The Work and the Glory (124 page)

Rebecca came and sat next to Melissa. Nathan watched his two sisters. There was seven years’ difference in their ages. With marriage and two children, Melissa had put on some weight. Her face had filled out in contrast to Rebecca’s more youthful slenderness. But the greater contrast was in their coloring—Melissa with the dark hair and brown eyes that always reminded Nathan of Joshua, and Rebecca, more fair of skin and with pale blue eyes.

Melissa turned back to Nathan. “Please tell me, Nathan,” she urged. “I never get to hear much anymore.”

Nathan looked to his father. “We were all there. Pa, why don’t you tell her what happened?”

Benjamin frowned a little, but Nathan could tell he was pleased his son had deferred to him.

They all quieted, turning in anticipation to Benjamin, who was collecting his thoughts. Finally he leaned forward, hands on his knees. “Well, the services themselves were wonderful, but nothing unusual. But then”—he leaned back, letting his eyes rise to look at the ceiling—“when we were finished with the sacrament, Joseph asked that the curtains around the western pulpits be lowered.”

Melissa looked a little surprised. “He lowered them while you were sitting there?”

Benjamin’s head went up and down. “They completely enclose the pulpits. Once the curtains were down, Joseph and Oliver Cowdery retired behind them.”

“We all sat waiting,” Lydia said. “We sensed that something very important was going on, but we didn’t know exactly what. They were behind the veil for what seemed the longest time.”

“Finally, Joseph and Oliver came out.” Benjamin’s voice went suddenly soft. “The moment we saw them, we knew
something
had happened. Their faces seemed to glow, and they were very excited.”

“So what was it?” Melissa asked eagerly.

For several moments no one answered. Those that had been there looked at each other, as though acknowledging that words could do little to convey what had happened. Then Mary Ann looked at her daughter. “It was the most marvelous thing. The Savior appeared.”

Melissa’s mouth opened slightly. She was staring at her mother. “The Savior?” she whispered.

Mary Ann went to speak, then couldn’t. Benjamin stood and came over to sit by her. He took her hand, then turned to the others. “Joseph said he and Oliver bowed themselves in solemn and silent prayer. When they finished they stood, and that’s when it happened.” His voice dropped even lower. The awe had returned. “Joseph said the Savior was absolutely glorious to behold. He stood on the breastwork of the pulpits, and under his feet it was like there was pavement made of pure gold.”

Rebecca couldn’t hold it in any longer now either. She took Melissa’s hand in both of hers. “Oh, I wish you could have been there, Melissa, to hear them tell about it. Joseph said the Master’s eyes were like a flame of fire and that his face shone like the very sun itself.”

“No, even more brightly than the sun,” Lydia corrected her. “He said his face shone more brightly than the sun.”

“Yes, that’s right. Can you imagine it? And we were right there, just a few feet away.”

Melissa’s eyes were wide. “Did you hear him?”

“No,” Rebecca replied. “The curtains are made of heavy canvas. But I think it was more than that; I think this was a vision from the Lord and could be heard only with spiritual ears. And remember, at this point, we didn’t know what was happening.”

Lydia jumped in again. “According to Joseph and Oliver, the Savior said that we should rejoice because he had come to accept the temple. He also said that as long as his people do not pollute his holy house, he will manifest himself unto us and appear to his servants from time to time.” Tears suddenly welled up, and her voice caught. “The Savior of all the world, and we were
right there.
”

Melissa’s eyes were suddenly moist now too. “Oh,” she whispered, “how I wish I could have been there!”

“That’s not all,” Nathan said slowly.

“It’s not?”

“No. When the Savior was finished, the vision closed, but almost immediately thereafter another one opened.” He had to stop. He was remembering the way Joseph and Oliver had looked when the curtains were lifted. “This time it was Moses who appeared to them.”

That rocked Melissa back. “Moses? You mean the Moses of the Bible?”

“Yes,” Nathan exclaimed. “He told Joseph he had been sent to give the keys of the gathering of Israel. Now they could begin the gathering of Israel from the four corners of the earth, including leading the ten tribes from the land of the north.”

Benjamin smiled at Melissa’s bewilderment. He understood her feelings well enough. They had all been dazed, and still were. And they had had several hours to digest the idea. “That’s not all, either,” he went on.

