Four Years in Eternity

 

                The day had grown uncomfortably warm, and the young man paused at his front door, drenched in sweat and was easily fifty pounds overweight. Slipping the key into the lock, he entered, walked to the bathroom, splashed some water on his face and looked at his sad visage in the mirror, wondering how so much had gone wrong so quickly.

              The beautiful, intelligent, gifted and once happy young man sat down at his desk, rolling the bottle between his fingers, hating his present reality, struggling to find some avenue of escape, he unscrewed the lid, dropped the pill into his mouth and swallowed it with a shot of apple juice. Whether it was a psychological reaction or a genuine physiological response, he was uncertain. He could feel the ambient temperature begin to drop, his body relax, and an incredible urge to sleep come upon him.

              “Ugh, I should probably lie down,” he thought. But before he could make the transition from chair to bed, he slumped over with his forehead resting on his arms. An incredible feeling of freedom, escape, bliss and joy came upon him, a cornucopia of feelings he had not experienced in many, many years. The multitude of substances he had ingested over the years initially provided a sliver of escape and fleeting happiness, but this new experience was unlike anything he had ever before felt.

              He could feel himself growing colder and colder as the next few minutes crept past. He seemed to lose all sense of time or being, wondering if he had finally found the answer for which he so desperately sought. His mind was a whirlwind of activity, wondering about his current state, why he was so cold, and if his beloved cat Froggy was okay.

              The sound of the front door opening caught his attention, as well as someone calling his name. He could feel himself slipping from the chair onto the floor and from that moment forward he could see nothing, he could hear nothing, and the cold completely overtook him. The sense of joy and freedom only continued to grow, like the embrace of a dear friend who loved him regardless and never judged him.

              The feeling of his entire being radically changed from what he had felt just a few moments before. He felt fit, he felt strong, he was comfortable and thoroughly energized. He opened his eyes and found himself lying on a patch of lush, green grass, staring into a glorious blue sky.

“Oof, what his going on,” he wondered. He lifted himself from his prostrate position to lean on his elbow.

“Guess I better figure out where I am and what I can do now, because this place does not look familiar at all.” Rising to his feet, he looked in all directions and could hear music coming from the north. “Can’t go wrong with music,” he thought, so he started walking and came across a large group of people on the other side of a small hill. Within seconds of his arrival, four people about his age approached him, hugged him, welcomed him and invited him to join them in making music. As he blended into the crowd, he realized that he had never felt this happy ever, as long as he could remember.

All sense of time and location seemed irrelevant, and he poured himself into interaction with his newfound friends. All of them contributing to the musical process. The longer he interacted, the more he realized just how many people surrounded him in this joyous, energizing event. He exchanged names with those who originally embraced him and began to weave through the huge crowd of people, to be approached by many others, some his age, some much older, and many seemed to know him. He felt a connection with a few of them, with some of them looking very familiar.

Many called him by name, though he had not told them his name. They glowed with joy at his arrival, they encouraged him to reach out, to connect, and to embrace this new reality. He would occasionally catch glimpses and memories of his family, his friends, his pets, and his many, many activities from the past. It all seemed so unimportant now, with the exception of his family and friends, many of them he hoped would join him in this beautiful, new, joyous place.

The joy he felt enveloping him only continued to increase the longer he was here. The crowd that had embraced him began to move as a single entity further north, drawing closer and closer to what seemed the be the source of light, of joy, of completeness and a final destination. The further north they moved, he noticed that some within the crowd stopped in their place, seemingly unable to move any further.

The crowd grew smaller and smaller as they moved but he continued on with the few that remained. “Why are they stopping?” he wondered. “All of this is so wonderful, so fulfilling, so warm and happy. Nothing is stopping me from reaching the end point.”

He and those with him continued to tread a path through the rolling green hills until they reached small wooden fence line with a single gate. They all shifted into a single line and passed through the gate to be embraced by a number of beautiful, smiling, and welcoming older men and women. They all seemed to know him, hugged him, welcomed him, and one of them, a man named Andrew hugged him with an intense ferocity, encouraging the young man to reciprocate.

Having passed through the gate, most of his memories of everything from before began to fade and he relished the joy, the beauty, the warmth, and the happiness of this new place. Andrew embraced him from the side, inviting him to join him to meet a particularly special friend, who was waiting for them further north.

