Trust is the cornerstone of any relationship. Whether we're talking about the public trusting their elected officials, church-goers trusting their ecclesiastical leaders, or children trusting their parents, it all comes down to trust.

I used to believe that all you needed in a relationship was love. Call me a romantic (my wife would actually need to verify that claim), but for the longest time, I believed the old adage, "Love conquers all." Over the years, I've discovered many previously loving relationships that came to a crashing halt when trust was severely violated. I've known many couples who have loved each other deeply, but could not overcome repeated withdrawals from the "trust account." The love may still be there, but the conditions for a continued relationship without trust make it almost impossible.

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