“There’s more?” She was reeling.

Lydia, Rebecca, Mary Ann, Nathan—all were nodding at her, but they left it to Benjamin to tell.

“After Moses left, two more of the ancient prophets appeared to them. One called Elias appeared and committed to Joseph the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham. The other was the prophet Elijah.”

“The same Elijah who was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire without tasting death,” Rebecca inserted quickly.

“Do you remember the promise found in Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament?” Mary Ann asked eagerly. “Malachi said that before the great and dreadful day of the Lord would come, Elijah would return to the earth and turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. He told Joseph and Oliver that his coming was a sign that the great and dreadful day was near.”

Melissa sat back. “I can’t believe it. And you were all right there.” Her countenance fell. “And I was sitting listening to a preacher drone on and on about hell and the torments of the damned. I’ll bet he didn’t spend more than five minutes on the Resurrection.”

Nathan stood up, moving over to the fireplace where he could look more easily on the group. “Do you know what today is? Besides Sunday, I mean.”

“Easter,” Lydia said.

“Yes, but something else too.” When no one answered, he gave a little smile of triumph. “It’s Passover season for the Jews. Jesus was crucified during Passover week, so Easter and Passover always come at the same time.”

“Yes.” Melissa was puzzled. “So?”

Nathan, eager now, rushed on. “The Jews have a custom, or a tradition, during Passover. They believe that when Elijah comes as Malachi promised, it will be during the feast of the Passover.”

“Oh,” Benjamin said, the light starting to dawn in his eyes.

“That’s not all. Each family hopes Elijah will come to their home, so they always set a place at the table and leave an empty chair. It’s called Elijah’s chair.”

Melissa still seemed puzzled, but beside her Rebecca was nodding excitedly. “So,” she said, her voice rising, “Elijah came during Passover.”

“Yes,” Nathan finished, “but he came to the house of the Lord.” He looked momentarily sheepish. “Sidney Rigdon told me all this, that’s how I know.”

Mary Ann looked at her son. “That’s not the only significance of what happened today.”

“It’s not?” Benjamin said.

“No. It is Easter Sunday. This is the day Jesus rose from the tomb. This is the day he was resurrected. What more appropriate day for him to appear on earth again?”

Nathan felt an overwhelming rush of gratitude and awe. He looked around at his family. “I think we ought to kneel in prayer and thank God for what has happened today.”

“Yes,” Benjamin said, “an excellent suggestion. Nathan, will you lead us?”

He nodded and they got up, then knelt down at their places. A hush fell over the room as Nathan took a moment to collect his thoughts. Then in a low voice he began.

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. On this very special day, we kneel together as a family to thank thee for what has transpired. We know that it was on this day many years ago that thy Beloved Son rose from the grave and broke the bands of death for us. Oh, how glorious was his life, and oh, how wondrous was his rising in the Resurrection! We thank thee from the deepest longings of our souls that thou didst so love the world that thou gavest him for us that we might be saved.

“We know that others in our family have preceded us in death—our sisters and our brother who were taken home to thee while still in their youth.” He paused, sensing his mother’s pain as she remembered the children she had lost. “Oh, how grateful we are to know that because of thine Only Begotten Son they shall live again and we shall see them in the flesh!”

He took a deep breath. “Dear Father, we are humbled to have been in thy holy house this day, when thy Beloved Son, in whom thou art well pleased, chose to return to earth and reaffirm to all the world that he does live! That he still reigns in power and glory over his church and kingdom!”

Suddenly Nathan found it difficult to speak. There was so much he wanted to say, to express—their gratitude that angels had again come to earth, that prophecy was being fulfilled, that God spoke to men again. But the thoughts of the resurrected Lord being there—just feet away—in all his majesty and glory, completely overwhelmed him.

“O God,” he finally choked out, “how we thank thee! Oh, how we thank thee! And this prayer we give to thee in the name of our beloved Savior and Redeemer, amen.”

Chapter Two

Mmm, Mama, this pie is wonderful.” Rebecca was finishing the last bite. There were instant murmurs of assent from the others.

“Thank you, Rebecca.” Mary Ann was justly proud of her apple pie. It too had become part of their Sunday evening tradition. They would talk for a while; then, as the time drew closer for the ones who lived elsewhere to return to their homes, she would bring out the apple pie and large glasses of cold milk.