As he and Andrew continued their walk northward, he began to wonder about what it was that made him so sad and empty before he had arrived here. “Why didn’t I come here sooner?” he wondered. “This is so good, so right, and so fulfilling. I know that eventually I’ll see everyone I’ve known and loved in my previous reality. I really don’t have the words to describe it all.”

“Oh, look there he is,” Andrew said.

“Oh, my beloved, you have finally arrived,” the man said. “I am so sorry for the struggles and pain you’ve experienced over these last few years. But now that you are here, it will all begin to make sense.”

The young man received the man in a warm embrace, marveling at how short he was. The young man had never felt such love and acceptance as he did at this moment.  “Thank you for bringing me here,” he said, nearly choking on his words as tears filled up his eyes. “I wish I could’ve come sooner. I feel like a completely different person, it is as if all worry and self-condemnation have disappeared.”

“Yes, I completely understand,” the man said. “Your response is the same as most who make this transition. As I said, you will eventually come to understand why you passed through the struggles you did and why you arrived in this place at this time.”

“What do I do now that I’m here,” he asked.

“There is nothing required of you now that you are here,” he said. “All we ask is that you love those around you, welcome those who arrive just as you have arrived and pour your heart and passion into whatever you choose to do. This a place to create something beautiful and immerse yourself in love and joy. We all encourage you to meet as many people as you can. Some have been here for a very, very long time and can give you good advice, wisdom, guidance, and suggestions on how to spend your time.”

“This sounds very good,” he said. “There is so much music that I have been wanting to create. There are many pictures that I have been wanting to draw and paint. I hope I have the opportunity to do so.”

“That is exactly your calling,” the man said. “Andrew here will help you get settled in, he’ll show you to your living space, your creative space, and will connect you will others like minded. Create, love, connect, and push the boundaries to challenge yourself. We are all so happy that you are here. Now you can be yourself, now you can love, and be loved in return.”

The two men began walking toward the living spaces, which the young man realized were set up in groups of seven domiciles. “We believe that community is very important. Having others around you to help you, to direct you, and to provide regular, consistent interaction will make all of our time here that much better. This is your personal space where you will sleep and keep your things, but I really encourage you to spend as much time as possible interacting with others. The thoughts and ideas of others will help refine and challenge your creative output. I am so happy that you have joined us.”

“Thank you so much, Andrew,” the young man said. “Hopefully we can spend time together in the future.”

“Yes, we certainly will,” Andrew said. “You and I have a special connection that makes us inseparable. Enjoy your time here, relax, and create something beautiful. Also, don’t forget to rest and enjoy the beauty and good company.”

Accomplishing Much, Accomplishing Little

 

                Robert and Mary married young, having become sweethearts in high school and throughout university, they both pursued the path of corporate success and growth, waiting until they were in their early thirties before having children. The decision was made for Mary to step away from her job after they learned that she had become pregnant.

              They had built up an impressive financial cushion for themselves, making life relatively easy to continue with only Robert’s income. With the birth of Richard came excitement, joy, a new sort of busy and a new set of responsibilities. Two years later, Mary became pregnant again, and they watched their family grow from three to four with the birth of Jonathan. Mary beamed with joy at her success of providing two sons for she and her husband.

              “I’m excited to see what kind of men Richard and Jonathan become,” she said.

“This is a huge responsibility to raise two new humans to follow the path of success,” Robert answered. “I know we’ll do just fine. When you consider how well we’ve progressed in all things important.”

Richard began to develop his role of big brother very early on, doing his best to train, influence, and guide Jonathan in everything he considered important. Both boys embraced the practice of leadership, sportsmanship, and teamwork. Taking on small jobs as soon as they were old enough, they both became part of the baseball team, the basketball team, the chess club, and student government all throughout high school.

Jonathan watched Richard graduate, feeling proud of his brother’s achievements. Seeing him off to university, they stayed in contact, encouraging one another, sharing facts and achievements and challenging one another to take on new adventures and areas in which to better themselves. As Jonathan reached his final year of high school, he began to ask questions about what was truly important and how to make himself a better human being.

Following in his brother’s footsteps, he too began university, pursuing a degree in criminal law, aiming for the goal of finding justice, correcting the many wrongs in the world, and committing to put time and effort into helping those who were impoverished by a system that took advantage of their misfortunes and cultural differences.

