My Christmas Stalker by Donetta Loya Read Free Book Online

from your church or who have gone on a mission or who has passed some test by your bishop.” Nora grimaced. “There are nice guys out there who aren’t LDS, Whitley.”
        “I know.” She shook her head. “You don’t understand. I have…certain goals I have set for myself and other men not of my faith can’t help me reach those goals.”
        “Oh, yeah, right. The temple marriage thing.” Nora expelled a breath. “I just don’t see why a regular wedding isn’t good enough for you guys.”
        “We have been over this before. I want a marriage that will last forever. Not ‘till death do us part’.” Whitley smiled at her friend. “If you could just go into the temple and feel how special it is, you would realize how important a temple marriage would be. I want my marriage to be special.”
        “So, are you saying my sister’s wedding last year isn’t forever or that it wasn’t special?” Nora sounded offended.
         “Don’t take this wrong, Nora. Your sister made important vows. She made a commitment to be faithful to Larry. But when they die in this life, it ends. A marriage sealed by priesthood authority in the temple will still be bound in heaven. And yes, that makes the thought of marriage extra special to me. It makes me want to be extra careful about whom I choose to live my eternity with, and that means I have to be careful with whom I date,” Whitley explained.
         Nora’s eyes became thoughtful. “So, divorce isn’t an option?”
        “Well, anyone can get a divorce, but we don’t go into marriage thinking that if I don’t like it, I can pick a new guy. A commitment of marriage should be forever.”
         “So…only LDS people can go to the temple, right? So, an LDS person can’t choose a nonmember to be their forever marriage partner then?” Nora’s eyes glanced into space. “I may have to talk to you a bit more about things you believe in.” She looked at her soda and stirred the straw in circles, swirling the ice around. She sighed.
        “Can a person know when they have met their forever love by just talking to someone?” Nora posed the question without looking at Whitley.
        “I know of examples of people that had the spirit witness to them on their first date that the person they were with was the one for them. The one that God would be pleased with for them to marry, yes.”
         Nora raised her tear filled eyes to look at Whitley. “Well, I believe it, too.”
         “Oh, Nora! What is it?” Whitley asked with concern in her eyes.
         “Whitley, you will yell at me for this, but I believe Jeff is the one God wants me to marry. The only problem is, he’s a member of your church. A strong active one. And from what you say, he will want to get married in the temple and right now—I can’t!” Sadness filled her friend’s face. “And I don’t intend to give him up!” A tear slipped down her cheek, she flicked it a way with a quick movement of her hand.
         “But, Nora…you don’t even know him.” Whitley started. Nora put up her hand to stop her.
         “Not another word.” She looked at Whitley with a glare. “A feeling so strong came to me and it was as if words were spoken to me, but yet no one was there! I know Jeff is the one for me!” She sighed and went all soft in her eyes. “We talked till two in the morning.” Another sigh escaped from Nora. “We are soul mates.”
         Whitley stared at her friends for a few seconds. “I’m sorry, Nora. If you say God spoke to you—then who I am to say you didn’t receive your own personal revelation.”
        “Right!” Nora squared her shoulders. “Now, what about this momentous moment for you!” She snapped her fingers. “You can teach this guy about forever marriage too—if you decide you like him enough to go on a second date, that is.” Whitley’s face puckered up.
        “I don’t know, Nora. Why take the