Honesty!

http://youtu.be/xDayDdxpw_M

I loved this Mormon Message! There is so much confidence and power in being honest, and I love the fact that God's true Church teaches us to be honest, true, and benevolent. Alexander Pope, an English poet stated bluntly and beautifully, "An honest man is the noblest work of God." How often do I remember growing up and hearing my parents and leaders telling me to be honest in all my dealings? OFTEN! Why? Because they understood the importance of being able to look someone else in the eyes and tell them the truth. That is nobility. When I think of honesty and nobility, I think of Abraham "Honest Abe" Lincoln. What an example of an honest, noble man.

Also when I think about honesty, I think about a prophet who I love and miss dearly. His name is  President Gordon B. Hinckley. In a talk entitled, "We Believe in Being Honest," he gave us his thoughts on honesty:

"Honest Man: God’s Noblest Work

How rare a gem, how precious a jewel is the man or woman in whom there is neither guile nor deception nor falsehood! Wrote the author of Proverbs:

“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

“A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

“An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief,

“A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Prov. 6:16–19.)

The appraisal spoken long ago by an English poet is true yet today: “An honest man’s the noblest work of God.” (Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man, Epistle III, line 248.) Where there is honesty, other virtues will follow.

Honesty Is a Basic Tenet

The thirteenth Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints affirms that “we believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men.”

We cannot be less than honest, we cannot be less than true, we cannot be less than virtuous if we are to keep sacred the trust given us. Once it was said among our people that a man’s word was as good as his bond. Shall any of us be less reliable, less honest than our forebears?

Those who are living the principle of honesty know that the Lord does bless them. Theirs is the precious right to hold their heads in the sunlight of truth, unashamed before any man. On the other hand, if there be need for reformation in any member of this Church, let it begin where we now stand.

Brothers and sisters, the Lord requires his people to be honest. May we desire with all our hearts to be honest in all our relationships and in all the things that we do. God will help us if we seek the strength that comes from him. Sweet then will be our peace of mind and our lives. Blessed will be those with whom we live and associate. And God will bless and guide us with his loving care."

I love the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, and I also love the example he set for us of being honest. What a better example of being honest other than him.

I Stand All Amazed...at the power of honesty.