Elaine Cannon, who was general president of the Young Women some four decades ago, had an interesting conversation with President Spencer W. Kimball in 1978. According to Sister Cannon’s firsthand account, President Kimball revealed important insight into how he thought about himself as the prophet as well as how he thought leaders should talk to the general membership about that topic.

In the time that I have spent advocating for more compassionate immigration reform, one counterargument I have heard fellow members of the Church use repeatedly is that our shared religious beliefs require a commitment to obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law. As a student of both the law and the gospel, I see great wisdom in our Church's 12th Article of Faith, but I have always been troubled by the implication that any ethical or moral failure is automatically excused or justified by strict adherence to the law.

There is much to be learned from the parable of the lost sheep. A shepherd must never say, “Well, at least I tried. I made two phone calls and drove by the house on the way home from work a couple of times. I couldn’t find the family at home. The shepherd in the parable goes after “that which is lost, until he find it.”

What would you say is the most significant contributing factor to spiritual growth and revelation? Would it be reading and studying the scriptures? Prayer? These things are indispensable. How about temple work? Or bearing testimony? Repentance? All have a place, but I submit that it just might be pondering and meditating that contribute most significantly to receiving revelation and our spiritual growth.