[This is the second part of the two-part piece.]
“We’re good,” I said, turning back to Elder Whitley. “Water’s warm.”
“I don’t care,” said Brother D, who’d now changed into his white jumpsuit. Nearby, Brother Peck fumbled with the buttons in his own jumpsuit.
“Now, when I baptize you, you have to go all the way under or we have to do it again,” Brother Peck said.
“Got it,” said Brother D with a smile.
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“Thank you for letting us in,” I said, seated on the couch across the from the Desiderio family. Sister Desiderio was grinning, but Brother Desiderio looked less eager. “What we wanted to share tonight was about families …”
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“I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” Brother Peck recited, holding one hand above Brother D as they both stood in the water.
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“And I know — I know! — that we really, really do have the potential to be forever with our families,” I said. “Brother Desiderio, do you love your family?”
“Of course,” he said.
“Right now, the bond that holds you all together will end when you die,” I said. “But this gospel, this church your wife belongs to, it’s got the way to seal you all together forever. Is that something you want?”
Brother Desiderio didn’t say anything.
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“... Amen.”
The man who rose out of the water was different. It wasn’t just the short-cropped hair, the absence of an eyebrow stud, or the white jumpsuit. There was something else there, something indefinable escaping his smile.
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“Do you?” I repeated. “Do you love your family?”
“Yes,” said Brother Desiderio.
“Then we’d like to ask that you let us keep coming. We’ll teach you more about the things you have to do in your life to qualify for the blessings I’m talking about. We’re not done yet for tonight, but can we set a time for our next visit?”
Nice.
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