Heber And The Pope

Many years ago, the Pope decided that all the Mormons had to leave Rome.  Naturally, there was a big uproar from the Mormon community.  So the Pope made a deal.  He would have a religious debate with a member of the Mormon community.  If the Mormon won, the Mormons could stay.  If the Pope won, the Mormons would leave.  Realizing they had no choice, the Mormons picked a young missionary from Idaho, named Heber, to represent them.

Not able to speak Italian very well, Heber asked for one addition to the debate.  To make it more interesting, neither side could talk.  The Pope agreed.

The day of the great debate came.  Heber and the Pope sat opposite each other for a full minute before the Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers.  Heber looked back at him and wagged one finger.  The pope waved his fingers in a circle around his head.  Heber pointed to the ground where he sat.  The Pope pulled out a wafer and a glass of wine.  Heber pulled out and apple.  The Pope stood up and said, "I give up! This man has good answers to all of my questions.  The Mormons can stay."

Afterwards, the Cardinals, gathered around the Pope, asked what had happened.  The Pope said, "First I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity.  He responded by holding up one finger to remind me that there was still one God common to both our religions.  Then I waved my finger around me to show that God is all around us.  He responded by pointed to the ground and showing that God was also right here with us.  I pulled out the wine and wafer to show that God absolves us from our sins.  He pulled out an apple to remind me of the original sin and how we all must be able to rise above that.  He had an answer for everything.  What could I do?"

Meanwhile, the Mormon community and all the missionaries had crowded around Heber.  "What happened?" They asked.  "Well," said Heber, "first he said to me that the Mormons had three days to get out of here.  I told him that not one of us was leaving.  He told me that his whole city would be cleared of Mormons.  I let him know we were staying right here."

"And then?" Asked a woman.

"I don't know," said Heber, "he took out his lunch and I took out mine!"