Chapters 7 and 8 Summary and Analysis

In chapter seven, Nell, the Primary president, confided in Judy that she had no friend she could talk to and that she wouldn't dare share her real thoughts with anyone at church. Nell confided that her son, Chuck, was in trouble with the law. Her husband, Mike, was a branch president. They would be shamed if the church found out about their family problems because if Mormon gospel is followed properly, life would go smoothly. Judy didn't know how to respond but promised they'd talk again. But that never happened. Nell died of a heart attack soon after, making Judy feel guilty that she hadn't allowed Nell to open up to her.

Nell could only have two children, a failure for a Mormon woman who was expected to "bring down as many spirit babies" (p. 42) as possible so that...