29 "I know, father," she answered, "and I still hope I will always be. Perhaps it is just the thought of what we were discussing. You see, some young people came to me...a committee, gathered from every city, but the problem was so strange, their request so odd, that I did not know how to answer!"
30 Now, not only The Dove was anxious, but so were his mate and son. "Perhaps," counselled The Dove, "we had better speak of it. Go ahead. Tell me what the problem was these young people had that so bothered you."
31 "Well, father, you know that other young people in other religions become adults as soon as they are old enough to know each other. That as soon as a boy can father children and as soon as a girl can bear them they are considered adults, and go through elaborate ceremonies pledging them to their gods, and then are married.
32 Our young people have to wait many years more than this, and then they have to take tests to prove they know The Law and Teachings before they are allowed to sit in the adult's place, to speak in Coucil, or hold Church office. But our young people understand these things. They know why it is so.
33 The Lords prepare us for life far better than any gods. They teach us, guide us, and strengthen us, so when we do have an adult's privileges we are ready for them. We are not merely thrown into the battle without training."
34 "I still do not understand," questioned The Dove, "what is it you are saying? What is it these young people want?"
35 "Lord," she continued, "even after all this, all this preparation, what happens when we become adults? We take the Test of Adulthood, The Speaker says we pass, and we are allowed to sit in the adult's place, to speak in Council, to buy and sell property, to take a mate.
36 But there is no ceremony, no symbol. Just one day we aren't adults, the next day we are.
37 The children of the gods laugh at us, and say 'poor little Children of Spirit, your Lords do not even care enough about you to give you a ceremony, a symbol that you please them, a sign of Their Favor."
38 "They want a ceremony!" cried The Dove.
39 "Yes," said his daughter, "a symbol, some special service in The Temple before the congregation; a service that says yesterday you were a child, today you are an adult. That, Lord, is what they want."
40 The Dove leaned back in his chair. "I don't know," he replied, "perhaps you should have some symbol, some ceremony...but WHAT? The Lords often forget that people need such things. They have given us The Truth, and that, in Itself, is a glorious Thing. They forget that Truth, alone, is sometimes not enough That people need symbols, signs.
41 Yes....I will think on this. I am sure The Lords will give me an answer. Worry no more of it. It is now on me."
42 "As you have said, Lord," his daughter answered, "so must it be!"
43 For two days The Dove prayed, pondered the question, and asked for guidance. He thought of all the different ceremonies used by the different religions. Most were totally unacceptable, some were completely disgusting! As he went to sleep he prayed, "Lords, my heart is heavy with this question. I ask of you, give me an answer."
44 That night he dreamed a dream. He entered the fog, a familiar voice called to him, and his young Guide again appeared. 45 "Come, Lord!" he commanded, "All is prepared. But there is not much time. You must see, learn, and depart quickly." 46 So The Dove followed him to a neat little Temple outside a pleasing village. The young man motioned for The Dove to sit at the back of The Temple. As he did so, a bell rang three times, and a young man emerged from the back of The Temple on the left. A young woman emerged from the back of The Temple on the right.
47 They wore robes of white, with a hood over their heads. As they came before The Symbol of The Lords they knelt down on their knees.
48 The people in The Temple spoke, saying, "Behold, The Children of The Lords have come, but where areThe Lords?"
49 With this, from the left side of The Temple, The Speaker emerged, walking slowly, carrying a tray covered by a fine, white linen cloth.
50 He came before the young man and the young woman, held the tray up so all the people in The Temple could see it, and the people cried out joyously, "Behold! The Lords have come! Rejoice! For They are with us!"
51 The Speaker turned and put the tray on the table before The Lords Symbol, blessed it, and took off from it the fine linen, folded it, and placed it beside the tray.
52 Then he picked up a goblet off the tray, turned, and faced the congregation. "Behold," he cried, "The Blood of The Lords!"
53 The congregation repeated after him, "Behold, The Blood of The Lords!"
54 They moaned and covered their faces as if grieving.
55 The Speaker lowered the cup and went to the young man. "Behold," he cried, "The Blood Oof The Lords, shed for you. Do you swear before these present, and, The Lords, that if need be your blood, also, will be shed in Their Service?"
56 The young man answered, saying, "Before The Lords I love, and those present, I do so swear. If need be let my blood flow in Their Service."
57 "Then take the cup," commanded The Speaker, "and drink of it deeply."
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