on me I lied again and they still bought it.
Right there, I realised there was no holy spirit directing anything. My eyes began to open, and then I woke up.