Marie Sexton - Between Sinners And Saints Read Online Free PDF

“how many mothers do you have?”
Levi rolled his eyes. “ One. Polygamy was banned more than a hundred years ago.”
“What about those sects out in Utah?”
“They’re not recognized by the church.”
“Uh-huh.”
Levi tried not to be annoyed at Jaime’s snide tone.
“And what about the strange magic underwear everybody talks about?”
“They’re not ‘magic underwear,’” Levi snapped. “They’re called garments.”
“Magic garments, then?”
“Stop!”
“Do they protect you from evil?”
“Of course not.”
“Do they make you invincible?”
“Give me a break.”
“Then what?”
He sighed. Catholics burned candles and tossed holy water around and ate funny little crackers and prayed with beaded necklaces to saints, and yet he doubted any of them ever had to answer ridiculous questions like these. “They’re a symbol, that’s all. A symbol of the covenant we make with God.”
“And the stories claiming they can never be removed?”
“Are complete bullshit. People always mock what they don’t understand.”
“Ah,” Jaime said with a teasing smile. “And why aren’t you wearing yours?”
“Not all Mormons wear them, you know. Only those who choose to go through the temple ceremony. And you can’t even do that until you’ve proven yourself worthy.”
“I see.”
He could tell Jaime was laughing at him, and it annoyed him. “What?”
“I never really thought you had two mothers or you thought the garments were magic.”
“You were just trying to get a rise out of me?”
“You claim you’re no longer a member and yet you’re so quick to defend them. I find it interesting.”
It was true. He felt shunned because of his sexuality, but he had never been able to think of himself as not Mormon. “People make fun of us for having strange practices, but they never look at the good things we do.”
“Like what?”
“Like stressing family is the most important thing we have. And taking care of each other. When I was a kid, my dad lost his job. For almost six months, he couldn’t find a new one. With six kids, it wasn’t easy. Christmas was sort of bleak that year and on Christmas Eve night, while we were all sitting around playing Yahtzee, the doorbell rang. When we answered it, nobody was there, but there was a box full of packages—one present for each of us kids—and there was a big basket of groceries. And there was an envelope with gift certificates for the grocery store my mom used. I remember my mom just sat there and cried.”
“And it was from your church?”
“It had to be. I mean, nobody ever said anything. There wasn’t a card, but that’s the kind of thing they do.”
“But they don’t approve of homosexuality.” It wasn’t even a question.
“They believe it may not be a choice, but they still believe it’s a sin to indulge in the ‘homosexual lifestyle.’ My parents and my siblings all say they love me, but…”
“But what?”
“I disgust them.”
Jaime was quiet for a minute, then said gently, “I’m sorry, Levi.”
“Forget it.” He tried to shake off the depression that always gripped him when he thought about his family. He loved them. He had loved growing up surrounded by his brothers and his sisters. He loved playing games on Monday nights for Family Home Evening, and he loved the dances his church held when he was young. Hell, he’d even kind of liked getting up early for seminary in high school. He’d been part of something warm and wonderful back then. He missed his siblings. Sometimes it broke his heart knowing he wasn’t one of them anymore. Jaime was still watching him, looking more than a little bit sad. “What about you? Tell me about your family.”
He thought changing the subject to Jaime’s family would cheer them both up, but his question didn’t make Jaime look any less sad. Not at all.
“Why don’t you turn over now,” he said. “Let’s work on your back.”
“Yes, master,” Levi joked. But he obeyed.

CHAPTER 4
    Levi saw