1. An uncertain destination
2. Who cares what Brigham Young said? I certainly don't!

• (character chart)
• (polygamy note)

1. Young Women's
2. Youth Conference
3. Saturday's Warrior
4. Brigham Young University
• Gratuitous Love Scene
5. Polygamist
6. Temple Wedding
7. Orem High
8. Bordeaux Mission
9. Exmo Conference

Monday night

I woke from my fitful sleep to a light in my eyes.

As I was groggily sitting up and regaining consciousness, I heard Spencer say "See? I knew we'd find him here." Then Spencer and Sam both squeezed into the tiny room, standing the flashlight up to point at the ceiling.

"Are you okay in here?" asked Sam.

"I'm really cold," I replied.

"Of course," said Sam, "I'll go get you my sleeping bag." And he got out and went back to the house.

"Listen," said Spencer, "I know we shouldn't have been joking around about polygamy like that -- because it's no laughing matter -- but I have to tell you that was a pretty stupid thing to say."

"I know, I wish I hadn't said it. I wasn't thinking. I just repeated what I'd been taught. Obviously I should have realized it wouldn't be the same thing you guys believe."

"That's pretty clear. Brigham Young for sure didn't say that," said Spencer.

"Who cares what Brigham Young said? I certainly don't! If I never hear of Brigham Young again as long as I live, it will be too soon!"

"Let me give you a word of advice," said Spencer. "If you want them to let you back in the house, you'd better start caring what Brigham Young said, and it had better be exactly the opposite of what you said he said."

"What good will that do?"

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"You don't get it do you? Mom and Dad are afraid they'll lose their temple recommends if they let you stay in the house and 'preach that kind of doctrine.' That's why they wouldn't let us come look for you and we had to wait until the middle of the night."

"What's a temple recommend?"

Spencer laughed. "You really were living on a different planet, weren't you? It's the paper you take with you to the temple to prove you're worthy to enter. And one of the questions to get one is about affiliating with polygamists. So if you want to affiliate with this family, you have to not be a polygamist."

"But I'm not a polygamist! I'm just a kid. I didn't convert to that religion on purpose! And I ran away! Doesn't that count for anything?"

"Of course it does. Sam and I will get this all straightened out with Mom and Dad. We'll have you back in the house by tomorrow night. Provided you watch what you say a little better from now on."

"Thanks. I don't know how to thank you."

"It's nothing," he said, laughing a little. "Of course we can't have you living out here in the back yard like a dog or something."

As I heard Sam coming back, Spencer said to him, "He only needs one sleeping bag, Beavis -- it's not that cold."

"I'm going to sleep out here with Joe," said Sam.

"Suit yourself," said Spencer. "Don't let the bed bugs bite." Then he left as Sam came in and unrolled the sleeping bags. I got into one, and Sam got into the other.

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