I solemnly declare that this spiritual kingdom of faith will move

Opening Scene
The church bell tolled somewhere in the distance — deep, resonant, and slow — its echo carrying through the misty evening air. The world outside was quiet, the streets slick with rain, the last glow of daylight fading beneath the gray clouds. Inside the small chapel, the flicker of candlelight illuminated the stained-glass windows, painting fractured colors onto the old wooden pews. Jack sat alone near the front, elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped, his gray eyes fixed on the altar ahead. Jeeny entered quietly, her footsteps soft against the stone floor, the faint sound of her breath mingling with the echo of the bells.

Host:
The silence in the chapel carried weight — not of emptiness, but of contemplation. It was the kind of silence that asked questions, even before words were spoken.

Jeeny:
(sitting beside him, her voice low but firm)
"I solemnly declare that this spiritual kingdom of faith will move forward with or without each of us individually. No unhallowed hand can stay the growth of the Church nor prevent fulfillment of its mission. Any of us can be left behind, drawn away by the seductive voices of secularism and materialism." (she lets the words linger, her gaze steady on the flickering flame at the altar)
"That’s what James E. Faust said. It’s powerful, isn’t it? The idea that faith — or truth — keeps moving, even when people fall away. It doesn’t stop for anyone."

Jack:
(leaning back slightly, his voice rough with thought)
"Yeah… it’s powerful — and unsettling. The idea that something bigger than us will keep going, no matter what. There’s something freeing about that, but also a little cold. It reminds us we’re part of something vast — but also that we’re expendable." (he glances toward the altar, the light flickering across his sharp features)
"Faith has a way of doing that — giving you purpose while also reminding you how small you are."

Host:
Jeeny turned toward him, the faint glow from the candles catching in her brown eyes. There was no judgment in her gaze, only understanding, as if she knew the weight of his words came from somewhere deep — a quiet struggle between belief and the modern world.

Jeeny:
"But maybe that’s the point, Jack. Faith isn’t meant to make us feel big. It’s meant to connect us to something bigger than ourselves. It’s not about being the center — it’s about being a part of something living, eternal. The Church, the community, the kingdom of faith — it’s not built on any one of us. It’s built on the belief that truth and purpose exist beyond us." (she pauses, her voice soft but strong)
"And yes, people do fall away — they always have — but that doesn’t stop the truth from being the truth. The light doesn’t fade just because someone walks away from it."

Jack:
(nods slowly, his expression thoughtful)
"I get that. But it’s not easy to hold onto faith when the world keeps pulling at you. The ‘seductive voices of secularism and materialism,’ as Faust called them — they’re everywhere now. Every screen, every ad, every whisper tells you that you can buy meaning, that happiness is just another product. It’s easy to get lost in that, to forget what’s real. Sometimes, it feels like faith doesn’t stand a chance against it."

Host:
Jeeny’s expression softened, her hands resting gently on the back of the pew before her. The chapel was still, but her words seemed to bring a quiet warmth, like the flame of a candle refusing to go out.

Jeeny:
"Faith doesn’t compete with the noise, Jack. It doesn’t need to. It’s not loud, and it doesn’t demand attention — it waits. That’s what makes it powerful. The world shouts for your focus, your time, your soul, but faith… faith whispers. And in the quiet, if you listen closely enough, you remember why it matters." (she looks toward the altar, her expression serene)
"The Church, or any true belief, doesn’t need to fight for survival. It endures because it’s rooted in something deeper than the world’s distractions — something eternal."

Jack:
(quietly, almost to himself)
"Eternal. That’s a word that’s easy to say, but hard to feel. Maybe that’s the problem — we’re too busy chasing what’s temporary to feel what lasts. The material, the noise — it’s constant. But faith requires silence, patience, humility. Those aren’t easy things to hold onto anymore." (he runs a hand through his hair, his voice softening)
"Maybe that’s why Faust said the kingdom moves on without us. Because it’s not waiting for the distracted. It keeps moving forward for those who still listen."

Host:
Jeeny nodded, her eyes reflecting the golden light of the candles. The moment between them grew heavy, yet filled with quiet clarity — a shared recognition of how fragile faith can feel in a world that celebrates instant gratification.

Jeeny:
"Exactly. And maybe that’s what makes faith real — it’s not convenient. It’s not easy. It demands something from us that the world never will: sacrifice. The world says, ‘Take more,’ but faith says, ‘Give more.’ The world says, ‘You deserve everything,’ but faith says, ‘You owe everything.’ It’s the opposite current. And that’s why so many drift away — because the other current feels easier."

Jack:
(leans forward, resting his hands on his knees, his tone quieter now)
"But then again, maybe faith isn’t supposed to be easy. Maybe it’s supposed to test us. If belief didn’t require struggle, if it didn’t challenge the ego, it wouldn’t be belief — it’d be comfort." (he glances at her, a faint half-smile playing at his lips)
"And comfort never builds anything lasting."

Host:
For a moment, neither spoke. The candles flickered, their light trembling against the carved wooden walls. Somewhere outside, the rain had stopped, leaving the sound of dripping water echoing faintly through the air — a kind of rhythm, slow and steady, like the beating heart of the world itself.

Jeeny:
(softly)
"So maybe the challenge isn’t to fight against the world, but to stay alive within it — to keep your spirit from going numb. To remember that faith isn’t just belief; it’s choosing to be alive in a world that numbs you with excess."

Jack:
(smiling faintly, his voice low)
"And to stay humble enough to know that the kingdom moves with or without us — but wise enough to not let ourselves get left behind."

Host:
The last of the candlelight flickered across their faces, as if the chapel itself breathed in their words. The weight of the world felt a little lighter in that moment — not because the questions were gone, but because they had found meaning in their asking. Outside, the clouds began to part, letting a sliver of moonlight spill across the wet pavement.

Jeeny:
(quietly, her tone filled with calm conviction)
"The kingdom endures. The question is — do we?"

Host:
And with that, silence filled the chapel once more — sacred, alive, and eternal.

End Scene