On being the Prophet's Granddaughter: A conversation with Holly Hinckley

Holly Hinckley and I have been acquainted for years but our relationship really became cemented as I became increasingly public and even vitriolic on social media about the Mormon faith after I left it. I lost most of my Mormon friends during this time which was not unexpected nor surprising but it was and continues to be painful. I was increasingly intrigued though as I watched Holly remain steadfast in her affection and interactions toward me. She didn't unfriend, she never unfollowed. She never had an angry retort. What was weird is that nobody I knew had higher personal stakes in the Mormon church than her. Her beloved grandfather was world famous and popular LDS Prophet Gordon B.Hinckley, Mormonism's equivalent of Pope Francis. Her great grandfather was head of LDS Business College. Her father has always held prominent positions in the church. Holly herself is a returned missionary and devout member of the faith. I reached out to express my gratitude for her friendship and ask her how she managed to maintain it given how angry and relentless I have been in decrying the church and it's leaders. In this conversation we talk about that, about maintaining relationships despite huge differences in beliefs (she married into a non Mormon family) her time spent in my Homeland, her parenting, and what it was like growing up as "Mormon royalty". I hope you will find this episode as fun, informative, helpful and life affirming as I did.