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JUDGE: (Reads out charge sheet)
Being in charge of a Visiting Teaching assignment while NOT under the influence of the spirit.
Carrying out Visiting Teaching without due care and attention.
Sister A how do you plead

Sis A Not guilty.

JUDGE Sister B how do you plead.

Sis B Not guilty

Prosecution Sister A and Sister B you are charged that on the last day of the month. You were found to be reckless in the exercise of your VT duties, that you had failed to maintain adequate written records as required by the VT ing Leader. That you had sought to mislead the defendant by smiling and waving at her across the chapel whenever you met thus, convincing her that you were indeed still her VT.
You have asked for 142 similar offenses to be taken into account.
Sister A and Sister B did you or did you not undertake to visit this dear woman at least once per quarter and preferably once per month.

Sis A I did
Sis B I did

Prosecution Sister A did you agree to team up with Sister B and share this responsibility equally.

Sis A I might have done.

Prosecution Is that a yes or a no Sister A

Sis A (mumbles) yes.

Prosecution Did you and Sister B agree a system whereby you might encourage each other and ensure that the work would be done? Did you further agree that you Sister A would arrange the visits and Sister B, who is in possession of a motor vehicle, would ensure you arrived safely at your destination.

Sis A Yes, something like that.

Prosecution Have you always, to the best of your recollection fulfilled the duties as outlined above?

Sis B Yes

Prosecution I call my first witness Sister C. do you know the identity of your VT?

Sis C I think I do.

Prosecution Are the said persons in this room?

Sis C I believe so.

Prosecution Could you please point to them?

Sis C Well, it has been some time sir and I did only get a brief glance at them once, but I am almost certain it is those two over there.

??? Objection! Your honour, all Mormon women look the same all modestly dressed with happy faces, carrying several large bags, a hymn book, a leather bound quad under one arm and a tasty chicken casserole under the other. This is unreliable your honour!

Judge Objection overruled. Carry on.

Prosecution Thank you. If you would please tell the court what happened on the afternoon of the 21st when you were admitted to hospital with suspected appendicitis.

Sis C Well, I had such pain and I had rung the doctor and he said.

Prosecution Yes, if we could just concentrate on the actions of the accused.

Sis C Oh Sorry yes. Well I range Sister B and told her that I was going into hospital and could she please help me with the children.

Prosecution And what was her response.

Sis C Well, she asked me if I could possibly go in a little later on in the week 'co she would be on holiday by then and Sister B would have to take care of it. I told her I couldn't oblige and she said she would ring Sister B anyway. That's what she always does apparently and it works every time. She said that as far as she understood things now, a VT was sort of 'information co-ordinator' and anyway she had just had her carpet shampooed and didn't like the thought of young children running all over it.

Prosecution Did either Sister A or Sister B visit you during your week long stay in hospital?

Sis C No, but they did ask the Bishop to tell me that they were asking about me.

Prosecution Upon your return from hospital did they then monitor your situation?

Sis C I did see them once, it was early one evening and I was upstairs trying to catch up on the ironing and rocking the baby to sleep at the same time, and reading to my 6 year old whilst stitching a button on my teenagers rugby shirt. I heard a car approach, then it switched off it's lights and coasted down my driveway. One person got out the passenger side, I couldn't quite make out their identity but I thought it was Sister B. She dropped an envelope through my door, ran up the drive and they were gone. I am sorry but I did not get the registration number.

Prosecution And what was placed through your door?

Sis C It was a sponsorship form for Sister B's diet

Prosecution Did it include any reference to your ill health?

Sis C No Sir, it did not.

Prosecution Do you ever receive any other correspondence from the accused?

Sis C I used to get nice notes and things at the beginning but that tailed off. I once got a coupon requesting the free bottle of Mister Muscle window cleaner and including the tear off tab, but I think that came to me by mistake. I expect Mr Muscle got my message that month.

Prosecution Do you receive cards on important occasions such as your birthday & Christmas?

Sis C Well yes I did do last year. I received a large parcel at church. And when I got it home it contained a selection of cards with the instruction that I was to take out the relevant card as each occasion arose. They had very kindly signed each one, which I thought was really nice, and then asked if I wouldn't mind letting them have them back when I had finished as they were rather nice and would make good bookmarks.

