Many in today’s sophisticated society compartmentalize their approach to life, pitting religion against the intellect, creating a cultural clash between secularism and spirituality. In our world it’s either Athens or Jerusalem. And many falsely assume that “reason” and “revelation” are mutually exclusive—meaning, that religion and the things of the Spirit have no place in the public square. But the Prophet Joseph Smith learned early on that he could obtain both scholarly wisdom, as well as eternal truth, by combining intellectual effort with spirituality.

When a young child is learning to walk, falling down is a part of the process. No one chastises the child or points out his incompetence for succumbing to the law of gravity. Quite the opposite. Parents, loved ones and even strangers offer encouragement and positive motivation for the child to continue to increase in strength and try repeatedly to take those first steps independent and unassisted.

As He walked those narrow Capernaum streets, the people surrounded and engulfed him, each of them with needs, longing, pain, curiosity, wonder . . . and one of them, a woman, with an issue of blood of twelve years duration. This timid, terrified woman offers us an excellent opportunity to reflect upon the ways in which we may complicate this matter of taking the Test. Her malady is a metaphor, perhaps for the whole human family.

Watching for the prodigals who leave and celebrating them when they come
home is one side of the parenting coin. The other side is building
relationships and celebrating the prodigals who stay.