What was going on with Bill,Barb & LDS teacher

[marigoldmama]

I thought they were rejoining the LDS so they could get more votes, fit in better with the LDS etc.

WHY would you say all that to the LDS home teacher guy?

[miceelf]

I think it was sort of a home marriage counseling kind of session. And Barb tried to bring up what she thought was the Margie situation (since Margie and Bill couldn't talk to an LDS marriage counselor), trying to show Bill that is was no big deal, just a silly misunderstanding. And Bill set her straight that Margie kissed Ben on purpose and meant it. I do agree though, it was an awkward, uncomfortable scene.

[marigoldmama]

That is what I thought too but it turned kinda bizarre when the age of the "boy" came out. I have no idea why Bill said all that. It sounded really disturbing.

I'm sure that home teacher went home to his family with quite a story.

Those Henricksons are a wild bunch.

[duets]

I think Barb tried to make the LDS guy believe that it was her that had this incident, so as to hope Bill would see the light, that it meant nothing. After Bill interjected, the whole thing backfired in Barb's face. She wasn't aware that Margene had owned up to the fact that it meant something.

[marigoldmama]

Wouldn't you think that the LDS home teacher woulda said "these people are really bizarre" and then reported back to the church that this family is rather messed up? I think it is horrible and if I were that home teacher, I'd be very concerned about the whole situation. Bill is trying to keep his family under the radar...uh, reporting that your wife has kissed a minor is not a good way to do that. It was so stupid of Bill to say all that. It was stupid of Barb to even open the topic with the LDS teacher. Remember when Barb was telling Heather's father how she was so aware of child abuse and the signs and all that? She sounded to moral and ethical...she should know that admitting to kissing a minor is heading down a really bad path and then when Bill kept going, where was her common sense?

This whole Ben/Kiss story line is all very interesting but as a real life thing, I find it very disturbing that Ben is technically a child and these are grown women. I know it makes good TV and all but it is really just an inapppopriate storyline. If this were a girl-step father story line, it would be a different story completely. I don't care what adults do but when you put a technical child into a story line...I'm not comfortable with it. Maybe because I have sons coming close to Ben's age.

[miceelf]

The writers have waffled on how old Ben is -- he's been referred to as both 17 and 18. However, there have been several indicators that Ben is 18:

Last season, Ben talked with an LDS Bishop (I believe), who asked Ben about going on his mission trip. I think LDS missionaries must be 18 -- that's why their name badges say "Elder Smith" or "Elder Jones". It's an important rite of passage for an LDS young man.

Last season, there was also a scene, when Benny was getting all starry-eyed and saying he believed in the principle, and planned to have multiple wives, too. Might have been right when they came back from their NY trip? It was just Bill and Ben alone, and Bill laid hands on Ben and conferred the priesthood to him -- I think Ben had to be 18 for that ritual.

And when Bill built his own storefront church -- all the wives and children were in the congregation, and Bill, Don, and Ben were facing them at the front of the church, in a position of authority (remember, this is a very patriarchal society). So I think that's another indication that Ben is 18 now.

Whether Ben is/was 17 or 18 is really just a technicality for me -- he's Margie's stepson and she's been teasing and flirting and leading him on for several years, and that's just messed up.

[ladykc]

I'm confused about why an LDS home teacher would come to see Barb and Bill.

Wasn't she just excommunicated?

[marigoldmama]

Yeah, that was very sloppily added also.

It appeared that Bill and Barb were going to rejoin to get votes etc.

Like the ward in Sandy does not know what happened with an excommunicated member for where they used to live?

That whole plot was weird too.

But back to Ben's age, yeah, he could be 17 or 18. It's just getting too close to him being a minor. Bill laid his hands on him and gave him that priesthood...I believe that was the Aaronic priesthood and that takes place at 12? (Where is Zoar from the HBO Boards to help us out???)

I think we coulda lived without that kiss. I was OK with the note and the sexual tension but the kiss crossed the line. And if they needed the kiss, then be clear he is over 18 so you are not in that really creepy area.

Ok, I'm getting off topic...the whole thing with the LDS teacher was really unrealistic.

I was wondering if Barb was trying to deliberately trying to ruin the whole thing?

[zoar]

It is really easier to determine how old Ben must be by pinning down Sarah’s age. Bill and Barb lived as a normal LDS family for 10 years before they became polygamists. It is probably a good bet that Sarah was born during the first year so when they entered polygamy Sarah would be 10.

When season one begins, the family has been living polygamy for six years so that means in season one, Sarah is 16. Ben is either 14 or 15 but I am going to assume Sarah is two years older than Ben. So for the 4th season Ben is now 17 and Sarah is 19. That would fit right in with the story line of Bill being accused of running off young boys like the compound does. If Ben were 18, he would legally be an adult now.

I really don't know what to say about the Hometeaching dialogue that went on. It seems like they were telling him a bogus story based on facts regarding another, since he did ask if they were having any problems. Speaking of the excommunication, I wonder if we will ever hear from Pam or Carl again?

[marigoldmama]

Zoar!!!!!!!!!!! You made it over here!

Zoar, I'm still working with the missionaries. ;D

[marionj2]

Feb 9, 2010 9:58:25 GMT -5 ladykc said:

I'm confused about why an LDS home teacher would come to see Barb and Bill.

Wasn't she just excommunicated?

Barb and Bill went back for another interview and swore up and down that they had ended the polygamy and had no contact with the other wives. In order to be accepted again, they had to have home visits on a regular basis.

Isn't there something a little "un-righteous" about all those lies?

[marigoldmama]

I was rewatching the episode before our electricity went out

When Bill and Barb are talking to the LDS teacher, Bill referred to the boy (that Barb was talking about) as 17.

I think we can assume Ben is 17.

Definitely Marion, the whole thing was so full of lies.

And wouldn't you think that the ward would examine the "we gave up polygamy" a bit more closely?

[frazzz]

"Isn't there something a little "un-righteous" about all those lies?"

You are absolutely right, marionj2...and when Teeny blurted out that "Ben isn't righteous," Bill shudda just admitted, "Yeah, honey, and neither am I!" And neither is Teeny, the little snit, for passing on a little bit of dirt about her brother when she didn't have all the facts. Just wanted to get even with him for some slight she felt. I can't imagine how these people intend to go thru eternity together when they can't get along here on earth.

[dsc6]

Ben is still in high school, because Cara Lynn tells him that she will miss having him at school with her, when she sees him packing to leave.

[JJ77]

Well, aside from Barb bringing up the marene and ben thing (ateast as she knew it to be) I think she was defnitely trying to get someone else to tell Bill he was being rediculous , or making simething of nothing - which is what she wanted to beleive (that it was nothing).

Also, I think her bringing this up to the LDS people who came for the home visit showed just how far from seriously she is taking the whole "fake rejoining of the church".

Not positive but i think i recall reading that lds begin missions at 19 (or between 19-21).

I think ben is 18, he and sarah are one year not two apart - not that a year makes a differnce to the point at hand.