Clarification of Missionary Rule?

[wca32]

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Edited June 16, 2013 by wca32

[Guest]

I believe the rule is that they should have had a priesthood holder there, but I've heard of cases where that hasn't happened. I think more than anything it's to avoid even the appearance of anything untoward going on.

[skippy740]

Missionaries have many rules to adhere to as official representatives of the Church. Following them helps keep them, the Church and the work progressing well and out of trouble.

Missionaries have a "White Handbook" which they typically keep on them at all times (I did during my missionary service). On page 25, it states:

Opposite Sex

Never be alone with or associate inappropriately with anyone of the opposite sex. Flirting or dating is not tolerated. You are not to telephone, write to, or accept calls or letters from anyone of the opposite sex living within or near mission boundaries.

You and your companion may visit single members or investigators of the opposite sex, including divorced persons, only when accompanied by a couple or another adult member of your sex. Try to teach single investigators in a member's home, or have missionaries of the same sex teach them. Always follow this rule, even if the situation seems harmless.

I followed this rule as well as I could during my missionary service. However, I've *heard* of mission presidents allowing visits to older women over a certain age... but I can't document it, nor can it be relied upon as mission presidents do change every 3 years.

My advice: Help the missionaries follow their rules, but don't be their rule enforcer. As a new member, you may have heard "Every member a missionary." Well, sometimes, as a missionary, we hear "Every member a mission president."

Ask for your home teacher to come by during the missionary visits... or the ward mission leader. This will help them to magnify their calling as well as help the missionaries keep to the rules.

[tubaloth]

Yeah maybe they were breaking the rules technically. There was times on my mission we would visit somebody and the only other person there was a Woman.

Its more try to find other ways of meeting. Either meet at a members house or even at the church.

[NightSG]

So what's the rule on transvestites? Last time we had one take interest, the bishop just gave up trying to figure it out and had the lessons taught in his office.

[pam]

So what's the rule on transvestites? Last time we had one take interest, the bishop just gave up trying to figure it out and had the lessons taught in his office.

Let's not derail this person's thread with another question not related to the OP's personal situation.

[talisyn]

It's spring, why not have your meetings in the yard or at a park?

[ElectofGod]

It all depends on the mission president. I believe our mission was allowed to the first visit to visit people. We were not going to reject someone knocking on a door and get let in and than deny them because they were alone. Thats ridiculous. than we were asked to findsome as the "third wheel". It seems they did not know before hand so they were nervous but now they know they would need a third person, a women, (if two elders, or just one male in the house)

[dahlia]

Perhaps the mother was 60 or over? Don't the new rules let elders in with single women when they turn 60? Personally, I can't wait. My son was OK when I was investigating, but not so much now, so I've been taking the guys out to eat.

The other thing you can do, OP, is have the elders meet you at a member's house (or have a member come with them).

I always thought it was strange that I couldn't be a single woman with 2 guys, but it was OK if there were 3 guys.

[sarah331]

Hello!

I've been a member of the church for about 9 months. Recently we received new Elders in my branch after a very long time of not having any. I was taught online so this is my first time with there being young missionaries in my branch.

How does being taught online work in conjunction with baptism? I knew you could chat to missionaries but I didn't know you could go through the lessons with them...?

I'm sorry, I have no insight to your question. I would think having 2 women to 2 men would be "equal" and thus okay -- each person has 3 other witnesses sort of a thing.

[wca32]

Thank you everyone! They visited again this week; the Mission President has actually gotten to know me quite well so he may have made an exception or it's a mission specific rule. Yes, my mother is in her late 50's. It's difficult to have members visit my house or I visit theirs because the branch is spread out all over 6 large counties with only 20ish active members.

How does being taught online work in conjunction with baptism? I knew you could chat to missionaries but I didn't know you could go through the lessons with them...?

They taught me through Facebook and Skype. It was just like they were at my house in person.

[NightSG]

They taught me through Facebook and Skype. It was just like they were at my house in person.

The online baptism is just too much of a liability issue, since so few people have waterproof computers.

[wca32]

The online baptism is just too much of a liability issue, since so few people have waterproof computers.

=/ I never said that the missionaries that taught me online were the ones that baptized me. I had to wait till a senior missionary couple came to the area before I could be baptized.

[brycematheson]

On my Mission, we taught quite a few people on their front porches or in parks (as someone else mentioned). It's warmer out now, depending on where you live, so that might be an option?