I haven't always been honest with myself and my own heart. I think it's a struggle I have been in battle with since my birth. I have struggled with letting my true self surface and accomplish things I am suppose to. Whenever I feel it coming out I feel the fear overpower if I don't feel completely safe in my surroundings. It limits me in many ways, and inhibits my chances at experiencing great things. Having an honest heart leads to many things, and so does lacking honesty at heart. It isn't only a good idea, it has been urged of us by the prophet and told that..."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.
Each lie, each deception, each act of dishonesty combines to create a monster that can destroy your character and your life." Howard W. Hunter “Be Honest with Yourself,” New Era, Jul 2003, 36
I am really bad at defining things, but of course we all know what honesty is right? Not taking a dollar or ten dollars from your mom's purse. Not taking a soda from the store without paying for it. Not tell a lie, or purposefully deceiving another person. But what about being true and honest to ourselves? Or honest in every inch of what we do and how we treat others? I looked up honesty to find...
The concept of honesty applies to all behaviors. One cannot refuse to consider factual information, for example, and still claim that one's knowledge, belief, or position is an attempt to be truthful or is held in "good faith." Such willful blindness is clearly a product of one's desires and simply has nothing to do with the human ability to know. Basing one's positions on what one wants — rather than unbiased evidence gathering — is dishonest even when good intentions can be cited — after all even villains could cite good intentions and intended glory for a select group of people. Clearly then, an unbiased approach to the truth is a requirement of honesty. Wikipedia®
I believe it does apply to ALL behaviors, and that was something very hard for me to comprehend. It could be that honesty is one of the first principles we learn as children, and becomes basic to us that we forget how really important it is.
"Some may regard the quality of character known as honesty to be a most ordinary subject. But I believe it to be the very essence of the gospel. Without honesty, our lives and the fabric of our society will disintegrate into ugliness and chaos."-President Gordon B. Hinckley“We Believe in Being Honest,” Ensign, Oct 1990, 2
So basically without honesty we would fall into an ugly pit of chaos and confusion. I don't doubt that for a minute.
In Alma 27:27 the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's are being led by Ammon and upon arriving to the land of Jershon they change their name to the people of Ammon. It says in verse 27-And they were among the people of Nephi, and also numbered among the people who were of the church of God. And they were also distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end.
How would in be to be perfectly honest? I have yet to find out, but I found it interesting that directly after it mentions that they were firm in the faith of Christ...I'm guessing that may have something to do with being honest at heart..... :)
"Becoming people of integrity and honesty does not occur quickly or all at once, nor is it merely a matter of greater personal discipline. It is a change of disposition, a change of heart.
Remember that becoming people of integrity and honesty is not simply a matter of more personal determination, more grit, and more willpower; rather, it is accomplished through the enabling power of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ." -David A. Bednar, “Be Honest,” New Era, Oct 2005, 4
In Alma it's talks about a change of heart through the Atonement. Chapter 5 Alma addresses the people in Zarahemla and asks them some pretty thought provoking questions...well they got me thinkin'!
"The principle of honesty is a close relation to that of integrity. Our thirteenth article of faith begins with the statement “We believe in being honest.” [A of F 1:13] We do not believe in honesty merely as a matter of policy. Honesty is a principle of salvation in the kingdom of God."-Elder David A. Bednar
We cannot become honest individuals without the Atonement of Christ and without the willingness to experience a change of heart. I know that they go hand in hand. By understanding the Atonement better, I will become a more honest and pure person, and by striving to be more truthful and honest with myself and to myself I will then in turn have a better understanding of the Atonement and the love that Christ and my Heavenly Father have for me.
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