The Leader’s word is the word of the Lord and must be obeyed. Eternal damnation awaits those who disobey the word of the Lord. ON A COOL SPRING EVENING in September, Rachel and Saul came to our house for dinner and to tell us all about the baby. Mother wept with joy. Magdalene’s eyes shone at the thought of becoming an aunt. Zillah said, ‘I want a baby too.’ Abraham high-fived Saul and kissed Rachel’s cheek. For once, Father didn’t growl at him for unseemly behaviour. Luke said all the right things, and shut his mouth on the questions I could see were burning in his mind. I too wanted answers about pregnancy and birth. How much did Rachel herself know, and was she worried she’d get sick the way Mother had when Zillah was born? None of us raised difficult questions, and the evening was a happy one. Father’s prayers were full of thanks for the gift the Lord had bestowed on Rachel and Saul.The baby would be born at the end of March.
