Elder L. Tom Perry on building a character of integrity and trust

Elder L. Tom Perry (1922-2015) was called as an Assistant to the Twelve in 1972, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1974. At the time of his passing at age 92, he was the oldest living general authority and the third in seniority among the leading quorum.

"Our world today is increasingly fast moving and complex. There are always opportunities for individuals to play fast and loose. Many people like to play to activities that produce quick windfalls and often take advantage of others who try to play according to the rules established by good practices. This fast-moving world has heightened the temptation for people to play the game with their own set of rules.

"However, we must always answer to the law of the harvest. 'For whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward' (D&C 6:33). This is a law that will never be repealed....

"A good character is something you must make for yourself. It cannot be inherited from parents. It cannot be created by having extraordinary advantages. It isn’t a gift of birth, wealth, talent, or station. It is the result of your own endeavor. It is the reward that comes from living good principles and manifesting a virtuous and honorable life.

"With that noble quality of trust comes the reputation of one who is honest and possesses integrity. These are character traits that will ensure a long and successful career. The greatest asset you can put into your bank is the reputation of being a person of trust."

- L. Tom Perry, address delivered 1/15/2010 at Utah Valley University: see "The Tradition of a Balanced, Righteous Life," Ensign, Aug. 2011, 36
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Elder Perry warns that we are sometimes tempted in today's world to "play fast and loose": to ignore the established rules and conventions, choosing to "play the game with [our] own set of rules." We are sometimes tempted to rationalize our behavior and act inappropriately. But he warns that these choices will have consequences eventually, as the "law of the harvest" brings us our eventual dues.

Instead, we should endeavor always to make the choices and follow the actions that will result in good character:

Then, having built our life on "living good principles and manifesting a virtuous and honorable life," we can be assured that we become someone full of integrity who is worthy of trust. There is no more desirable quality in the world we live in!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

Elder D. Todd Christofferson on pursuing the highest ideals of manhood

Elder D. Todd Christofferson (b. January 24, 1945) was called to the Seventy in 1993, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2008.

"Good men sometimes make mistakes. A man of integrity will honestly face and correct his mistakes, and that is an example we can respect. Sometimes men try but fail. Not all worthy objectives are realized despite one’s honest and best efforts. True manhood is not always measured by the fruits of one’s labors but by the labors themselves—by one’s striving.

"Though he will make some sacrifices and deny himself some pleasures in the course of honoring his commitments, the true man leads a rewarding life. He gives much, but he receives more, and he lives content in the approval of his Heavenly Father. The life of true manhood is the good life.

"Most importantly, when we consider the admonition to be men, we must think of Jesus Christ. When Pilate brought Jesus forth wearing a crown of thorns, he declared, 'Behold the man!' (see John 19:4–5). Pilate may not have fully understood the significance of his own words, but the Lord indeed stood before the people then as He stands today—the highest ideal of manhood. Behold the man!"

- D. Todd Christofferson, "Let Us Be Men," General Conference October 2006
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The sign of a good person is not whether he or she makes mistakes; but what the reaction or response to those mistakes is. People of integrity "will honorably face and correct [their] mistakes" in appropriate and mature ways.

These remarks were addressed to a Priesthood session of conference, during which Elder Christofferson challenged his listeners to "be men"—to be spiritually mature and willing to resolve mistakes in the proper way.

The greatest ideal of manhood is in the life and example of the Savior, and in the rest of the talk Elder Christofferson uses examples and teachings from the New Testament to illustrate that ideal to which we can aspire. The life of a "true man" is a wonderful life, he points out; "He gives much, but he receives more, and he lives content in the approval of his Heavenly Father." What more could anyone, man or woman, seek?

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin on having righteous hearts

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917-2008) served as a Seventy from 1976 to 1986, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles from 1986 until his passing in 2008 at age 91.

"One of the major messages of our Lord and Savior was to be righteous within our hearts. Jesus, who knows with complete clarity and compassion all the diverse ways of sin, spoke with special intensity and passion about the soul-destroying effects of hypocrisy. He despised hypocrites—those who feign righteousness and make a public display of it but are in reality shams and frauds. Jesus intoned, 'Ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity' (see Matthew 23:27–28).

"The antithesis of hypocrisy is integrity, with its connotation of wholeness of spirit and completeness of personality. How glorious is integrity! Those who have it display a constancy of character. Their behavior is the same in private as in public. Their goodness is not dependent on whether someone is watching. Their actions are based on principle, not expediency. Perhaps that is what Jesus had in mind when he said, 'He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me' (John 14:21; emphasis added).

"A true measure of whether one has integrity, therefore, is provided by an honest answer to the following question: Am I righteous when no one is watching? Your answer to that simple query tells much about your true character....

"Our behavior, both public and private, does not happen by accident. It is the product of conviction, resolution, and habitual practice. We become what we believe; we practice the principles that are etched upon our souls. When the moment of decision is upon us, we act according to the principles that have become internalized in our hearts and minds."

- Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Being Righteous in Our Hearts," BYU devotional, January 21, 1997
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Some of the Savior's strictest warnings and condemnations in the New Testament record were against individuals Elder Wirthlin describes as "those who feign righteousness and make a public display of it but are in reality shams and frauds." This is a stern warning, since we all face the temptation or tendency now and then to put on a façade of outward commitment or obedience when we are struggling with something in our personal life.

The contrast between hypocrisy and integrity is a dramatic one. Elder Wirthlin goes on to describe the "glorious" nature of a soul with true integrity:

Elder Wirthlin suggests that the private moments, when we think no one is aware of us, are a sign of our true state of heart. Do we live with integrity when no one is watching? Does that make any difference to us in our decisions and actions? There is always One who watches and knows, and that should be all that matters to us.

Elder Wirthlin suggests that we develop integrity through efforts of "conviction, resolution, and habitual practice." It's a gradual process; a pure heart is the result of pure actions, which follow sincere desires.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder Neil L. Andersen on honesty and spirituality

Elder Neil L. Andersen (born August 9, 1951) served as a Seventy beginning in 1993, and was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2009.

"The Savior constantly rebuked those who professed one thing publicly but lived differently in their hearts. (See Matthew 23:27.) He praised those who lived without deception. (See D&C 124:15.) Can you see the contrasting difference? On the one hand there is truth and light and honesty and integrity. On the other hand there is lying, deceiving, hypocrisy, and darkness. The Lord draws a sharp distinction....

"The world would tell us that truth and honesty are difficult to define. The world finds humor in casual lying and quickly excuses so-called 'innocent' deception. The contrast between right and wrong is dulled, and the consequences of dishonesty are minimized....

"To constantly receive the Spirit of Truth, our lives must be filled with truth and honesty. As we become completely honest, our spiritual eyes are opened to increased enlightenment.

"You can easily understand how this spiritual strength lifts our learning in the classroom. But can you also see how this principle applies to your critical decisions of how you spend your time, with whom you spend your time, and how you shape the life that will follow BYU?

"You cannot separate the spiritual endowment of truth you need and want to receive here at BYU from your being a person of honesty and truth. The truth you seek is tied to the person you are. Light, spiritual answers, and heavenly direction are unalterably linked to your own honesty and truth. Many of your lasting satisfactions here at BYU will come as you continually elevate your commitment to personal honesty."

- Neil L. Andersen, "Honesty–The Heart of Spirituality," BYU devotional, September 13, 2011
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What is the value of integrity? The Savior warned of "whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness." That description seems extreme to us, but in ways that are perhaps smaller and more subtle it's a great challenge in our time. The contrast between truth and light, vs. darkness and deception, is everywhere; how important to heed the Savior's warning:

Elder Andersen was speaking to an assembly of students in these remarks, but the principles apply to all of us. The "spiritual endowment of truth" offered to us comes only to those who are firmly committed to principles of integrity. "To constantly receive the Spirit of Truth, our lives must be filled with truth and honesty. As we become completely honest, our spiritual eyes are opened to increased enlightenment." That's a divine gift we all desperately need.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder Ronald A. Rasband on having integrity in following Christ

Elder Ronald A. Rasband (b. February 6, 1951) served as a Seventy beginning in 2000.  He was the senior president of the Seventy when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2015.

"How would you describe your integrity to the cause of Jesus Christ? The Lord said of Hyrum Smith, the Prophet Joseph’s brother, 'And again, verily I say unto you, blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord.' (D&C 124:15.)

"I assure you, no accumulation of wealth, recognition, position, or popularity can supplant a heart full of love for the Lord’s ways and God’s children. 'Lovest thou me?' the Savior asked His disciples when they had gone 'a fishing.'

"Peter responded, 'Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.'

"And the Lord said, 'Feed my sheep.... Feed my sheep.' (John 21:16–17)

"Integrity of purpose to the Lord’s work is to love as He loved, essentially to feed His sheep with kindness.

"When Jesus called from the shore to the disciples, who had returned to fishing, He told them to throw their nets on the right side. (See John 21:6.) So it is with us. We are most successful when we do things the Lord’s way, as He has told us. We are here to feed His sheep. You have people who depend on you, who need you, and who will be blessed by your attention. Leave here today recognizing that your morality, your ethics, and your honesty are driven by the way you treat people."

- Ronald A. Rasband, "Integrity of Heart," BYU devotional, March 13, 2018
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The Lord's tribute to Hyrum Smith, quoted by Elder Rasband, has always been very moving to me. To be loved by the Lord because of the "integrity of [your] heart" would be a incomparable tribute. That verse elaborates that the integrity lies in the fact that Hyrum "loveth that which is right before me." When our personal focus is so fixed on the things of eternal importance, we too will receive the blessings from God that are promised to those who love Him above all else. Truly, "Integrity of purpose to the Lord’s work is to love as He loved, essentially to feed His sheep with kindness."

Part of the test of integrity is whether we truly are willing to "do things the Lord's way" in every instance where we have instruction or guidance. That applies particularly to our efforts to minister to one another in love. So much is demonstrated "by the way you treat people." That is what Christian discipleship is all about.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)