Logs:Vignette - Testimony

Vignette - Testimony
Dramatis Personae DJ
In Absentia	2021-11-07 (set right after the confrontation with Jamie.
Location <NYC> Manhattan Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Lincoln Square
There's been a restive mood throughout the early parts of this meeting, no doubt helped along by the confrontation that took place right before it started. As one person after another gets up to share their testimony things quiet down into a more appropriate sort of atmosphere -- some people reverent, some attentive, some distracted, some bored, some looking forward to when the day is over and they can eat; it's largely back to normal order of business. At least until DJ gets up to approach the podium -- for the first time since arriving at this ward, at this world, and even those whose attentions have been wandering are now fixing their eyes on The Wrong Dawson Allred. If he's unnerved by the overly intense gazes he doesn't show it, quiet and even-paced as he steps up, clears his throat, rests his hand on the sides of the lectern. "This might be surprising since -- I've never been up here but this used to come so easily to me. I had such a strong testimony and I felt so confident sharing it with my community. A lot's changed for me this past year, though. Not -- not," he says, hand moving to rest briefly over his heart, "the knowledge that this is Christ's true church on earth, not my certainty that our Heavenly Parents labor in their concern for every single person born in -- a multitude of earths but -- but sharing it? That's gotten a lot harder without a community to share it with. I used to have one but now all I have is a lot of people waiting for me to be someone I'm not. Someone I won't ever be." He takes a breath, chews briefly at the inside of his cheek before continuing. "-- And here's the thing. Everyone wants to dance around who I am and where I came from as if we haven't always talked about many worlds. I have a pretty darn powerful testimony that there are other worlds out there, other places that our Gods have been at work and maybe nobody is ready to face that but I'm pretty concrete proof it's true. You can all stop treating me like the wrong Dawson Allred; I'm exactly how Heavenly Father made me, in another world not-quite like this one 'cause we know God is learning and growing. Maybe we can, too. In Jesus' name --" As he steps down to return to his seat there is only a very small smattering of amens from the congregation.