As Jonathan completed his second year of university, he traveled across the state to attend his brother’s graduation. Richard had earned a degree in business, to receive a job offer from a major corporation. With these two events taking place, Richard began his path of pursuing wealth, comfort, the dating world, and mastering the skill of investment for his company and for himself.

Jonathan watched in sadness as Richard continued on this path, a path that was radically different than the one he was beginning to pursue. Jonathan knew that four years of university would not be enough to reach his goals, so he pushed further forward to earn his PhD in law. As he announced his plans to his family, he received a phone call from Richard the following weekend, warning him about taking on too much debt from student loans.

Jonathan convinced his brother that he had no concerns about debt and would earn more than enough money to pay off the loans within ten years. As he continued his academic path, he met a young lady at the coffee shop he regularly frequented, sharing his ideas, his plans, and his goals. To learn that he and she were nearly identical in their thoughts about money, about people, and about making a difference in the world.

After six months of dating, Jonathan and Alice from the coffee shop, made their relationship official. He proposed and received a yes, with plans for the wedding to take place after he earned his PhD. Between her modest income and his part time job, they lived comfortably and dreamed of the day when their marriage would be final. Alice suggested that they move in together, in order to save money by having only one rent to pay instead of two.

Jonathan disagreed, saying that because they were not married yet, the marriage needed to bring about a change in their relationship. Moving in now would take away the special moment of two becoming one when they married. He helped her out financially whenever he could, pouring himself into the relationship with transparency and honesty, maintaining a connection of trust and making future plans.

The day of graduation finally arrived and shortly thereafter Jonathan received a job offer that paid even more than he imagined he would earn. Within two weeks of graduating, they set a date for the marriage ceremony. Knowing that many decisions would need to be made, that their families would need to send out invitations, and knowing that scheduling for the ceremony too soon would make all of this that much more difficult.

With only three months to make all of their decisions, Jonathan and Alice worked hard to bring everything into line. The day finally came when Jonathan watched Alice walk down the aisle, holding onto her father’s arm. He could see his brother as his best man standing to his left, as well as the other three groomsmen with him. The ceremony was glorious and beautiful, accompanied by a small ensemble of violins and cellos.

Jonathan and Alice spoke their vows, exchanged rings, and kissed as husband and wife for the first time in the presence of a massive gathering of family and friends. They walked back down the aisle and entered the large room for music, drinks, and great food. Enamored with his beautiful, new bride, Jonathan could see Richard lingering about with a girl far younger than he. “That is not a good path there Richard,” he muttered to himself.

“I’m sorry, Jonathan, what did you say?” Alice asked. “I was just commenting to myself that Richard is on a bad path. He continues to date these girls that are much younger than him. He won’t find true joy or happiness that way. It seems like he has a different girl every time I see him. Honestly, he never actually looks happy.”

“Yeah, I agree,” she said. “He certainly doesn’t have what we have. He’s made a lot of choices over the years and none of them seem to be for the best.  I don’t think there’s anything we can do at this point.”

According to plan, Alice quit her job at the coffee shop, Jonathan paid off his school debt within ten years and they watched four children enter their life, bringing with them immeasurable joy and satisfaction. They maintained connection with their families, watched everyone around them grow old, feeling incredible grief over the lifestyle that Richard had chosen.

“He’s really just a sad, old man now,” Jonathan said. “It is really frustrating to have the answers, to see the path to joy and truth, and know that others simply won’t listen.” Richard is destined to be alone, and he has waited too long to find someone with whom to spend his time and money.”

“Yeah, we’ve had this conversation many times,” Alice said. “There is nothing we can do for him.”

“The joy that you have brought me cannot be measured by any financial means,” he said. “You and the kids have fulfilled me in ways that nothing else could. Sadly, we’ll watch Richard grow older and older, alone, frustrated, sad, and empty.”

“Let’s just focus on raising our kids, being a good influence upon those who are willing to listen, and always do what is right,” she said. “We can form our kids to be good people, to make good decisions, and to sacrifice for others.”

They watched their children grow, finish school, finish university, marry, and have children. “Our family is growing in incredible ways,” Jonathan said. “We have made an impact on this world in ways that Richard never did or could. His focus on wealth and comfort only left him alone.”

Jonathan arrived home on a Thursday afternoon to find Alice in tears at the kitchen counter. “Honey, I’ve got really bad news,” she said. “Your mother just called and said that Richard took his own life, leaving behind a note that said that he no longer saw any purpose in continuing what he was doing.”