Jessica, finally satisfied that her young daughter was asleep, had joined them about a half hour earlier. She stood and began collecting the dishes. Melissa speared the last piece of her pie with her fork, made short work of it, then finished her glass of milk. As she handed the dishes to Jessica, she turned to her younger sister, who still sat by her on the sofa. “By the way, Miss Rebecca Steed, I want to hear more about this young man everyone is telling me about.”

Rebecca started, then instantly color touched her cheeks. She ducked her head as Nathan laughed aloud at her discomfort. For a moment she seemed twelve again and the shy little Becca they all had loved to tease. The dimple in her one cheek showed prominently now.

“Come on,” Melissa urged. “Everyone in town is talking about what a handsome couple you make. Am I going to be the last to know?”

“There’s nothing to tell,” Rebecca murmured.

Benjamin snorted in derision. “Nothing besides the fact that we have an extra houseguest about half the time now.”

Rebecca’s head snapped up at the betrayal. “Papa, that’s not true. He’s only been here two or three times.”

Now it was Mary Ann’s turn to look incredulous. “How many times?”

Rebecca was blushing furiously now. “All right, maybe four or five times.”

“Arthur . . . what’s his name?” Melissa said, more gently now.

“Wilkinson.”

“He’s a nice boy,” Lydia said. “We like him.”

Nathan hooted. “Like him?” Lydia had had Rebecca and her beau to their house for dinner on three different occasions. Lydia was definitely playing matchmaker on this one.

Jessica had come back from taking the dishes to the kitchen and stood in the doorway. “I like him too,” she said.

Nathan’s eyes turned mischievous. “You
are
eighteen now, Rebecca. Until Arthur came along, Pa and me were thinking we’d have to go up to Cleveland or somewhere and hog-tie some young man and drag him home for you.”

Lydia slapped his arm. “Nathan!”

Rebecca sniffed disdainfully at her brother. “Don’t you have to go help Matthew put the kids to bed or build a fence or something?”

But Melissa didn’t want to get thrown off course by Nathan’s banter. “So,” she said, leaning forward, “how serious is it?”

Rebecca shrugged.

“He’s talking marriage,” Mary Ann said softly, watching Rebecca closely.

Melissa clapped her hands. “Really?”

Rebecca finally looked up and met Melissa’s eyes. “
He’s
talking marriage,” she said slowly.

That took both Melissa and Lydia by surprise. Melissa, with her characteristic bluntness, blurted out, “But you’re not?”

Rebecca was studying her hands carefully now. “I’m not sure.”

“You’re not sure!” Lydia cried in dismay. “But why not, Rebecca? Arthur is a fine young man.”

Watching Rebecca carefully, Nathan had a quick flash of discernment. The time for teasing—and for pushing her on this—had passed. “Honey,” he said, patting his wife’s knee. “Rebecca’s got to make up her own mind.”

Lydia gave him a sharp look, but Melissa totally ignored his attempt to deflect the questions. “Why aren’t you sure?” she bored in.

Rebecca glanced quickly at Lydia, then at Melissa. Then she turned to her mother. An unseen something passed between them, and Mary Ann gave an almost imperceptible nod. Rebecca turned back. There was a quiet determination in her eyes. “I’m not sure he’s the right one.”

Melissa’s lips tightened. “It’s because he’s not a Mormon, isn’t it?” She was not quite able to keep the stiffness out of her voice.

The question hung in the air. No one moved. Though she was frustrated by Carl’s stubbornness on the subject of religion, Melissa was fiercely defensive of him. Nathan watched his little sister—not so little anymore—out of the corner of his eye. He knew what was going through Rebecca’s mind. She didn’t want to hurt Melissa, but the fact that Arthur was not a member was exactly what was troubling Rebecca. She had watched what was happening in Melissa’s marriage, and it troubled her.

Surprisingly, it was Benjamin who finally spoke. He too had been watching Rebecca closely. “I think Arthur is a fine young man. But if Rebecca hasn’t made up her mind yet, let’s not be pushing her on it.”

Melissa nodded and forced a quick smile. She started to speak, then thought better of it and stood up. “Well, I’d better be getting home. Carl will think I’m staying for the night.”