Perfectly Honest and Upright

To my daughter, 

                Today I want to write to you about the importance of honesty. Two of the Ten Commandments that Moses received declare, “Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness” (Exodus 20:15-16). That means that we should not lie but always tell the truth and not take things which are not ours. The 13^th article of faith also declares, “We believe in being honest.” Jacob put it a little more forcefully in the Book of Mormon: “Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to hell” (2 Nephi 9:34). From these and other scriptures we can see that the Lord is very serious about honesty and our need to be truthful. In the For Strength of Youth pamphlet it says this: “Be honest with yourself, others, and God at all times. Being honest means choosing not to lie, steal, cheat, or deceive in any way. When you are honest, you build strength of character that will allow you to be of great service to God and others. You will be blessed with peace of mind and self-respect. You will be trusted by the Lord and will be worthy to enter into His holy temples.” One of the great blessings of being honest is that it helps us to be worthy to enter the temple of the Lord. It is in fact one of the requirements to go to the temple. Another blessing that honesty gives us is that when we are honest we can have the Spirit more abundantly with us. The pamphlet continues, “If you lie, steal, shoplift, or cheat, you damage your spirit and your relationships with others. Being honest will enhance your future opportunities and your ability to be guided by the Holy Ghost. Be honest at school; choose not to cheat in any way.” Although sometimes the temptation to lie is great to obtain something we want in the short term, the best course of action in the long run is always to be honest and retain our peace of mind.

                President Hinckley, the prophet when I was growing up, told this story: “Among many unsigned letters I have received was one of particular interest. It contained a twenty-dollar bill and a brief note which stated that the writer had come to my home many years ago. When there had been no response to the bell, he had tried the door and, finding it unlocked, had entered and walked about. On the dresser he saw a twenty-dollar bill, took it, and left. Through the years his conscience had bothered him, and he was now returning the money.” He then commented on the experience: “He did not include anything for interest for the period during which he had used my money. But as I read his pathetic letter I thought of the usury to which he had subjected himself for a quarter of a century with the unceasing nagging of his conscience. For him there had been no peace until he had made restitution.” Think of that—this person stole twenty dollars and felt guilty about it for 25 years! I know that when we are honest we are much happier and we have a peace of conscience that nothing we obtain through dishonesty could ever make up for. I encourage you to always tell the truth—no matter what. Even when it might get you in trouble because you have done something you shouldn’t, being honest is always the best course of action. I hope you will strive to be like the converted Lamanites in the Book of Mormon of whom it was written: “They were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end” (Alma 27:27). As you try to be perfectly honest and upright I know that the Lord will bless you with His Spirit and a peace that can come in no other way. 

Love,

Dad