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Show 12 THE MORMON LION is light. Let me advise you to exchange your oxen for mules and join the returning party of Apostles and Elders. They prate of safety- w1th the1r light carriages and fast teams they will go through without delay and reach Salt Lake City before the autumn storms set in. But this handcart train will inevitably be overtaken in the mountains." The doctor straightened his stooped shoulders and looked at me with glowing eyes. " You say, sir, that there is great hazard to those who travel slowly," he said. " I cannot believe it. I trust in the Lord and in the predictions of the priesthood. Yet e':'en If I knew that you were right, I still would stay W1th these humble children of the Kingdom. The worse they suffer, the more they will have need of me." "Dear father, we, too, can help-mother and I," murmured M1ss Lucy. "Believe me, Miss Neville," I hastened to say " my heartiest wish is that my fear of disaster to th~ train may prove groundless." "Faith can move mountains," stated Mrs. Neville. " That is true- when it enables such people as you to accept this repulsive doctrine of polygamy," I re1o111ed. "No, no, not polygamy!" exclaimed Dr. Neville. " Surely you do not believe the vile assertions of the Gentiles that celestial marriage is polygamy? The Elders must have explained to you that the relationship is purely spiritual." ' That is what they tell me. Yet-- " . "You do n.ot u~~erstand; nor do we-fully," sa1d Mrs. Neville. They have promised that the ~ystery shall be made clear to us when we reach ?wn. When the doctrine of plurality was announced 111 ~he M<l!emal Star, many Saints in England apostatized, th111king that a plurality of carnal wives was m.eant. Ind~ed, the words read that way. But our B1shop explamed that this was only a device to test THE MORMON LION 13 our faith and drive out the wolves from amongst the tr':'e sheep. The truth ~s that cel ~stial marriage is a ~mtual bond symbohz111g the umon between Christ Jesus and His Church." " You believe that? " I asked. " How else could it be? " said Miss Lucy. " Our holy Prophets never could have imagined so dreadful a wickedness as for a man to have more than one wife. The Apostle showed us the published declaration of the Prophet Joseph that the Saints believe a man should have only one wife." " It is the truth," confirmed Dr. Neville. I looked into the blue eyes of Miss Lucy, and said : " If that is the real explanation of celestial marriage I 11:eed not wait until I reach Zion before being baptized. I have already accepted the other doctrines that have been expounded to me as necessary for salvation." "You believe! You will accept baptism and come with us! " said Mrs. Neville, her face aglow. Miss Lucy blushed and drooped her long lashes under my gaze, but murmured 111 turn: "You will come to Zion with us, as a brother in the Kingdom, Mr. Ford I" I smiled at the kindly zealots, my heart warm with what I mistook for rehgious fervour and conviction. "Your faith has moved the mountain of my doubt! " I exclaimed. " Not only shall I at once accept baptism- I shall also travel with you." " Praise the Lord! Praise His holy name! " chanted the doctor and his wife . My gaze was upon Miss Lucy. She had raised her blue eyes to heaven in ecstatic JOY over another sheep gathered into the true fold. She was as beautiful as an angel. I thrilled with a bliss not entirely reli~ous. "And now," remarked Mrs. Neville, ' dear b!o.ther-~o-be, you must give) us;[the pleasure_:of d111111g w1th us." I managed to accept the invitation without too |