Shirley Woodruff Lewis

The Robe of the Martyrs Shirley Woodruff Lewis

Best friends and roommates, Barbara and Suzanne squabble on their way to Sabbath services at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Each has been assigned to speak in Sacrament Meeting, for which Suzanne is prepared and Barbara is not. As they speed toward the church, they witness a strange and ominous occurrence: hundreds of armed, rough-looking soldiers in foreign army trucks course through the streets. The evil on the men?s faces frightens both young women. They soon discover that there is good reason to be afraid. As Barbara delivers her talk to the congregation, chaos erupts. Armed soldiers attack the church members. As part of a larger raid on Mormon churches, the members are kidnapped and taken to a secret compound. On the first morning of their incarceration, Barbara and Suzanne are brought before the commander. They will be allowed to go free if they sign the declaration renouncing their faith. If they do not sign it, they will die. Neither Barbara nor Suzanne wishes to die, but neither wishes to renounce God or the Gospel?s doctrines. They will be given just twenty-four hours to determine their own fate in The Robe of the Martyrs.