My dad was raised Christian Scientist before my parents converted to the LDS faith in their twenties. He did not celebrate holidays in his youth; therefore it doesn't even cross his mind to buy gifts on Valentine's Day, Birthdays, Mothers Day, Christmas, etc. He would give anyone the shirt off his back, but he rarely enters a store, and frankly has not a materialistic bone in his body.

My mom discovered this soon after they got married when he seemed to totally forget her birthday. Moments before they went to bed that night, he said, "Oh Happy Birthday Jan, I was going to get you a card, but I thought we could use the 25 cents." Naturally this did not feel good at all, and in fact was devastating to her as a 19-year-old bride.

This did not make logical sense to my mom; it was her birthday, and certainly he could sacrifice and spend the 25 cents. Nor did it make logical sense to my dad to splurge and spend money for someone's birthday, as they were on a tight budget and birthdays were obviously not a priority.

This has been an interesting phenomenon for me to watch over the years.

My mom has often reminded me, "Becky, always let love transcend logic."

So throughout my life, I have watched my mom open up beautifully wrapped packages on Christmas, Mothers Day, and her birthday. It has been so fun to watch her get excited, as she would run over to my dad, hug and kiss him, and thank him profusely for the wonderful gift. She was so good, that there were even times when he started to think that he was the one that actually bought the gift for her.

Then, on occasion, going against all logic and upbringing, my dad would actually go out and buy my mom a gift.

I will never forget the time that my dad had gone to the jewelry store and bought my mom a necklace. I asked my mom if she liked it; she said, "It doesn't matter if I like it, dad bought it, and I will wear it."

My mom just had her 72nd birthday. She was so excited to tell me that dad had gone down to the corner drug store and bought her some artificial tulips.

It has been wonderful as I have seen them both "let love transcend logic" over the years.

In contrast, I have a friend who will return every item her husband buys for her. It doesn't make logical sense for her to keep them since it isn't what she would wear, or use.

I remember my mom telling me how grandma wanted a new stove, but my grandpa didn't want to buy her one. Money was not the issue, but grandma was in the sunset of her life, and her days of cooking were mostly a thing of the past. It did not make any logical sense to my grandpa to buy her a new stove. My mom would tell him, "Dad, buy mom a stove, you need to let love transcend logic."

I remember my mom giving this advice on several occasions. She would say, "It may not make logical sense to you, to fill the car with gas if it is still half full, but if your spouse stresses out because the gas tank is half empty, then fill the tank with gas. Let love transcend logic."

I have thought often of this advice, and tried to connect the dots in my own life, as well as notice what motivates others in theirs.

I know of families with young children who chase the Spirit out of the chapel each Sunday, not to mention making it almost impossible to hear the speakers. It may not make logical sense to go to sacrament meeting until their children are old enough to sit still. It certainly doesn't make logical sense to attend church during the 1 p.m. block, as that is right in the middle of nap time.

I know of those who feel awkward week after week, sitting alone in church; it doesn't make logical sense to return each week to such feelings of loneliness.

For those who have yet to see or believe the Signs of the Times, it may not make logical sense to store up on so much food and water.

Just recently my mom told me that the stake president asked the members in her ward to forego attending stake conference (broadcasted) in their own building five minutes away to attend with a ward that is 45 minutes away in the foothills; to give encouragement and support to them. I said, "Mom, that doesn't make sense for you to drive so far when your building is so close, those members will be just fine watching it by themselves." Of course they drove to the mountains to support those saints.

It didn't make logical sense for the pioneers to travel west in the snow and cold, knowing the high risk of losing lives; or for the brethren in the early days to leave their families to serve a mission without a savings account or a food supply in reserve.

It doesn't make logical sense to postpone your education or go without seeing your grandchildren to serve a mission.

Sometimes it doesn't make logical sense to serve, nurture and forgive people who continue to hurt you.

To some it doesn't make logical sense to carry and deliver a child whom the doctors had forewarned you is unhealthy and may be disabled.

To many it didn't make logical sense to fight for Prop 8 representing traditional marriage, in CA.

For some it doesn't make logical sense to pay 10% of your income to tithing and fast offerings when you have bills to pay.

There are situations in life that just don't make logical sense to some people. Those who have chosen to follow the Savior are asked to "Let Love Transcend Logic." Love for our Heavenly Father, love for our Savior, and love for one another.

This is well illustrated in the story of the prodigal son. He took his inheritance, and squelched it. He was careless, prideful, and self-indulgent. There are details to the story that we simply do not know; but what we do know is that he returned home to a father who lovingly welcomed him and even celebrated his return. As one who believes in natural consequences, that hasn't always made logical sense to me. What a great example of letting love transcend logic.

I have heard it said, "Logic is an unfaithful master." If logic is what rules any of us, we will be betrayed in the end.

It is love that enables us do the hard things; it is love that enables us to do the right things; it is love for our Heavenly Father, our Savior and one another; that is why we do what we do.

So the next time we begin to lean in the direction of logic, it just might be a good time to "Let love transcend logic."