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Show s~?£ a stand against me, to preserve the roles and a t t i t u d e s of women in our family. "I f people s t a r t doing t h a t , the group will f a l l apart," I proclaimed. "I've seen people t r y to make communal systems work, but they hardly ever do. I think the only thing that helps people transcend t h e i r own p e t t i n e s s i s t h e i r dedication to a higher ideal - to God or to a recognized authority." It was fun to make proclamations around my mother; she was always so appreciative and agreeable. As usual, she nodded. "Of course. But Alec believed he could marry these g i r l s to himself - or appoint someone to do it -- without the proper a u t h o r i t y . " I shrugged. "Daddy's a u t h o r i t y has been called into question more than once. I guess God;will be the , One to judge what is permissable and what i s n ' t ." My mother rested her chin on her hand. "That's what Alec says and others, too. Everybody wants to do the Lord's will - in his own way." Her voice was tinged with sarcasm. "Others? Like Brother Reardon?" It was a shot in the dark. His name had popped up often. "Daddy said he was like a son to him. . . ." My mother studied her hands again. "Don't say anything about i t right now, but there has been so much trouble up there. I c a n ' t imagine what's going on." She described the events of recent months - b i t t e r quarrels in Relief Society meetins, where Brother Reardon's wives had t r i ed to ^impeach the woman appointed by my father to head the women's organization. "They were told to engage in arguments, to t a l k out t h e ir |