Trust is the cornerstone of any relationship. Whether we're talking about the public trusting their elected officials, churchgoers 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.

Breaches of trust come in a variety of ways: Most common are outright lies as in a parent asking a child, "Did you brush your teeth?" The child answers yes, but the toothbrush isn't even wet when the parent checks it. That's pretty straightforward. Trust is also violated when we make a promise to someone but then turn around and either not follow through -- or even worse -- choose to do the exact opposite.

In the political arena, sadly, this has become commonplace. Politicians will tell us what we want to hear so they can get elected, only to go back on their promises once they assume the office. No wonder voters have become so jaded and apathetic: no trust!

Another example is an addict "swearing" that this was the last time of acting out. All he's asking for is another chance. Although the desire might be sincere, the credibility factor is down to zero -- too many broken promises.

So how can someone regain trust once it has been lost? Is it even feasible? The answer is an absolute YES, but with certain stipulations. Here are four ways that relationships can be repaired, even after the trust is damaged.

Make a conscious decision to be truthful no matter what the consequences are. Parents try to teach this concept to their children on a daily basis, especially by example.

I believe that the consequences for lying should be more severe than the actual act of doing something wrong. When someone is used to lying, it is not easy to turn it around. Just like a recovering addict, it's not only one day at a time but one decision at a time: to lie or to tell the truth? That one question will determine to a large degree the success or failure of any relationship.

Become a "promise keeper!" There's a Christian organization by that name that promotes husbands and fathers to become promise keepers. Although I've never attended one of their functions, I love their name and basic premise. Wouldn't our society resemble Zion if we all kept our promises? The impact of just following through with our promises would literally transform all of our relationships. Think of the implications of saying something and then actually following through! Not only would trust be re-established, but relationships would thrive.

Consistency is key to success. Far too often, you'll see someone violate another's trust and then expect that by being "good" for a short time, that they should have all of their privileges restored. Passive passage of time is not enough, but a consistent and proactive approach will do wonders. Seek to find opportunities to rebuild trust and at the same time, remember to manage your expectations. If there's a true change of heart, that person won't give up being honest just because the rewards took a long time to arrive. Otherwise, we're just trying to get back to the good graces of the one we've offended, not really experiencing a change of heart.

Take responsibility and make amends for the hurt and damage that have been caused. For relationships to be truly healed, forgiveness has to be extended by the offender and accepted by the offended. Since none of us are perfect and we all make mistakes, forgiveness is a necessity.

A word of caution: We cannot continue to ask for forgiveness and then revert to old habits. We need to apply the other three principles consistently and diligently -- that's what sincere forgiveness looks like! As the Savior once said, "Go and sin no more." In this situation it's more like, "Go and lie no more." As most of you know, the peace of mind that comes with consistently telling and acting the truth is invaluable, and certainly much better than the short-term "reward" of temporarily getting away with dishonesty.