“Damn, I did not see that coming,” he answered. “I wish we could have done more for him.”

“We did all that we could,” she said. “If someone begins down a path based on wrong assumptions, there is usually nothing anyone can do to help redirect that. Your mother said that the funeral would be next weekend.”

Jonathan, Alice, their four children and their spouses and their multiple grandchildren sat together with his parents. “This is so sad, Alice,” he said. “There is literally no one else here but family. I guess that means that Richard never connected with anyone in any meaningful way. All of those women over all of those years and none of them are here.”

“He chose of a path of pleasure and comfort, using people for what he wanted, and this is all that he is left with,” she said. “We’ll need to carefully talk about this with our kids and grandkids. A life that is lived for only self leads to this kind of emptiness and solitude.”

After the funeral, Richard’s lawyer approached Jonathan, inviting him to his office on the following Monday. “I wanted to inform you that your brother left you all of his money and possessions. You’ll need to come to my office to fill out the appropriate paperwork. The office opens at nine. Call then and make an appointment.”

Jonathan and Alice drove home, discussing the surprise of such an act on Richard’s part. “I think that we should divide up the money between our kids and grandkids. This last act on Richard’s part is a great act of kindness that is surprisingly unlike the rest of his life. I have no idea how much money he has, so this will be interesting. What a sad way to end this relationship.”

“That is so like you, Jonathan,” Alice said. “I would not have expected anything different from you. I like that idea.”

A Glorious Gift

 

While most considered them an unusual couple, a surprising union of two remarkably different people, they grew together, planned big, and created amazing dreams to achieve. Child number one arrived, to be shortly thereafter followed by child number two. This became a beautiful pattern of wonderful, obedient, and intelligent children. The home continued to grow through the application of wisdom, hard work, and sacrifice.

Much to everyone’s surprise, this ever-blossoming family struggled even more to bring in another child who had no one, who had been rejected, and one for whom no one could see any kind of promising future. The little bundle of joy brought great joy but also great struggles to his new brothers and sisters. As the years passed, he found himself unlike all the rest, which proved to be a great blessing for him, for them, and for everyone with whom he interacted.

Never coddled, never babied, and never treated any differently than the rest of them, he struggled to find his place, to find a place to land, and put down roots. He was good and kind in a way that was different from all of the others, having a genetic foundation radically different and purposefully distinct. He eventually embraced his place, found connections, and learned to adjust as different struggles came his way.

He had a mind and a heart that painted him into a different kind of person that anyone else he knew. Generosity, kindness, forgiveness, and a willingness to overlook the disdain of some and the unkind words of others, he formed himself into someone who could always find the good. He acquired skills that he did not learn at home, from his parents, or from his siblings, becoming an incredible asset and gift to them and to many others.

A different kind of brilliance challenged the rest of them to consider themselves, to reconsider him, and to adjust for the better. Surpassing them all in all of the categories that were actually important, he grew, he matured, he connected, and he helped anyone and everyone. His social skills, his gift for conversation, and his ability to see what no one else could, brought out the best in him, and in everyone who knew him.

He acquired skills that made him even stronger, stronger in ways that he could not find anywhere else. He eventually began to travel the world, bringing light and joy to those he met, to those who connected with him, and those who initially found him somewhat intimidating. His massive girth was matched only by his laughter, his smile, and his willingness and desire to be kind to everyone.

Having visited most of the states in North America, several countries across eastern and western Europe and a few countries on the continent of Africa, he continued to expand his copious connections, making friends everywhere, even in those places that knew little of the English language.  His best friend, a little old man, always watched his back, gave him advice, and helped him whenever he could. His other friends, “the blob” from Ukraine, and “the grinch” from Russia, kept him honest, encouraged him to continue growing and improving, and challenged him to always be more.

Always one to give away what someone else needed more than he did, he eventually met a young woman who could see the gold within him. Her personality, her wisdom and her kindness created a wonderful connection for him, rounding out certain areas of his life, and making him complete. With similar backgrounds, they eventually married, became settled, had two children, and raised those children to love others, to sacrifice for others, and to always think of the well-being of those in need rather than catering to their own passions and desires.

Though they struggled a bit in terms of money, he acquired more skills, used his charming personality to build a clientele that remained faithful to his private business. As the years continued on, they eventually overcame their financial struggles and established themselves in their own home, buying instead of renting. As he and she began to age, their children continued to be the good people they were raised to be, giving of themselves to care for their parents.

