Missionary Rules

[Anonymous]

I really like to work on cars and do home repairs and improvements. That often requires (or is MUCH easier) with tools.

If Satan has the best Binford tool-time approved set of tools, I may just have to look at joining his team.

[Anonymous]

I guess what bugs me most about a view of Satan that seems to be common in the church is that he is some supernatural very powerful being who can influence our very thoughts without us knowing it. I know we attribute these same qualities to God/The Holy Ghost but there’s a difference because we are supposed to be able to tell when we are being influenced by the Holy Ghost. Satan is more tricky, we somehow don’t know when he is (possibly) influencing us? I really have more trouble with the LDS concept of Satan than I do with the LDS concept of God or the Holy Ghost.

Sorry for the threadjack.

[Anonymous]

I see good reason for it. Men are vulnerable in today’s society. It takes one false accusation to destroy confidence in the person’s reputation, even if they are acquitted or the charges are unfounded.

I went to a movie with my 15 year old niece yesterday out of a kind of accident and damage control for an unexpected situation that happened.. I saw how incredibly strange it feels to be in that situation as I never, and I will say, never, let myself be alone with a female in a place that isn’t public. We were trained at our university we’d lose any claim against us for any kind of inappropriate behavior with a female student, even if the claims were unfounded.

Also, older males are especially vulnerable as there is a big stigma against relationships between older men and young women. But I think the rule for missionaries is wise. As it is with the gun rules.

When you are part of a large organization, flush with cash, you have to be more careful as you become a lawsuit magnet. And men are far more vulnerable to these kinds of accusations than I think they are aware.

I am getting this from my walking partner of a while ago who is involved in political action for men’s rights in shared parenting situations. I was amazed at the binds he and many of his fellow activists got themselves into due to indiscretions or even behavior where they raised their voice, and ended up with domestic abuse claims from others. He is so paranoid now, he has video cameras installed at the front of his house to capture whatever happens when the mother of his child does a hand-off.

[Anonymous]

I think it is also – like I say – to prevent them becoming free babysitters.

[Anonymous]

The lawsuits are a real danger. It’s also become Church-wide policy (at least in the past five wards I’ve attended), that a male cannot teach a primary class alone. Females can. In these times, it’s a pretty big sexist stigma that all males are perverts.

There was this one investigator we had on my mission. We had a pretty solid friendship. One time, we were over there for a lesson. His wife wasn’t interested, and was feeling sick, so she was taking a nap in her bedroom. I had to use the bathroom before we began. I went in, and saw a door ajar at the back. I noticed it led to the bedroom, shut it and did my business.

The next time we went over, the man asked if he could speak to me alone. He was very adament, but my companion refused. He accused me of peeping in on his wife. I swear he was a moment away from beating me up. He said that on the slight chance he was wrong about the situation, he’d “let me go.” But if he ever saw me again, there was going to be trouble.

[Anonymous]

I agree the no babies/small children thing is a good thing for many of the same reasons mentioned by SD. Coupled with the perception that the church (and American missionaries) are rich and there is certainly an opportunistic scenario for some in SA and Africa. Like SD, as a teacher I was always careful to never be in a room or out of someone else’s site or earshot with any student, female or male.

[Anonymous]

Could you imagine being a missionary in a foreign country and having something happen where you go to jail like this??? What a scary thing to think about.

[Anonymous]

Heber13 wrote:

Could you imagine being a missionary in a foreign country and having something happen where you go to jail like this??? What a scary thing to think about.

I have thought about it, having had two sons serve in foreign countries. It is indeed scary. There’s little our government can (or perhaps will) do to help.

[Author]

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