Commonsense Safety

As a former bishop of an inner-city ward in Chicago, I found that personal safety is often one of the first concerns of new ward members. Their anxiety is magnified as they realize they will be doing home or visiting teaching in neighborhoods with bad reputations.

Although our ward had few problems with respect to personal safety, we made a number of suggestions to ward members to minimize their risk of encountering problems as they go about their Church assignments.

When visiting someone’s home, make an appointment. That way the member will be expecting you, and you’ll avoid making an unnecessary trip into a problem neighborhood.
Get directions. Carefully note the best route into the area and where to park or where bus stops are in relation to the house. Ask if any special safety concerns exist about the neighborhood. Making arrangements ahead of time minimizes the risk of becoming lost or taking unnecessary chances.
Always do home and visiting teaching with your companion. We are counseled to visit in pairs, and in questionable neighborhoods a companion adds a safety factor. Two people together are less likely to be approached by strangers and are more likely to make better decisions if problems arise. If safety concerns are particularly serious in a neighborhood, it may be necessary to find other ways to keep in touch than through traditional home visits.
Listen to the Spirit. No area is completely safe all the time. It is important to offer a prayer and ask for the Spirit to be with you, then be sensitive to any promptings you may receive. If you feel uncomfortable about making a visit or if questionable people are loitering in the area, it may be best to reschedule the appointment. Impressions should be respected, even if it means making a return visit.
Identify problem neighborhoods clearly. Some areas may never be safe to visit and others may be safe only during daytime hours. I have found that I am comfortable visiting most neighborhoods early Saturday or Sunday mornings. I also noticed that problems are more likely to be encountered in the streets on hot summer evenings and on holidays.
Assign priesthood brethren to be present at all events held in the meetinghouse, especially when sisters are using the building. Brethren can become a visible presence by opening doors or standing in doorways as well as escorting sisters to their cars. A priesthood brother should be the last to lock up the building and leave, and here again a twosome may avoid trouble.
Greet visitors to the chapel. Members should be alert for people they don’t recognize. Not only is greeting new faces an important part of missionary and fellowship work but it also minimizes the number of questionable strangers who come into the meetinghouse. If you feel particularly uncomfortable greeting someone, notify a member of the bishopric and let him do it.

By staying alert and practicing a few commonsense rules, many safety issues can be resolved.—Christian A. Johnson, Morton Grove, Illinois

Illustrated by Beth M. Whittaker