[Jolly Green]

Someone here said that wouldn't be common in an LDS household, but I'm not convinced that's true.

It is true - in many Mormon homes. Unnecessary, external influences i.e. TV, phones, internet, are controlled and/or avoided whenever practical.

I would think a phone would be an added safety measure in a house as large as the Smart's. No one in the know has mentioned it one way or another, but MK could have called the police if there had been a phone.

A 6000 sq. ft. home is large, but not huge.

[varina davis]

It is true - in many Mormon homes. Unnecessary, external influences i.e. TV, phones, internet, are controlled and/or avoided whenever practical.

Apparently that didn't apply to computers. Seemed to be plenty of those among Smart family members. The total number LE took was 13, as I recall.