Even though they're waiting at a bus stop, in broad daylight, and the police station is a half-mile away, do you stop to offer them a ride?

I've seen elders witness others fighting at bus stops in bad parts of town.

I wave at them as I go by, and if my window's open, I shout, "Health to your navels and marrow to your bones, elders!"

I don't give rides to strangers. In any town.

I doubt these little boys know what you mean with the Temple rite.

I'm with hie. It used to be reasonably safe to pick up hitchhikers and offer rides to strangers trudging along in the rain. It isn't, any longer. And anyone can put on a white shirt and a name tag.

People die as a result of following a kindly impulse with the wrong person.

Because the crazy people who used to be institutionalized are now dumped on the street by those institutions. Welcome to modern psychiatric care.

I suppose it spices up the mission field.

"And anyone can put on a white shirt and a name tag"

Yeah, but you can't fake that vapid, sallow look on their faces.

I stear clear because they show up everywhere around here.

No good deed goes unpunished, especially when trying to help out the mishies. At one point my Dad was assigned as a ward missionary. He was expected to assist missionaries Tuesday-Friday evenings. Since the church was/is cheap, he was always getting conned into driving them during their missionary transfers. He was told that he would only have to drive a reasonable distance with only one elder. However, that plan would be changed without his knowledge or understanding. The new plan would involve multiple elders and distances far greater than anticipated. The new plan would have been an all day affair. I am glad that he had the courage to tell them no.

If they're standing at a bus stop, they're waiting for a bus.

If they were in a state of emergency, they can use a cell phone, call 911, go to the police station, etc. Same as you or me.

I never pick up hitch hikers either.

Missionaries know the drill. If they're at a bus stop it's because they plan to be there. They lack either a car or a bicycle to get where they need to go. In Ferguson, MO buses are a commonplace way to get around.

Ferguson ? They are white so the police won't murder them.

The two guys fighting in front of the elders that I mentioned above were black. One tossed a water bottle at the other. Imagine if he had a gun.