Three girls?

[curtishouse]

Maybe somebody can explain this to me. I was talking to somebody from my local ward yesterday and we were discussing meeting with the missionaries. I guess both the missionaries available are female and he asked if my wife was going to be home and, if not, they were going to need to get another girl from the church to accompany them. What is the point behind this? I understand if they are just being cautious for safety sake but it seems it would make more sense for a man to accompany them if this was the case. Why another girl?

[pam]

My understanding and someone can correct me if I am wrong, with the sisters being single females they prefer when meeting with a man that either they meet somewhere else (such as another members home etc) or a married sister from the ward accompany them.

I've heard more that they prefer either having Elders teach a male if the wife won't be present though.

[curtishouse]

Why is that? Are they afraid they're going to be attracted to the guy or something? lol

Or could it be more along the lines of that verse in the Bible where a woman is not supposed to teach a man (paraphrasing of course) LOL Just trying to get a grasp on this concept.

[pam]

It's the same with Elders. They can't teach a female if there is no one else in the house. The rule doesn't apply just to the sisters.

[PrinceofLight2000]

Why is that? Are they afraid they're going to be attracted to the guy or something? lol

You hit the nail on the head, bud.

[curtishouse]

Interesting Pam. Maybe its just to avoid all potential temptation just in case.

[beefche]

No, it is not just to avoid attraction. It's also to avoid ill appearances. Two men and two women can be construed as a date. It's a protection not only for the missionaries, but for the other person. False accusations can be avoided if the sisters do not meet with you alone.

[curtishouse]

If there's so many issues with this, it would seem that the most beneficial route would be that the male missionaries meet up with the males and female missionaries with the females. There are probably only so many missionaries to go around though.

[beefche]

That is usually how it is. But as you said sometimes missionaries are very busy. And typically, missionaries like to teach families (you know how important families are to Mormons), so it doesn't become that much of an issue.

[curtishouse]

The way the world is changing, though, with people waiting until much later in life on average to get married and start their families, the issue could become more prevalent.

Edited October 8, 2010 by curtishouse

[Wingnut]

Why is that? Are they afraid they're going to be attracted to the guy or something? lol

No, it has more to do with avoiding the appearance of evil. Not that two girls and a guy hanging out is an evil thing, but when the girls are specifically branded as representatives of the Lord, it is not appropriate.

You hit the nail on the head, bud.

Not really.

If there's so many issues with this, it would seem that the most beneficial route would be that the male missionaries meet up with the males and female missionaries with the females. There are probably only so many missionaries to go around though.

That's generally preferred, but there aren't always male and female missionaries assigned to the same area.

[Dravin]

The way the world is changing, though, with people waiting until much later in life on average to get married and start their families, the issue could become more prevalent.

It can be an issue but if both parties are interested in finding a solution (and the missionaries pretty much always are) it usually isn't a problem.

[curtishouse]

No, it has more to do with avoiding the appearance of evil.

I remember coming across that verse in the Bible before.

The strange thing is that the KJV is the only version that states that...No wonder the LDS church only sticks with the KJV. Just check out the discrepancy of 1Thes 5:22 in the different translations.

New International Version (©1984)

Avoid every kind of evil.

New Living Translation (©2007)

Stay away from every kind of evil.

English Standard Version (©2001)

Abstain from every form of evil.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)

abstain from every form of evil.

International Standard Version (©2008)

Keep away from every kind of evil.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)

Keep away from every kind of evil.

King James Bible

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

American King James Version

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

American Standard Version

abstain from every form of evil.

[TheActualLiz]

Plus the KJV is just more enjoyable to read (in my opinion at least). One thing about the missionaries bringing along a third companion from the ward is that the rule is not as strict as it used to be. I think this is because the world is changing and there is a tremendous need to reach out to the widowed and the fatherless... and the divorced.

I remember that there were issues with this when I was growing up and my mother would have the missionaries over. Sometimes there would be logistical problems because even though she was older and had two children she was still technically a single woman. Usually there was a way around this such as allowing the missionaries to do service work in the front yard but not allowing them into the house. Still it was a little annoying but I am very thankful to all the brother and sister missionaries who helped my family during that time.

I had concerns about this when I first started talking to the missionaries again as an adult. I was not always sure if there would be a man in the house when they came over so I was a little worried about scheduling things. Fortunately the rules have become a little more flexible and the missionaries are told to put the spirit first. If I had been a 19 year old college student investigating the church then yes it might look shady to have them alone in my apartment. As a 30 year old married woman who is starting to get my first gray hairs the situation looks and feels much different... so if they drop by and my husband is not home I do not have to turn them away at the door.

