Page 11 of His Elder

"We're not here to pressure anyone." Elder Price's smile never wavered. "We just want to share what's brought us so much joy. Could we ask you a few questions? Just to understand your perspective?"

This was his technique. I'd watched him use it a dozen times. Make it aboutthem. Get them talking. Find the wound and offer the gospel as a bandage.

"I suppose," Maria said.

"Wonderful. Do you believe in God?"

"Sometimes. Depends on the day."

"That's honest. A lot of people feel that way. What about family? Is family important to you?"

"Of course."

"Our church teaches that families can be together forever. Not just in this life, but in the next. Through sacred ordinances performed in temples, we can be sealed to our loved ones for eternity. Doesn't that sound like something worth exploring?"

Maria's polite expression had cooled. "And what if my family doesn't fit your church's definition?"

"I'm not sure I—"

"What if someone in my family is gay? Or divorced? Or doesn't believe in your god? Can they still be part of this eternal family, or are they excluded?"

Elder Price hesitated. Just for a second, but I saw it.

"God loves all His children," he said. "Everyone is welcome to learn about—"

"That's not what I asked."

"The gospel teaches us that certain covenants and ordinances are necessary for exaltation. But God is merciful, and in the next life—"

"So the answer is no. They're excluded."

"It's more complicated than—"

"It really isn't." Maria closed her sketchbook. "Look, I appreciate that you believe in something. Genuinely. But I'm not interested in a religion that tells people the way they love is wrong, or that their family isn't valid because it doesn't match a specific template."

She stood. Elder Price's smile had finally cracked.

"Wait," I said.

Both of them looked at me.

"Maria's right," I continued. "The church does teach that. You can't really argue with her."

"Elder Vance—"

"But if you actually want to understand what we believe, instead of just hearing the sales pitch, we could meet again. No pressure. Just... conversation. About the actual doctrine, not the sanitized version."

Maria studied me. "Would your church approve of that approach?"

"Probably not."

"Elder Vance is joking," Elder Price said quickly. "Of course the church would approve of honest investigation of—"

"I'm not joking. But he's also right that we'd be happy to meet with you. Answer questions. Let you tell us why we're wrong about everything." I met her eyes. "Fair trade for the drawing lesson?"

A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "You drive a hard bargain, Elder Eli."

"Is that a yes?"