Taught by Bro. Jared Jones
Chapter 18: We Believe in Being Honest
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Howard W. Hunter, 2015
“If we would have the companionship
of the Master and the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, we must be honest with
ourselves, honest with God, and with our fellowmen.”
From the Life of Howard W. Hunter
While
waiting to take a tour of Hearst Castle in California, President and
Sister Hunter and another couple drove to a small store. As they were
looking around the store, “Elder Hunter went to the counter, counted out
some licorice, [and] paid the clerk 10 pennies.” The two couples then
returned to the car and began driving back to the castle for the tour.
On the way, “Elder Hunter passed the licorice around once, and then
again, and then suddenly it was apparent to him that he must have
miscounted, for we ended up with 11 pieces instead of the 10 he had paid
for.
“He
could have easily overlooked the error. After all, it was just a penny,
and we were in a bit of a hurry now to make the tour. Who would know
the difference or care? But he didn’t even think twice about it. He
wheeled the car around and headed back up the road to the store. … He
explained the problem to a different attendant, apologized for the
error, and paid the extra penny to the surprised clerk.”1
For Howard W. Hunter, it was important to be honest in small matters as well as large ones.
He
taught his sons about integrity by his example. “What I know about
honesty and integrity has come in large measure by what people have told
me about my father,” Richard Hunter said. One time Richard went with
his father to a business meeting where a complex project was being
discussed. While outside for a break, Richard and one of the men were
talking about the meeting. Richard said there would probably be a long
wait to begin the project because it would require an immense amount of
legal paperwork. The man corrected Richard, telling him the project
could proceed before the paperwork was finalized because the people knew
that Howard W. Hunter would do whatever he said he would do.2
In 1962, President Hunter addressed the youth of the Church and expressed his conviction about the importance of being honest:
“A
happy life will come to each of us if we will but be honest—honest with
our fathers and mothers, whether it pertains to our dating, our school
work, the kids we run with, or attendance at church; honest with our
bishops—taking their advice, telling them the truth about ourselves,
paying our honest tithing,
living a clean, pure life; honest with our schools—never cheating in
any part of our activities, whether in class or on the campus; honest in
paying our way, whether into games or movies, or in carrying our part
of the responsibilities at a party; honest with our boyfriends and
girlfriends—never taking advantage of them, never deceiving them, never
leading them into temptation; honest with the Lord himself.”3
The Ten Commandments include the following admonition: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Exodus 20:16).
Teachings of Howard W. Hunter
1
The Lord admonishes us to be honest.
Scripture
is replete with admonitions to be honest, and commandments are myriad
to the effect that we should be honest. We think of them in bold type:
THOU SHALT NOT—thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not bear false witness;
thou shalt not covet [see Exodus 20:15–17]. …
Some of the more common examples of dishonesty are these:
1. Stealing.
I seldom read a newspaper without finding a number of reports of
burglary, robbery, purse-snatching, shoplifting, car theft, and a
thousand other things. Even in our chapels there are reports of petty
theft.
2. Cheating.
Newspapers carry similar accounts of fraudulent transactions in
security dealings, in business transactions, cheating in investments,
and other things that are called to public attention. There are some who
would cheat their way through school and some who would cheat in
examinations.
3. Violations of Word of Wisdom standards.
These are Church standards. They are not violations of the standards of
the world. But you have been given the word of the Lord on this
subject.
4. Violation of traffic ordinances. One cannot be basically honest and violate laws formulated by society and government for the welfare of other persons.4
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” [Exodus 20:16].
Primarily this commandment has reference to false testimony in judicial
proceedings, but it is extended to cover all statements which are false
in fact. Any untruth which tends to injure another in his goods,
person, or character is against the spirit and letter of this law.
Suppression of the truth which results in the same injury is also a
violation of this commandment.
“Thou
shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy
neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox,
nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s” [Exodus 20:17].
