Its the deal and the Home Teachers broke it (DUH!)

[_Mercury]

Over the past two months the HT's and I have a deal. I appease my wifes desire to have a canned saccharine altruistic piece of trash known as a home teaching lesson into the home if I get to talk to them about my past history and how I came to a realization that the LDS church is flawed.

So they gave the canned answer to Life the universe and everything, closing with an amen and small talk. I corralled a kid and changed her diaper while the wife talked ith the assigned friends. Letting munchkin #1 loose to sit with us they launched into the typical "its time to go" Mormon schtick: Is there anthing we can do for you?

once again I said it was time for a different conversation and asked if they had any questions about what I shared last week, if they wanted citations for any of the historical consensus I had cited the month previous.

A moment passed and they announced they had to leave. They promptly left, citing other obligations not mentioned previously.

"Fair enough. I can understand you having to get home to your wife, White collar morgbot #1."

I invited him to lunch sometime this week and said goodbye. I was baking cupcakes when they came in so the whole thing was timed.

[_Trevor]

I am glad you are not surprised. I am not.

[_Scottie]

And what do you hope to accomplish by ruining their testimonies?

Will the imminent divorce be on your shoulders at all?

[_Gadianton]

Their testimonies are fair game. I hope Mercury ruins them for the record. TBMs just don't get it, and I for one think they should.

[_harmony]

Over the past two months the HT's and I have a deal. I appease my wifes desire to have a canned saccharine altruistic piece of trash known as a home teaching lesson into the home if I get to talk to them about my past history and how I came to a realization that the LDS church is flawed.

So they gave the canned answer to Life the universe and everything, closing with an amen and small talk. I corralled a kid and changed her diaper while the wife talked ith the assigned friends. Letting munchkin #1 loose to sit with us they launched into the typical "its time to go" Mormon schtick: Is there anthing we can do for you?

once again I said it was time for a different conversation and asked if they had any questions about what I shared last week, if they wanted citations for any of the historical consensus I had cited the month previous.

A moment passed and they announced they had to leave. They promptly left, citing other obligations not mentioned previously.

"Fair enough. I can understand you having to get home to your wife, White collar morgbot #1."

I invited him to lunch sometime this week and said goodbye. I was baking cupcakes when they came in so the whole thing was timed.

Someone isn't thinking. Your bishop or one of his counselors should be your home teacher. Anyone who lives with an antagonistic spouse should be assigned a higher ranking home teacher than just some guy in the quorum. Maybe they've already written your wife off.

[_Scottie]

Their testimonies are fair game. I hope Mercury ruins them for the record. TBMs just don't get it, and I for one think they should.

Why do you think this?

in my opinion, the amount of heartache that is at stake here is HUGE. Why would you want to rip that apart, even if you think you are doing a service in your eyes?

I think Tal's advice is the best. Ask them the simple question, "If I could prove that the church is false, would you want to hear it?" If they do not, then leave them alone!

What harm are they doing by coming into your home?

[_Trevor]

I see it like this. There was an agreement. The HTs broke it. They asked for the privilege of coming into Merc's home to share their message. He, in agreement with his wife, has every right to set some terms for that privilege. If they were not willing to abide by those terms, they should not have agreed to them. They are acting like weasels by dodging out of these terms, and, if I were Merc, I would discuss the end of their visits with my wife. After all, if they claim to represent good LDS values, they can start by demonstrating some integrity.

[_harmony]

They are acting like weasels by dodging out of these terms,...

Personally, I don't find this surprising at all. I think home teachers are very often more harmful than helpful, and I am forever grateful that mine haven't shown up in over a year.

[_Some Schmo]

Their testimonies are fair game. I hope Mercury ruins them for the record. TBMs just don't get it, and I for one think they should.

Why do you think this?

in my opinion, the amount of heartache that is at stake here is HUGE. Why would you want to rip that apart, even if you think you are doing a service in your eyes?

I think Tal's advice is the best. Ask them the simple question, "If I could prove that the church is false, would you want to hear it?" If they do not, then leave them alone!

What harm are they doing by coming into your home?

Yes, the amount of heartache is huge, but it's still for the best.

Think of the amount of pain a drunk has to withstand on the road to recovery. Does that mean you shouldn't talk them out of drinking?

Besides, Merc is being waaaaay more tolerant than I would be. Nobody is coming into my home and spouting off obvious rubbish to my family members. I don't let people pray in my house either. If they want to talk to themselves or the sky, they can do it outside. I have little patience for that crap. End of story.

[_moksha]

Their testimonies are fair game. I hope Mercury ruins them for the record. TBMs just don't get it, and I for one think they should.

Does the "getting it" mean they should understand Mercury is embittered? Perhaps they already do, but what would be the purpose in acknowledging it?
These guys obviously have a great deal of fortitude and return time and again for Mercurys wife's sake.