To Elder Star, loyalty is a conditional trait. He believes that a good friend deserves loyalty, but he believes that the Order commands the most loyalty of all. And when Bishop Jesse calls the boy in to help him decide whether his friend Elder Daniels is being honest about the sins he has committed, Star is more than happy to help. He doesn’t see it as a betrayal of his friend.
The boys fall silent when President Oaks arrives. He barks at them to follow him, and the deep thrum of his voice makes the hair on the boy’s neck stand up. Elder Star is worried he’s going to get a boner.
Bishop Jesse has heard a lot about Elder Star, and he’s interested to discover what’s true and what’s simply rumor. It’s become a tradition amongst the priests to spin stories about the missionary boys. It’s almost a subconscious thing, but the tales of their conquests have become increasingly fictionalized over the years. So, Jesse has become wary of the things he hears about the boys.
“You never have sexual thoughts?” President Oaks poses to young Elder Star. But Star doesn’t budge. “No,” he answers, “never.” Oaks is puzzled. As far as he can tell, Star is telling the truth, and Oaks’s reads are almost always accurate. The man is known for his uncanny ability to see into the souls of the young missionaries and decipher all of their lies and deceit. He understands that it all wrapped up in fear, shame and anguish, so he doesn’t take the lying personally.
