Honesty

" We all need to know what it means to be honest. Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth telling, truth speaking, truth living, and truth loving."

     “Honesty-A Moral Compass,” James E. Faust, Ensign, Nov. 1996

"Honesty is not only the best policy, it is the only policy!"

     “Ethics and Honesty,” David B. Haight, Ensign, Nov. 1987

"The thirteenth article of faith begins, “We believe in being honest.” Honesty is a principle founded in religious belief and is one of God’s basic laws."

     “Let There Be Light!” Quinten L. Cook, Ensign, Nov. 2010

" Teaching children the joy of honest labor is one of the greatest of all gifts you can bestow upon them. I am convinced that one of the reasons for the breakup of so many couples today is the failure of parents to teach and train sons in their responsibility to provide and care for their families and to enjoy the challenge this responsibility brings."

     “The Joy of Honest Labor,” L. Tom Perry, Ensign, Nov. 1968

"I bear you my witness, my brothers and sisters, that this doctrine I’ve been quoting to you is true and is from the Almighty Himself. He has revealed to us in these latter days the principles by which we may prosper, by which we may perfect ourselves, by which we may rise from the fallen condition in which we are to the condition we must reach in preparation for the return of the Redeemer to the world."

     “We Believe in Being Honest,” Marion G. Romney, Ensign, Nov. 1976

“Despite the physical and mental punishment at the hands of his opponents which the Prophet Joseph Smith endured throughout the remainder of his life, he did not falter. He taught honesty—by example.”

“Honesty Is Best,” Thomas S. Monson, https://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/honesty-is-best?lang=eng

"But we do not believe in honesty merely as a matter of policy. It is far more important than that. Honesty is a principle of salvation in the kingdom of God."

     “Honesty, a Principle of Salvation,” Mark E. Peterson, Ensign, Nov. 1971

"Honesty is the quality or condition of being truthful, sincere, candid, and worthy of honor. The word honesty is related to other words with the same root such as honor and honorable These expressions share the notion of being genuine, trustworthy, upright, respectable, and decent."

     “Be Honest,” David A. Bednar, Devotional address given on September 10, 2002, at Brigham Young University–Idaho

“The standard for honesty is not determined through comparison with others. Ours is a divine standard.”

     “Honesty—The Heart of Spirtuality,” Neil L. Anderson, Devotional address given on September 13, 2011, at Brigham Young University

"If you will speak with humility and honest intent, the Lord will not leave you alone. The scriptures promise that."

     “The Candle of the Lord,” Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, Jan. 1983

My Testimony 

Honesty is a constant struggle. Most people don’t wake up and decide to be dishonest that day, but it is something everyone has difficulty with in at least one form or another. Honesty is more than not just telling lies, it’s being sincere in all you do, whether it is secular or spiritual. Elder Bednar defined honest as sincerity and it has caused me to reflect on how I live. I will be in conversations with people and pretend to be interested but secretly wish I wasn’t there or not really care about what they are saying. That is not being honest to the conversation or to them because it completely lacks sincerity. When we are not honest with others we are dishonest with God and with ourselves. God always knows. Prayer is one place we can never afford to be dishonest or insincere. We can’t receive revelation if our intent is not pure and true. Heavenly Father can’t teach us when we won’t admit to Him we recognize where we are at. Unfortunately, the world rarely rewards honesty, but as Elder Anderson said of honesty, “Ours is a divine standard,” and it isn’t set by us, but by God and is essential for salvation.