by Kathy Philpott

Created on: October 31, 2010

Heavy black clouds hung in the hot afternoon summer sky.  They created an ominous canopy above the little community of Ogden.

As Mama’s buggy rounded the corner of their property, Laura Sherner surmised her small world.  The weather added a bleakness that accentuated Laura’s growing uneasiness. At sixteen years old, she was more bored than unhappy.

On this particular summer day, Mama told her that Lubin Welker would take her to sacrament meeting that evening.  Disagreeing with her mother would have been futile.  Lubin was a successful realtor in Ogden.  In Laura’s opinion, he was stuffy, boring and old.  He was nothing like her brothers.  Although her five older brothers were horse thieves and rustlers, Laura thought they were wonderful.  They were funny and handsome.  They stayed in the mountains but would often sneak into town to help Laura and her mother.  Laura was the youngest of Mama’s children.  Laura was only two months old when her father died.  Her mother sold fruit and took in sewing to support her family.

Mama was getting older and gave most of her attention to getting Laura married.  In Mama’s way of thinking, marriage and children were the most worthy occupation for a woman. Laura longed to live as she imagined her brothers did.  They made their own rules and did not answer to anyone.  They made their own choices. Tonight, Lubin was Mama’s choice. 

For most of the day, Laura sulked in the cherry orchard behind her house.  Watching the storm come in was far more interesting than anything else the day had to offer.  She prayed that the storm would be so severe that Lubin would not want to risk the ride in his open seat buggy.

Her hopes were dashed as the storm grew closer, but Lubin showed up right at four o’clock as planned.  Refusing Lubins hand, Laura jumped to the front seat of the buggy.  Mama took Laura’s hand and pressed it to her lips.  Laura turned back to look at Mama as they drove off the property.  Out of deep love for her mother, Laura decided to try to be civil to Lubin.

Sacrament meeting was especially unpleasant.  The chapel in the small meeting house was cramped.  Heated perspiration seemed to rise off every person and created a choking fog encompassing the entire congregation.  Many women used the program papers as fans.

After Lubin bore his testimony, Laura

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