“There is an old Jewish tale about a soap maker who did not believe in God. One day as he was walking with a rabbi, he said, ‘There is something I cannot understand. We have had religion for thousands of years. But everywhere you look there is evil, corruption, dishonesty, injustice, pain, hunger, and violence. It appears that religion has not improved the world at all. So I ask you, what good is it?’
“The rabbi did not answer for a time but continued walking with the soap maker. Eventually they approached a playground where children, covered in dust, were playing in the dirt.
“‘There is something I don’t understand,’ the rabbi said. ‘Look at those children. We have had soap for thousands of years, and yet those children are filthy. What good is soap?’
“The soap maker replied, ‘But rabbi, it isn’t fair to blame soap for these dirty children. Soap has to be used before it can accomplish its purpose.’
“The rabbi smiled and said, ‘Exactly’ (“The Just Shall Live by Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, Apr. 2017, 4).