Prosecution Did they ever ask you out to lunch, or to attend the temple together or baby-sit your children while you went with your husband?

Sis C No, but they did once say that VT was a partnership between us all and could I have their children on three separate occasions because there was a lot of socials coming up in the ward.

Prosecution Thank you Sister C you may sit down.

Judge Sister's A & B you have heard the evidence against you. You now have the opportunity to respond if you so wish to.

Sis A Well, yes m'lud we would like the bench to consider our viewpoint. We feel that sisters should be encouraged to be independent, self-reliant, strong and ready for anything. We felt that if we showed too mush compassion, interest or understanding that we would weaken Sister C. She would be totally dependent upon us and, as good as we are, we cannot be her VT forever. One day anther group of sisters must benefit from our labours and then where would she be? And besides, it is sister C's fault really.

Judge How so?

Sis B Well, every time we see her we do leave with the customary question. Now is there anything we can do for you….? and she never asks us for anything so she must be all right.

Prosecution I call my 2nd witness Sister D (Sister D takes witness stand)
Could you please state your name and tell the court your relationship with the two ladies you see before you.

Sis D I am Sister D and I'm sorry but I'm afraid I don't know them.

Prosecution Come now, they have been your VT for over a year and yet you claim not to know them?

Sis D What are Visiting Teachers?

Prosecution I see we need to clarify things here. Sister D how long have you been a member of this church?

Sis D Just over 1 year.

Prosecution And what prompted this change in your religious affairs.

Sis D The missionaries taught us at home, we attended church and I gained a spiritual witness that the church was true. I was baptized 13 months ago.

Prosecution And did your family join along with you?

Sis D No sir they did not. I joined alone.

Prosecution But were they supportive of your decision.

Sis D No, they were very skeptical but I knew that once they saw the goodness of the church they would soften towards it.

Prosecution Sister A & B do you recognize this witness?

Sis A No, never seen her before
Sis B No never

Prosecution You claim you don't recognize her and yet you have been her sole VT since she joined the church.

Sis A Well, we didn't know.
Sis B No-one told us she was on our list.

Prosecution May I present to the court a hand written note to Sister's A & B advising them of the exciting news they had a new convert 'under their wings'. A note recently retrieved from the bottom of Sister A's Sunday bag. (hold up crumpled note)
Ladies would you please examine the note (they do so) - now have you seen it before?

Sis A Yes
Sis B Yes

Prosecution Did you ever receive any verbal instructions regarding this Sister?
Did you not receive an urgent telephone call from the RS President to visit Sister D.
Sister D could you tell the court why the RS President might be anxious to have Sister A & B call at your house.

Sis D I was experiencing family problems. The Bishop came to see me and when he was leaving told me not to worry some sisters were on their way, but they never did come.

Prosecution So you received no support or comfort from your VT at this difficult time?

Sis D I did get some cards but I didn't know who they were from.

Prosecution And we have one of these cards here to show the court.
Sister A & B do you recognize this card?

Sis A Oh yes
Sis B Oh yes.

Prosecution Sister B would you kindly read it out to the court.

Sis B Dear Sister D, Just a note to see how you are doing. Hasn't it been a scorcher! We've both been on holiday and had a great time. Are you all going away this summer? Don't forget Enrichment on Thursday 7th. Happy holidays Love Sister A & B

Prosecution Sister D, how did you feel when you read this card?

Sis D I guess they didn't know I was having problems.

Prosecution Thank you Sister D you may sit down.

Sister A We are grateful to this court for helping us to recognize our complacency with respect to Visiting Teaching. We both regard this as more of a social program, a way of getting to know each other and building friendships. We thought that if the sisters didn't get a visit from us they would still have plenty of friends in and out of church. They would have good experiences in other ways and we could always catch up later.

Sister B With this new vision of how powerful we can be in the Lord's hands we promise this court that from this time forth we will renew our Visiting Teaching efforts, pray for our sisters and for each other and do all that we can to see that not one sister in our care is lost.

Judge Considering all the facts before me and given the sincere sorrow of the defendants and their determination to go forth as strong and loving Visiting Teachers. I determine that they be given another chance. I dismiss this case but remember that next time it might not be this court you face but one with much greater authority than mine and by then it will be too late to mend your ways.

Case dismissed.

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