Light Reading

By Lyndee Johns
Working as a cashier in a store wasn’t exactly my dream summer job.
The hours were long, I was on my feet my entire shift, and asking for IDs when people bought
alcohol or cigarettes completely stressed me out.
Whenever it was time for one of my scheduled breaks, I’d slink off to the break room in the back
of the store.
However, even the break room didn’t provide much of a relief. The TV was often on, and the
shows that were usually playing made me uncomfortable. I’d either end up in the back of the
room on my phone, trying to ignore the dirty jokes pouring out of the TV, or on the floor outside
the break room.
I don’t remember the first time I was inspired to bring a Book of Mormon with me to work.
However it happened, I ended up bringing my Book of Mormon with me to work constantly. As
a result, I spent many of my breaks sitting outside the break room, reading the Book of Mormon.
While my job didn’t magically get better, reading the scriptures during my break helped to make
everything a little more bearable. I was able to have a few minutes of peace during my hectic
shifts.
The end of the summer drew near, and with it, the end of my job. One day, one of my managers
stopped to talk to me. She was close to my age, maybe a few years older. I had seen her smoking
outside the store doors with the other workers once or twice.
“You’re a Mormon, right?” she said, nodding at my Book of Mormon.
I told her that I was. I was a little curious—and nervous—about why she was asking. Did she
want to start an argument with me about the Church?
She then told me that she used to be a member. “Promise me that you’ll stay in the Church,” she
said, the regret heavy in her voice. “Promise me that you won’t start smoking, and that you’ll
stay clean.”
I promised her that I would, and she walked away.
Several years later, I’m still keeping that promise.
I’m grateful that I was able to be a good example of the Church for my manager, and that I had
been inspired to bring the Book of Mormon with me to a stressful summer job.