I appreciate you expounding on the story of Esther, which I agree strongly supports the lesson of “Wielding Power and Spirit in Exile.” There is a tension to statesmanship in “exile,” in this current state of being pre-return. Like the lesson stated, governments are focused on limiting the effects of sin in the world, but only the church can promote redemption properly. Anytime the state is used to pursue utopian ideals it fails miserably. In the same way, faith cannot be imposed through power.