Without the First Amendment!

What it might have felt like without the first amendment in the Bill of Rights

By Jemison Stripes 10/11/12

Autumn of 1845

"Savannah, wake up."

Groggily, seventeen-year-old Savannah sat up and pushed the warm quilt off her legs. She shivered as the morning air wrapped her in a cold embrace. Goose flesh pricked her arms as she tugged on her red dress and apron. 

She carefully stepped over her five sleeping brothers and tiptoed to her patiently waiting older brother, James. Then she quietly put on her boots and then walked out the door with her brother. 

It was just past midnight by the time they slipped out of the house and down the street to the designated meeting-place. A few months ago, they had met a Mormon missionary. He had been proclaiming the gospel and Savannah, curious, had asked him for the strange book he had been claiming was the word of God. She had tried to share it with her family, but only James was interested in it. So they read it together when their father wasn't there and received a true testimony of the Savior. Only a few weeks later, they were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Over the months, they had gone to church meetings. Because of discrimination towards the Mormon church, the gatherings were held in secret. Tonight was one of those assemblies. 

The meeting was brief, but had a good message to it about eternal families. Savannah left it feeling uplifted and happy. "Th-that was a good m-meeting," she whispered to James as they walked home. 

"Yeah, it's too bad dad wasn't there. I know he would have liked it."

"It made me think of m-m-mother."

James hesitated and looked away. Their mother and infant sister had been killed after a traumatic river crossing due to extreme fevers. It still hurt him to think about it. 

Savannah had been there the entire time, living the moment of intense cold when the wagon tipped over, dumping the three of them into the icy water. She was the only girl in her family who survived the accident. But since then, she had struggled with a stutter--something that no one could find a solution to. 

"We'll see th-them again, James. D-d-don't worry," Savannah said hopefully. 

"I miss them, Savannah."

"I d-do, too."

For many minutes, they walked in silence, the light shuffle of their feet scraping against the ground the only sound to be heard.

Suddenly James stopped and looked around. 

"Did you hear that?"

"Hear wh-what?"

They both stopped.

"Listen. I hear footsteps."

Savannah paused, but heard only a light rustle of the wind blowing through the trees. Then, gradually, she heard them, too. Brisk footsteps and voices...angry voices.

"Savannah, they've found us! Run home, now! I'll catch up."

Terrified, Savannah just stood there, unsure of what to do.

The mob was getting closer, so near that they could hear the burning of their torches.

"Wh-what about y-y-you?"

"Just go!"

Savannah turned and ran, tears stinging her eyes. She could hear behind her the clamor of the angry mob as they yelled vulgar words about Mormons, and tar and feathers. The way Mormons worshiped wasn't accepted. There was only one religion, and it was forced upon the people. She tried to shut out the words, but they kept on running through her head. A sudden shout of pain made her stop in her tracks. That was her brother's cry, she knew it! She couldn't stand it any longer and turned, running back in the direction of the mob. By this point, the mob had pulled out the tar and feathers. They were nearly to the point of torturing her brother, and only because he was found with the Mormons! 

Savannah stopped, nearly running into the mob. 

"L-leave my b-b-brother alone!" She yelled angrily, eyes afire.

So startled were the men that a girl had just tried to stop them, that they all went silent and stared at her, eyes wide.

Please, Lord, she pleaded silently. Soften their hearts. Help us to get home safely.

Finally, some of the men chuckled. Many of them laughed off her comment and spoke.

"That there girlie thinks she's so tough! Ha! Bet she ain't hurt no fly!"

"Less teach 'em both a lesson! Help the little lady to know she ain't gonna do nuttin' to stop us."

The men who spoke started toward Savannah with dirty looks in their eyes. Terrified, she shut her eyes, but stood her ground. No matter what happened, she would stand with her brother to the end!

Suddenly Savannah heard a strong voice demand that the men stop right where they were. 

She cautiously opened her eyes to find fear flick into the men's eyes for a split second. They backed away from her.

"You're surrounded!" A boyish voice to her left spoke.

"Listen to what we say, or we'll shoot," a gruff voice said from somewhere near the mobsters.

"Leave the young man and the girl where they are. Go back home where you belong. If you attempt anything, you will be shot."

With those last words, the entire mob turned and walked off, bewildered.

Still startled, Savannah said a silent prayer of thanks to the Lord for helping her to survive the mob attack. She rushed to her brother's side where he laid. He had suffered a blow to the head, but nothing severe enough to kill. 

"Who was th-that?" Savannah asked, stunned as she helped him to his feet.

As if in answer to her question, a man walked into view, followed by five boys varying from ages eight to fifteen. Instantly, Savannah knew who it was. Her father had awoken in the middle of the night, feeling restless. He realized that James and Savannah were missing as he got up. Then he heard the mob's cries. He grabbed his rifle and woke the boys, handing the two older boys extra rifles. Following the sounds of the mob, they discovered James and Savannah and made a plan to get rid of the angry men.

"Father, you were truly the answer to my prayer!" Savannah exclaimed, embracing her father. James' eyes widened after Savannah spoke. Not once did she stutter, and her words came out perfect and clear.

That night, more than one prayer had been answered.

  

This is a story I wrote for a Vanguard Leadership Academy master class. We were discussing the Ten Amendments, and one of the inspirements was to write a story about what it might have been like without a certain amendment (or all of them).

Enjoy!

-Jemison Stripes