The children grew to be brilliant, loving, caring, and generous individuals who succeeded in everything they did. With goodness of heart, generosity, and brilliant minds, they both earned incomes that allowed them to settle comfortably and provide a stable, comfortable home for their aging parents. They watched them slowly age, slow down in their approach to life, but still continue to be generous and kind to everyone they knew.

What started as one little boy with an amazing opportunity to grow and develop eventually turned into a family that took that resilience, that took hard work, and a passion to love others rather than loving comfort. He and his wife continued to grow old, watched their two children form families of their own and generate the next generation of grandchildren. From one came a passion for others, to then be joined by another, from whom would come two more, who were raised to love others.

As they grew older and older, they saw the arrival of nine grandchildren, who eventually would marry, and create over thirty great-grandchildren, all of whom followed in their great grandfather’s footsteps, understanding the importance of giving, of serving, and of self-sacrifice. The remarkably ancient couple watched with joy as their passion for others grew into more than just their own actions, the actions of their children, and the actions of their grandchildren. Eventually, their generosity and kindness became well known through their part of the state, greatly impacting and benefiting others.

In the comfort of their own home, taken care of by their grandchildren, they both knew that they had done well, that they had brought glory to the family name, and did for others what so many others refused to do. To everyone’s surprise, the ancient couple lived year after year, surpassing one hundred, then reaching one hundred and ten to then reach one hundred and eighteen, still taking walks and enjoying the visits of their thousands of friends, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

As they reached their hundred and twentieth year, they began to receive letters in the mail from the families of their friends from around the world. With each visitor, with each letter, and with each email, they both kept careful track of each one, building an ever-growing address book of names and locations. With each physical visitor, they took photos and began to write letters to everyone they could remember from their many years and their many travels across the entire planet.

They could see the end approaching and made appropriate plans for their sooner than later funeral. They both knew that they would repose together and made their funeral list with all the names of their loved ones. Invitations were to be sent out on the day of their mutual repose. Fourteen days after their mutual demise, over seven thousand people arrived for their funeral, overwhelming the small town in which they lived. Creating a social setting that was spoken about for the many decades that followed.

Their oldest great-grandchild created a shrine for the ancient couple, carefully documenting everywhere they had traveled, everyone they knew, and the incredible impact they had upon the many thousands over their many years together. The photo album and history of the couple was kept and cherished by each generation, being passed down from one family to the next, as a reminder of the importance of loving others, of caring for others, and not pampering oneself when others were in need.

The Tool of Manipulation

 

               The little boy held his right hand over his eye, struggling to keep the blood from dripping onto the floor. He was no stranger to his father’s fist or belt, having been on the receiving end of each of those far too many times. After being knocked to the floor or into the wall, he would curl up and go into hiding, to then listen to the cries of his mother as she too received the same blows.

              It took him a few years to learn how to answer without sounding disrespectful. His father was not an intelligent man and little Jeremy eventually learned how to twist and manipulate his words to convince his father in the direction he wanted him to go. This became a skill that he learned to use on others outside of his household. Saying the right thing at the right time often proved to be beneficial, especially when it came to making others think he had answers that could make them wealthy.

              He began leaking bits of information about supposed treasure that was in certain places around the county, that could be found by using magic stones that only he could read. He began to earn large amounts of money from those who believed his imaginative stories about buried gold, buried jewels or ancient civilizations prior to the arrival of the white man.

              He could see the greed and selfishness in the eyes of every man he met around town. He saw them come and go from the tavern, from the brothels, and from the multitude of churches, an odd combination of locations that puzzled him. He knew what many of them claimed to believe and he also knew the kind of lives many of them led, all of it a maelstrom of contradiction, that he knew he could use to his advantage.

              As he interacted with this collection of men, he began to ask questions of them about their faith, about their practices, and about their families. He began to paint a picture of a young man who was interested in religion, who was seeking after god, and wanted answers about the location of genuine religious truth.

              Over time the image he created of himself gained him a number of followers who considered him wise and humble, willing to ask difficult questions about topics that few were willing to breach. As he grew into his mid-twenties, he began spending more time alone in the woods, dropping occasional hints about visitation from angels and other beings who gave him wisdom and the location of hidden treasures.

