Bishop Angus watched as the Elder Gardner came into his office. It was part of the boys’ regular routine to meet with the priesthood leadership and to discuss all that was going on during their mission.
Usually the conversations center around fellowship and P-Day activities and how they’re getting along with their companions. As a member of the Brethren, Angus knows all what transpired between Elder Gardner and President Ballard.
Elder Garrett put his sacred temple robe back on, fidgeting with the string and draping fabric to cover his body.
He had just been presented at the ceremonial veil to the Brethren by Bishop Angus. He was instructed to touch and service a substantial manhood jutting through the sacred cloth.
Elder Gardner felt like his back was going to permanently fuse with the back of his chair. He’d been sitting in a state of fear and anxiety for what felt like hours.
President Ballard had called him in for a private meeting, questioning him about sex and his urges. Elder Gardner had never talked about this with anyone, not even his own parents. He felt uncomfortable talking about it knowing that the truth would land him in hot water.
The Mormon leadership makes a regular practice of interviewing and questioning the young men of their ward. Making sure each boy is living by the proper code of conduct and discipline is routine priesthood.
President Ballard loves watching as the boys navigate through their responses, trying to craft their answers in the space between what’s honest and what’s expected. The real magic happens when he can press them harder and see their true character emerge.
Elder Garrett wasn’t quite sure how to proceed with his mission. He was terribly conflicted between what he thought he should do and what his leaders were telling him to do.
While he was at the MTC, Garrett understood that unquestioned obedience was critical to the success of a young Mormon. And he wanted more than anything to be seen highly by his leaders. But since having a secret calling extended to him by President Oaks, he found himself questioning everything he understood to be true.
The handsome Elder Sorenson had spent time with President Olsen. While he was a man of great power and authority, Sorensen was equally drawn to him because of his warmth and tenderness. He always took time to personally offer love and support to Elder Sorensen during his journey. The boy saw the older man as mentor, and even a father figure.
Despite wearing the temple shield, Elder Garrett still felt exposed. The shield should help a boy feel more modest, but somehow it emphasizes the fact that essentially, he is still naked.
He kept repositioning the draped the material, subconsciously trying to make himself less vulnerable.
Things between Elder Garrett and his companion definitely changed after the two of them had sex. For one, Elder Xanders was less shy about being naked. Even after his probationary period ended, the two maintained the same open-door policy that they’d had before.
Brother Calhoun loves being the Ward Mission Leader. It gives him incredible pride and joy to be able to enrich the experiences of the missionaries.
He had the time of his life when he was an elder and made good friends. He wanted his current calling to be similarly fun, and be an opportunity to bond and build new friendships.
Elder Ivy’s regular companion was called to the mission home for a zone leaders training over the weekend.So Elder Ivy went on splits with two other missionaries in his district, to be in a temporary “3-some” companionship. Elder Nicola and Elder Kimball were more than happy to buddy up with the blond Mormon.
Brother Hales is still relatively new to the Order. After his mission, he attended BYU to become an institute teacher and taught at the Mission Training Center (MTC) to earn a few extra credit hours.
It didn’t take long before he caught the attention of the Brethren serving in the MTC leadership.
Elder Nicola had a bounce in his step. Being an inducted member of the Order gave him a sense of security and joy he could not have anticipated.
Before his calling, Nicola obsessed over impressing his superiors and standing out among his peers. He was so desperate to receive validation and be loved. In his new role, he never doubted the passion and desire the priesthood had for him.
Those initiated into the Order are told to keep their membership a secret. They must never disclose what they learn in the temple.
Young initiates in the Order only learn the identities of other members when they see others during the secret temple sessions. As a result, initiates often interact with one another at church and have no idea about the other’s selection.
Elder Holland saw this as a fun challenge–trying to find out who else might be involved. With his seniority in the missionary leadership, he kept tabs on the mission president’s meetings with the young men in his mission.
Elder Nicola arrived on his mission with a lot of anxiety. He wanted so much to be a good missionary and impress his leaders. He couldn’t believe how different for him things had become.
