Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Honor (05/30/24)
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TITLE: Love, Honor, and Respect | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Westefeld
06/06/24 -
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Lori thought, ‘Approved it? I wasn’t given any choice!’
Eesirahp continued, “But if she can’t give you a son, an heir to the High Priesthood, I have no problem agreeing to dissolving your marriage.”
Lori, tired of being talked around interjected, “Eesirahp, don’t I get a say in this matter? I’ve grown to accept Eecuddas as my husband, and even if I didn’t approve of the way you forced us together, he’s been a supportive husband!”
Eesirahp looked down at her like something he’d wipe off his foot. “Lori, you don’t understand oursociet. You never will, with your surface upbringing.”
‘Racist” was Lori’s first thought, but she calmed down. “Does Eecuddas’ opinion count, or is it just `I have spoken`?”
Eesirahp looked surprised at her question, “That’s what I was discussing with my son.”
1 Peter 3:1 flashed through Lori's mind as she asked Eesirahp, "Could Eecuddas and I speak together privately.
Eesirahp, certain that Eecuddas would make the "proper” decision, regally left them alone to discuss the planned dissolution.
Lori swam to her husband. “It’s true that I don’t understand the culture I’ve been married into, but my surface faith tells me that divorce is wrong except in very certain circumstances. You haven’t been unfaithful or abusive, so I’m obligated to honor our marriage.”
Eecuddas looked at her, confused, and asked, “Even though your surface faith doesn’t agree with my faith in Curi and Nah-mor?”
Lori wanted to leap for joy. This was one of the few times her faith was mentioned in a non-derisive tone. “Yes,” she responded, “we were married in the tradition of my faith, and in my faith divorce is not acceptable.”
Eecuddas looked at her and pronounced, “Then that’s it. I won’t dissolve our marriage, despite what my father wants.” He then asked, “I know you were originally opposed to us being wed. Why fight for something you didn’t want?”
Lori bubbled a sigh, “Without telling you more about my faith, it’s hard to explain.”
Eecuddas responded, “Please try.”
Lori took the plunge. “In my faith, a man leaves his father and mother and becomes one flesh with his wife. Also, a wife may be able to bring an unbelieving husband to faith by her example. I wouldn’t be a good Christian if I didn’t try to live up to those standards.”
Eecuddas nodded. "I see. So you see our marriage as a way to get me to accept your Christian ways?”
Lori didn’t want to seem manipulative, so she responded, “Partially. Mostly it was to honor my wedding vows I made before God.”
He nodded again. "So, again, tell me how your surface faith compels you to do what you didn’t want to do.”
Lori’s mind raced. How to respond? She'd never seen herself as a missionary. She started, “In the Bible…”
Eecuddas interrupted. “That’s the book Pastor Steve gave you to teach our children from?”
"That was a simplified children’s Bible. I haven’t memorized the entire Bible as it is written for mature believers, but if I can, I'll try to answer your question.”
In a gesture he picked up from Eesirahp, he gave her permission to continue.
“As I was saying, in the first chapter of Genesis…”
“Forgive me,” he interjected again, “I thought we were talking about the Bible. What is Genesis?”
Lori patiently explained. "There are sixty-six books within the Bible.” ‘I didn’t think this was going to be so difficult.’
Eecuddas said imperiously, "Continue…”
“As I was saying, in Genesis, ‘God created man and woman and bound them together as husband and wife…'”
Eecuddas interrupted again, “That sounds like when Curi created male and female!”
Lori bit her lip and said, "Kind of… Can I explain without you constantly interrupting?”
He nodded, less regally this time, and she continued. “In the Gospels, Jesus reminded the Pharisees that the marriage bond was supposed to be honored. You now see why I can’t go along with what your father wants?”
Eecuddas said, "I think so.”
He looked at Lori and stated, “Honoring our marriage would be easier if you finally accepted the honorific of the clan”
Lori thought that compromise wouldn’t hurt, “Yes, you can call me Eelori.”
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