"Til I die I will not remove mine integrity from me." (Job 27:5.)

Adictionary definition of integrity is "behavior in accordance with a strict code of values, moral, artistic, etc. . . . Honesty; entirety; the quality of wholeness; something without mark or stain, soundness."There are many examples of integrity in the scriptures. The 2,000 stripling warriors were chosen because of their integrity. " . . . And they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all - they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted." (Alma 53:20.)

Our Heavenly Father loves all of us, but He especially loves His children who have integrity. Hyrum Smith was a man of integrity. Doctrine and Covenants 124:15 says, "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."

Integrity means knowing good from evil, right from wrong, and acting accordingly. It means always trying to be truthful when it would be easier to tell a lie, which can grow worse and worse. It means following through with your commitments, when it would seem easier to quit. You may even call it courage to get your parents to leave the house at 5:30 a.m. to drive you to seminary when they really don't want to get up.

Making correct choices, living by Church standards - all of these involve integrity. We are very lucky for the power to choose - a power that Heavenly Father has instilled in all of us. With that power, we should try to do our best to do what is right. Try to do what Jesus would do.

Think of all the times that you could have worn tighter, shorter clothes or gone to see an R-rated movie but knew that it wasn't right. So instead, you chose to do something closer to Church standards. Or you chose to help a younger child with homework or to work at a homeless shelter. These choices involve integrity. If you become committed to something, you should stay committed and not wander away from it because that's the easiest thing to do. A lot of times, the easiest thing is not the right thing to do.

If we live with integrity, we will receive guidance. Prov. 11:3 says, "The integrity of the upright shall guide them."

It is important for parents and all of us to set an example of integrity. We learn better by example. Prov. 20:7 says, "The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him."

Integrity is something you should never take away from yourself by not living Church standards. The standards have been given to us, not to make life harder, but to help us live a fuller, happier life. We have to have integrity to live all of the other Young Women Values. I hope that, as this Young Women Value states, "I will have the moral courage to make my actions consistent with my knowledge of right and wrong."

- Angela Wolfe, 14, is a Mia Maid in the Huntington 1st Ward, Charleston West Virginia Stake.