              During one of his visits to the woods, he found an abandoned shack which he chose to convert into a headquarters of sorts. This became his new home that served as a foundation for his new ideas, his imagination and his teachings to others about his angelic visits. After many months of this type of activity, he began to share a story about a certain angel that told him about secret gold that contains messages about visitors to this part of the country long ago. He claimed the language was written in an ancient, unknown dialect from Egypt, which the angel taught him to interpret.

              With the angel’s directions, he found the gold, brought it to his secret hideout and began to translate the words. He finished the work after many month’s time and began to share the message with followers, who despite never seeing the original documents, confessed to handling them themselves and claimed to have assisted him in his translation work. After so many years of telling stories, of manipulating people’s ideas, and presenting himself as one who was wise and skilled, he began drawing people away from their current beliefs and into his own.

              His skills of manipulation had become so strong that many believed him, especially large numbers of women, who were easily convinced of his religious devotion, his willingness to contradict what was considered acceptable, and being willing to push the boundaries of the current moral code. God had spoken to him, and no one was going to tell him anything different. With the ability to emotionally control people, he gained a massive following and eventually put together a council that repeated his stories and agreed with his findings.

              After several years of telling these stories, he would often find himself thinking back to his childhood and his ability to manipulate his father. “This is really no different,” he told himself. “Everyone seems to be about the same, willing to believe whatever makes them feel good or in control. Everyone seems to love having the option to follow their passions, be comfortable, and use others to be in control.”

              He also thought back to his later years, watching the men from the town come and go from taverns, brothels, and churches, all of it a ridiculous hypocrisy. He then understood that people will believe whatever they want to gain whatever they want, regardless of it being inherently contradictory. Sex, power, pleasure, control, and money were the foundational beliefs that moved most people. Coming to this understanding allowed him to fabricate a moral/immoral system that put him in control, that allowed him to convince others that god was on his side and was moving he and them toward this ultimate truth.

              He wanted power, he wanted wealth, he wanted control over women, and he didn’t want to be limited to one wife but instead, fabricated a story about the legitimacy of wives, girlfriends, concubines, and lovers, all at the same time, pushing the story that lust and passion were what made man truly happy. He knew that all men were moving along these same lines of belief but what surprised him the most was that so many women were willing to go along with this twisted lack of logic.

              While his newly invented religion was wildly popular, there were still a number of men in town that saw through his lies and manipulation. Eventually his small hideout became too small, requiring that he find a new location in town that would allow for more people to attend his meetings and times of teaching. Two years into this newfound faith, Jeremy, now the head of a new church was arrested by the authorities in town and placed in jail. Three days after being arrested, several of his followers broke him out, packed up everything they owned and fled the town for a safe place in the wilderness.

              Jeremy and his followers moved from town to town, gathering new followers, to then be driven out of each town, to then move onto the next town, and find new followers there as well. It seemed as if word was moving around ahead of them as they traveled, a warning of sorts that something new and corrupt was growing in the East. Finally, this newfound faith fled into the desert, far, far away from their place of origin. With enough followers and enough money, they built their own town in a place that no normal human being would want to live, knowing that secrecy and control would allow them to exist as their own entity without having to answer to some other power outside of god.

              The heat, the lack of water, the lack of actual authority, and the oppression from government authority began to make their lives difficult. They began demanding the right to believe and practice what they claimed were words from god and refused to submit to the laws of man. As time passed, the world outside began to leave them alone, knowing that they did not want to turn Jeremy into a martyr in a land that claimed religious freedom.

              Eventually Jeremy passed away and was replaced by another who held the same beliefs and was willing to push harder again outside authorities. The new leader refined their belief system, worked harder at establishing their independent town in the barren wilderness, and found new and better ways to pull water from the earth, grown crops, and redefine morality. Though Jeremy had two wives, the new leader began to push for even greater freedom and license, taking for himself four wives and encouraging those on the council to do the same. For, as he said, “this is what all men want.”

              This pattern continued from one leader to the next, to the next and to the next, until the federal government finally stepped in and forbade the practice of polygamy, claiming that it was contrary to the health of everyone involved. Massive “families” were broken apart, bringing about anger and retaliation from this odd town in the empty, salty, barren wasteland.

              It all finally came to an end and the original writings were changed to match the current mindset of the day. Those on the outside marveled at how easy those in this odd town were willing to go along with the changing of the original writings, having proof that change was made and made willingly and deceptively.

              Centuries came and went and this odd town, now a city, eventually imploded on itself to be replaced by something much more reasonable and selfless.