Does this make sense and am I correct in understanding this? I am still just a prodigal child of God trying to return so my understanding is limited and I would appreciate any corrections or clarifications that the more faithful members could give me.

[Jamie123]

Maybe somebody can explain this to me. I was talking to somebody from my local ward yesterday and we were discussing meeting with the missionaries. I guess both the missionaries available are female and he asked if my wife was going to be home and, if not, they were going to need to get another girl from the church to accompany them. What is the point behind this? I understand if they are just being cautious for safety sake but it seems it would make more sense for a man to accompany them if this was the case. Why another girl?

Very strange. Back when I lived on my own, the two sisters would often come and visit me at my house. Sometimes they brought a third person - either a man or another girl - but more often it was just the two of them. They must recently have changed the rules.

[curtishouse]

Very strange. Back when I lived on my own, the two sisters would often come and visit me at my house. Sometimes they brought a third person - either a man or another girl - but more often it was just the two of them. They must recently have changed the rules.

I wouldn't know. It just seemed weird to me and its good to get a lot of feedback from different members.

Btw the rat in your quote is Master Splinter

[Jamie123]

Btw the rat in your quote is Master Splinter

Indeed it is!...some say Confucius said it first but we know better

[curtishouse]

Indeed it is!...some say Confucius said it first but we know better

Was Confucius ever mutated by the ooze? I think not! Check Mate! Master Splinter remains undefeated!

[Wingnut]

Very strange. Back when I lived on my own, the two sisters would often come and visit me at my house. Sometimes they brought a third person - either a man or another girl - but more often it was just the two of them. They must recently have changed the rules.

The rules haven't been changed recently. It may be that they are recently receiving greater emphasis, though.

[beefche]

And some missionaries are more obedient than others.

[Maureen]

I remember coming across that verse in the Bible before.

The strange thing is that the KJV is the only version that states that...No wonder the LDS church only sticks with the KJV. Just check out the discrepancy of 1Thes 5:22 in the different translations.

New International Version (©1984)

Avoid every kind of evil.

New Living Translation (©2007)

Stay away from every kind of evil.

English Standard Version (©2001)

Abstain from every form of evil.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)

abstain from every form of evil.

International Standard Version (©2008)

Keep away from every kind of evil.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)

Keep away from every kind of evil.

King James Bible

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

American King James Version

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

American Standard Version

abstain from every form of evil.

Discrepancy? You don't see them saying pretty much the same thing? What's this discrepancy you speak of Curtis?

M.

[Just_A_Guy]

Two men and two women can be construed as a date.

Of course, in a church known for having practiced polygamy in the past, three women and one man doesn't look that great either.

[Dravin]

Discrepancy? You don't see them saying pretty much the same thing? What's this discrepancy you speak of Curtis?

M.

I think, and he can correct me if I'm wrong, that what he is getting at is that the KJV suggests avoiding the appearance of evil where as the others are saying to avoid evil. So the KJV takes it a step further. Don't do evil and don't even do something that looks like you are doing evil.

Personally I'm not sure I'd classify it as a discrepancy though, the other verses certainly don't contradict the KJV (or visa versa), even if the later can be said to extend the idea a little further. I Wonder which is closer to the literal Greek, generally that goes to the newer versions but I don't know for a fact such is the case here.

Edited October 8, 2010 by Dravin

[curtishouse]

Discrepancy? You don't see them saying pretty much the same thing? What's this discrepancy you speak of Curtis?

M.

Yes, discrepancy was a poor of choice of word on my part. I was pointing out the difference in regards to the KJV version compared to all the other versions.

[dahlia]

I don't know if you saw my other post about missionaries at my door, but they wouldn't come in either. I didn't want to miss the chance to talk to them, so we ended up standing in my doorway. I thought it was a little silly - the guys were probably 13 yrs younger than my son - but they wouldn't come in. Also, it was now dark and the guys were on bikes. I have an SUV and could have driven them back to their apartment with the bikes in the back, but they probably wouldn't have accepted for the same reason they wouldn't come in. I understand why they don't do it, but it seems to make life difficult sometimes.

I'm meeting with them next week and they are bringing someone from the church with them. This way, if my son is home fine, if he isn't, they can still come in and chat.