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Show j ' ttlllMlsilii'"" men didn't go, where perhaps no man had ever set foot before. This looks like that kind of place. I feel like we are standing on holy ground." "You still haven't explained why we've come up here," Nellie said, out of breath from the climb. "Moroni's going to give us a blessing before we head out for Salt Lake," Ben explained, his voice almost a whisper, taking Moroni's lead that they were indeed on holy ground requiring reverence and reserve in speech and actions. "Oh, I see," Nellie said, her voice still loud, her speech still in terrupted by deep breaths as she continued to catch her breath after the steep climb. "He's going to turn your outlaw raid into a religious crusade." "We shouldn't have let her come," Moroni said to Ben and Sam. "We should have left her behind. We are on God's errand and there's no place for a gentile heckler among us. She must leave." "Nellie, I think you ought to go back to camp," Ben said. "We'd rather do this out of range of your critical eye." "I'm sorry," she said, her voice suddenly soft and subdued, thinking put words in your mouth that will inspire the armies of Israel to obey your every command. "And I promise you, Ben Storm, that as you are faithful the Lord will clear the way before you, lay your enemies to waste, curse them that curse you, bless them that bless you, and one day when you finally lay down your sword, the Lord will pour out upon your head the blessings of heaven, more than you can receive - of success, fame, properties, families, wives and children, in this world and the world to come. (To be continued) was early morning when .1 rnni Ben and Sam reached the N M0rnf he ridge. Nellie and the boy, Ct1 L in hand, were trailing behind. A Moroni was in charge th.s mor-h mor-h He removed his black hat as ilu H' and Sam gathered around. His 11 "I u 'hair and I beard glistened like i: H wool in the morning sun. His S eyes sparkled as he looked JJond the ridge at the surrounding mountains and valleys - a rugged, wild country. "This is the kind of place Moses would have picked," he said. "Why's that?" Sam askea. "When Moses sought God he went to the tops of the mountains. He wandered into the most remote wildernesses. So did Enoch, John the Baptist, Jeremiah and Elijah. They went to the places where other under her breath that she didn't want to miss this for anything. "I apologize for making light of your blessings." "I don't want her to stay," Moroni said, mumbling something about throwing pearls before swine. "I'll be quiet," Nellie promised, not responding to his bait to get her in another argument. "Let her stay," Ben said. "Her tongue is sharp, but her heart is in the right place." "All right," Moroni said after a long pause. "But not a word." Nellie nodded her humble agreement. "You'd better cover your head and face," Moroni advised. Nellie resisted the urge to demand an explanation as she tied a scarf over her hair, pulling part of it forward over her face. Then she seated herself on a patch of new grass, pulling the child down beside her. Ben thought she looked silly with part of the scarf over her face, but resisted the urge to laugh or tease. This was no time for frivolity. Moroni motioned for Ben to be seated on a flat rock. He then moved behind Ben, placing both his hands on Ben's head. Sam was to one side, his hands on Moroni's. All three men bowed their heads and closed their eyes as Moroni began the blessing. Nellie and the child watched quietly from their patch of grass. A slight breeze drifting down from the snow-capped mountains to the east was cool, but the morning sun was warm. Moroni began the blessing in the usual manner, addressing Ben by name and mentioning the priesthood which gave him authority and power to bless and curse. "As David of old slew Goliath to deliver Israel from the Phillistines," Moroni continued, "so are you, Ben Storm, called to deliver Israel from the evil designs of ambitious politicians, crooked judges and the lies of the "Salt Lake Tribune.' " Moroni paused, taking a deep breath arid resuming the blessing in a louder voice with more intensity. "As you become anxiously engaged in delivering this people from the very clutches of Satan, the Lord God of Israel will strengthen your arm as he did the arms of Samson, David, Ammon and Mormon. Be faithful and diligent in this calling and the blessings of heaven will distill upon your head as the early morning dew. At the sound of your voice the hosts of Israel will gather to battle, and your enemies will quake. "And as you step forth to deliver Israel, the angels of heaven with the means available to them will gather about to protect you from harm. The Lord will open your mind so you will know what to do. He will |