Bishop Rayven stood and grabbed the microphone. An American flag in his lapel gleamed. His fat settled at the bottom of his gut, making him appear like a football. “We’d like to thank everyone who participated in the administering of the sacrament. We remind you that this time is to reflect on Christ and how you can come closer to him. I know that Christ is alive today and he watches over each and every one of us. I know he answers prayers both large and small, from finding keys to protecting us in car accidents. As long as we live right, God will protect us from danger.” Mom wiped a tear from her eye and sniffled.
Peterson approached the pulpit. His eyes had sunken a half an inch since class. He made a joke about learning the hard way to not start a fast before yard work. In the corner sat Peterson’s wife and son—I’d never seen his son before. He sat with elbows on his knees, and he had a diamond in each ear. Peterson cleared his throat and looked above all of our foreheads. Scarlet rims surrounded his eyes.
“I’m grateful that my son could be with us. He’s back from treatment, and hopefully, we’ll be seeing more of him.” Peterson rubbed his eyes. “Today my message is short. I know that we all have temptation, and,” he paused, “I have temptation.” He looked at his son. “Through the years I have learned that inspiration comes from abandonment. I have to abandon my prejudice, my resentment.” He paused to wipe his eyes. He told a story about backpacking with his wife in college. “I waited to kiss her until after she married me, out of respect.” He closed with the message that we all make mistakes, and we can all become clean through Christ. He looked right at me, and at everyone. “You and me, we know when we need to repent. God gives us feelings like gifts that we can either accept or reject.”
Peterson closed his talk in the name of Christ and then stepped down to sit next to his son, squeezing him close. When a man in a gray suit stood, mom leaned close and whispered, “He’s the stake president,” meaning he was a rank above bishops. He was a man elected by another man, elected by a group of men chosen by God. He’d seen the sins of the congregation. He knew who cheated on whom, and who stole, lied, or coveted. He concerned himself with the masturbatory and heavy petting practices of young people.