To covet means to desire, to long for, to crave that which belongs to
another person. The desire to acquire good things is not a violation,
but the desire to take them away from another unlawfully is a wrong. In
this respect it is well for us to understand that good or evil commences
not when the act occurs, but when one sets his heart upon a thing.5
The
Lord hates a proud look, a lying tongue, a heart that deviseth wicked
imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness
that speaketh lies, [and] he that soweth discord [see Proverbs 6:16–19]. As Latter-day Saints, can we afford to do anything the Lord hates? How often has he spoken against dishonesty!6
2
We cultivate honesty in the little, ordinary things of life.
If we are sensitive to our relationship to the Savior, we must be honest in little things as well as the big.7
As
we strive for achievement and success, so much of our time is consumed
in thought and study of the complex that we seldom take time for the
simple—the simple things, the little things that are in reality the
basis upon which we build and without which a strong foundation cannot
exist. A structure may tower to the sky, and we may look at it with awe
because of its stature and great height; yet it cannot stand unless its
foundation is anchored in rock or in steel and concrete.
Character
must have such a foundation. I draw your attention to the principle of
honesty. Why is it so many believe in the high and lofty principles of
honesty, yet so few are willing to be strictly honest?
[Many]
years ago there were posters in the foyers and entries of our chapels
that were entitled “Be Honest with Yourself.” Most of them pertained to
the little, ordinary things of life. This is where the principle of
honesty is cultivated.
There
are some who will admit it is morally wrong to be dishonest in big
things yet believe it is excusable if those things are of lesser
importance. …
I
recall a young man who was in our stake when I served as a stake
president. He traveled around with a crowd that thought it was smart to
do things that were not right. On a few occasions he was caught in some
minor violations. One day I got a call from the police station and was
told he was being held because of a traffic violation. He had been
caught speeding, as he had on a few other occasions prior to this time.
Knowing the things he was doing might prevent him from going on a
mission, he straightened up, and when he was 19 years of age, he
received his call.
I
shall never forget the talk we had when he returned. He told me that
while he was in the mission field he had often thought of the trouble he
had caused by the mistaken belief that the violation of little things
was not important. But a great change had come into his life. He had
come to the realization that there is no happiness or pleasure in
violation of the law, whether it be God’s law or the laws that society
imposes upon us.8
3
We can serve God by being honest and fair in our personal and business dealings.
Religion
can be part of our daily work, our business, our buying and selling,
building, transportation, manufacturing, our trade or profession, or of
anything we do. We can serve God by honesty and fair dealing in our
business transactions in the same way we do in Sunday worship. The true
principles of Christianity cannot be separate and apart from business
and our everyday affairs.9
If
religion means anything to us, it should be something that motivates
our lives. I don’t believe religion can be relegated to a minister’s
sermon for an hour on Sunday and mean anything in our lives. If it
doesn’t enter into our individual life—our family
life—our business life—and everything that we do, then religion means
little to us and it becomes merely an idol to be set in a high place and
worshipped only occasionally.10
What
a great change would come over the world if we could all rely upon
others as far as honesty is concerned. Men would have perfect confidence
in each other in personal and business dealings. There would not be …
distrust between labor and management. There would be integrity in
public office and in government affairs, and nations would exist in
peace rather than the turmoil we presently know in the world. …
In
business dealings there are some who will take a dishonest advantage if
it is placed before them. They rationalize and justify their position
by saying that in business one is expected to take every offered
advantage. Such transactions can amount to large sums of money, but in
principle are no different than the failure to return a penny that has
been overpaid by the cashier to one who notices the error. It is a form
of cheating.11
May
I suggest a definition of “honorable employment.” Honorable employment
is honest employment. Fair value is given and there is no defrauding,
cheating, or deceit. Its product or service is of high quality, and the
employer, customer, client, or patient receives more than he or she
expected. Honorable employment is moral. It involves nothing that would
undermine public good or morality. For example, it does not involve
traffic in liquor, illicit narcotics, or gambling. Honorable employment
is useful. It provides goods or services which make the world a better
place in which to live.12
Job declared, “I will not remove mine integrity from me” (Job 27:5).
4
Integrity protects us from evil, helps us be successful, and will save our souls.
