...Although I feel prayer is meaningful and serves a purpose for believers, I also understand the point of the article. Prayer can offer guidance and comfort but it doesn't usually result in a solution being dropped down from the sky. I agree and have said as much more than once in this discussion. I keep Jessica and her family in my thoughts and prayers but know that this will not make her suddenly come home...
...The opinion/choice of not conducting searches is similar to the McStay family of four who went missing out of Fallbrook, CA in 2010.
I remember posting that the sketch in Jessica's case reminds me of Joey McStay. My vivid imagination gets going and I wonder about reasons for disappearing related to drugs and other weird stuff. In the McStay case, Tim Miller came out to search. After a quick look-see, a briefing with LE and one sonar search along a straight highway route, searches were called off. TES left and went onto a new job. Why? I recall the McStay family case but am more familiar with the Medsker family (husband and wife, 4-month-old son) who abruptly left their home in Petoskey, MI, including their private cleaning business. They contacted a family member when they saw themselves featured on a newscast and realized that family was concerned about where they were and why they had disappeared. They told the family member (his sister, IIRC) that they were fine and did not want to be located at this time. They returned to Petoskey at some point - I only know this from DH's former boss who now lives in Petoskey - but no details of their sudden disappearance were made public...
...Due to the lack of searches, I think there's more to Jessica's history and LE and family have suspicions that they're keeping private. I feel very strongly that this is the case but I know that we can't speculate about Jessica or her family. Suffice it to say that it's entirely possible that LE and/or Jessica's family/fiancé have learned some things since she went missing that might cause embarrassment to Jessica or her family, so they are remaining tight-lipped and hopeful that she will eventually return home...