Integrity - old-fashioned, personal, practical integrity - was the topic of Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin's Saturday afternoon address.

"To me, integrity means always doing what is right and good, regardless of the immediate consequences," said Elder Wirthlin of the Council of the Twelve."It means being righteous from the very depths of our souls, not only in our actions but, more important, in our thoughts and in our hearts. Personal integrity implies such trustworthiness and incorruptibility that we are incapable of being false to a trust or covenant."

He said all people have within them the ability to know what is right and good. He quoted Moroni 7:15-17, which declares "the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil. . . . "

"Having received the Spirit of Christ to know good from evil, we should always choose good," counseled Elder Wirthlin. "We need not be misled, even though fraud, deception, deceit, and duplicity often seem to be acceptable in our world. Lying, stealing and cheating are commonplace. Integrity, a firm adherence to the highest moral and ethical standards, is essential to the life of a true Latter-day Saint."

He spoke of Job who, although he lost almost everything he valued, refused to give up his integrity.

He described Joseph, the son of Jacob, as a model of integrity, and spoke of George Washington and Joseph Smith as other examples of men who had integrity.

"To saints of the Restoration, the Savior said: `For of him unto whom much is given much is required.' (D&C 83:23.) Church members have been given much indeed: the gospel of Jesus Christ. That blessing carries a risk. We have been warned: `Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is a sin.' " (James 4:17.)

He said the Lord commanded the Israelites to be more than honest. If they came upon a lost ox, they were to search out the owner so they could return the animal.

"Today, our intentions and dealings must be similarly pure and sound before the Lord," said Elder Wirthlin. "We must be fair with suppliers, customers and employees; repay obligations and keep agreements; and never deceive by failing to disclose all facts about an investment or business venture. If our selfish `hearts are set so much upon the things of this world' (D&C 121:34), we can easily lose our integrity."

He said members must be honest with the Lord as they pay tithes, and show integrity by caring for and serving others.

"The rewards of integrity are immeasurable," he said. "One is indescribable inner peace and serenity that come from knowing we are doing what is right, and an absence of the guilt and anxiety that accompany sin.

"Another reward of integrity is the confidence it can give us in approaching God. When virtue garnishes our thoughts unceasingly, our confidence is strong in the presence of God."