I was over at my grandma’s house almost all day yesterday to visit with her. Her visiting teacher ended up coming over as well, so I just stayed in the other room for about 45 minutes while they chatted.
The conversation inevitably drifted to apostasy. The lady mentioned that her son and daughter-in-law were super faithful, got sealed in the temple, and were good Mormons. One day, they just wanted nothing to do with the church anymore. The mom expressed that they were still good kids, but she was perplexed by the sudden change. I have been out of the church for 2.5 years, and my grandma knows that I have been. My grandma could have mentioned that she also has apostates in her family, and there’s actually one in the other room right now. Instead, my grandma didn’t say anything at all.
After the visiting teacher left my grandma came back in the room and we chatted some more. She asked me about when I start my Buddhist minister’s course. I told her, and asked if she wanted to learn more about Buddhism. SHe said yes, so I gave a summary of Buddha’s early life and told her about the first 2 of the 4 noble truths. I didn’t tell her more because my grandpa came into the room and I’m unsure how he’d take it.
later on that day we were talking politics and I explained that homosexuality should be a protected class right along side race, religion, and gender. She agreed. I told her the political candidates I like for Idaho govenor next year, and explained why I liked one in particular because he does want to reverse marriage equality. My grandma said that she has a friend who is a lesbian and has been with her partner for decades. My grandma said they were so excited when marriage equality became a thing and they could finally get married. My grandma said that she doesn’t understand it, but if it makes others happy they should be allowed to do it. I told my grandma about Prop 8 and how marriage equality was banned in California for a time because people lobbied against it so hard. She said that was wrong and people should just be with those they love.
My grandma is fucking awesome.