The Gospel According to Jeffrey

(Coming in late? Start from the beginning !) When I started at Indiana University in Fall Semester 1992, there was not yet a Young Single Adult branch at the school. However, our numbers were such that the local Institute of Religion was always bustling, and with the subsequent assignation of all local YSAs to the Bloomington 2nd Ward, our about 50 active members were a very strong, tight-knit group. Keith, on the other hand, had a less faith-promoting experience at Ricks. While one would naturally assume a religious school to be a positive environment, quite the opposite is often true: less-committed individuals will often attend at their parents’ behest, and since Church activity remains part of the culture, there are plenty of bad examples among even fully active Church members. As it happened, Keith wound up randomly assigned to an apartment with three less-than-exemplary roommates, which took quite a toll on his faith. Undeterred, Keith pressed on and attempted to serve a f...

(Coming in late? Start from the beginning !) The day after our baptism, Keith and I had a great day at Church. Everyone was so excited for us, and our bishop took me aside and shared some counsel that I can only describe as a prophecy. (I won’t share the details, but suffice to say, it has been partially fulfilled and in process of being completely fulfilled.) Afterwards, though, is when the real excitement started. After leaving Church, we headed back to Keith’s house. While Keith ran up to his room to change his clothes, his grandfather took me outside to the front porch for a little talk. Once there, he informed me that I was no longer welcome in their home and that I shouldn’t come back in. I stood there on the steps for a few minutes until Keith came out and asked me what was going on. I’ll never forget the look on his face as he quickly headed back in, calling, “Grandpa!” While I continued to stand on the porch, Keith got to fully witness a very loud argument, which I only...