Two year old prodigals

My sister-in-law once told me that as she struggled to get a shirt over the head of her resisting every which way two year old she suddenly saw herself in relationship to God. As every parent of a two year old soon discovers, toddlers often insist on doing many things of their own free will and choice that are not good or are even dangerous for their well-being. Most parents of teenagers rediscover this same dynamic. Due to the laws of physics the parent cannot physically insist that the child wear their coat when it's cold, not run in the street irresponsibly (and this time they are behind the wheel of the car!) or eat in a manner that is conducive to their health. Yet still that teenager is somewhat under the protection of the parental environment while they throw caution to the wind through willful use of their agency.

As adults do we not repeat this process with our Heavenly Parent? He kindly instructs us to wear our spiritual coat but no, we insist on going out in the cold without it. He invites us to feast at His table full of many good things for our spiritual health but we consume cultural junk food instead. He knows if we apply the laws of the harvest and "lay up in store" we will have oil in our lamps in time of need but we prefer the foolish route. He warns us of the dangers of heading pell mell into the streets of life without looking both ways but often we make the choice to run a collision course with the fiery darts of the adversary.

Luckily, though it may seem otherwise, we are still under our Heavenly Parent's umbrella. This is a school. We do learn by experience to know the good from evil. He is watching over us patiently trying to teach us the why's and wherefores of life. As the very core of our nature is one of light, truth, intelligence and glory our use (or should we say misuse) of agency (and that of other's) often brings us affliction and unhappiness. He is inviting us to learn that the the surest, most effective, and shortest path to healing and happiness comes, as Elder Scott says, through the "application of the teachings of Jesus Christ" in our lives. In other words, when we as prodigals really do come to ourselves and are perishing from spiritual trauma and/or hunger, our Father will, when we are yet a great way off, see us in the way, run to us, bring forth the best robe, put the ring on our finger and shoes on our feet, kill the fatted calf and receive us into his bosom safe and sound.