The
temptations of evil surround us on every side. Without the protection
of integrity, we are at the mercy of all kinds of sin and wrongdoings.
Job had no difficulty with these problems. He was protected by his own integrity. This is how he felt:
“All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
“My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. …
“My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live” (Job 27:3–4, 6).
How
inspiring. Because of his strength, he had no concerns for the trivial
temptations before which most people fall. Job had built into his own
life a strength and satisfaction that Satan himself could not crash. It
is also interesting to see how God was delighted with him: “There is
none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that
feareth God, and escheweth evil[,] and still he holdeth fast his
integrity” (Job 2:3).
This
great quality of integrity is fully available to us. If effectively
used, it will solve all of our problems in government, religion,
industry, and our individual lives. It would wipe out the awful scourge
of crime, divorce, poverty, and misery. It would make us successful here
and save our souls hereafter.
One
of the greatest accomplishments of our lives is to promote an honest,
earnest integrity within ourselves. This means that we become
spiritually sound, intellectually sincere, morally honest, and always
personally responsible to God. Integrity is that golden key which will
unlock the door to almost any success.13
5
True joy results from being honest with ourselves, with others, and with God.
We often speak of that scriptural reference, “Men are, that they might have joy” [2 Nephi 2:25].
There is a joy that comes to one from being honest. Let me tell you
how. By this means you can have the companionship of the Master and you
can have the Spirit of the Holy Ghost.
Violations of the code of honesty will deprive you of these two great
blessings. Could you believe that one who would lie or cheat … could
have the companionship of the Master or have the Spirit of the Holy
Ghost?
… We
should always remember that we are never alone. There is no act that is
not observed; there is no word spoken that is not heard; there is no
thought conceived in the mind of man that is not known to God. There is
no darkness that can conceal the things we do. We must think before we
act.
Do
you think you can be alone when you commit a dishonest act? Do you
think you can be unobserved when you cheat in an examination, even
though you are the only person in the room? We must be honest with
ourselves. If we would have the companionship of the Master and the
Spirit of the Holy Ghost, we must be honest with ourselves, honest with
God, and with our fellowmen. This results in true joy.14
The Lord knows our innermost thoughts [see D&C 6:16]. He knows each deed we do. We will meet him someday, and we will look him in the face. Will we be proud of our life’s record?
We
make that record every day. Each act, each thought is a part of it.
Will we be proud of it? We will if we have done our best—if we have been
honest with ourselves, with our loved ones, with our friends, with all
mankind. …
Blessed are they who are honest. …
Blessed are they who are obedient to the Lord.
They
are they who are free—who are happy—who can walk with their heads high.
They have their self-respect. They have the respect of those who know
them best.
And
above all, they have the respect and blessing of our Father in Heaven.
Jesus invites us to follow him. His paths are straight and clean and
upright and honest. Let us follow him into the abundant life of
happiness. It is the only way.15
Suggestions for Study and Teaching
Questions
-
•
Review the examples of dishonesty that President Hunter identifies in section 1. What are some consequences of those dishonest practices? What can those consequences teach us about why the Lord places so much emphasis on being honest?
-
•
Ponder President Hunter’s teachings about being honest in little things and being honest with ourselves (see section 2). Why do we need to be honest in “little things”? What does it mean to be honest with ourselves? How can we overcome temptations to excuse even seemingly small acts of dishonesty?
-
•
President Hunter emphasizes the need to make religion part of everything we do in our daily lives (see section 3). How can we better live the teachings in this section? How can we effectively teach honesty in our homes?
-
•
In section 4, President Hunter mentions several blessings that come from living with integrity. How does a person develop integrity? How have you been blessed when you have lived true to the Lord’s standards?
-
•
How does being honest bring us joy? (See section 5.) Why is being honest necessary for us to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost? How does being honest make us free?
Related Scriptures
Study Help
As
you read, “underline and mark words or phrases so that you distinguish
between ideas in a single [passage]. … In the margins write scripture
references that clarify the passages you are studying” (Preach My Gospel [2004], 23).
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