In 1906, my great-grandfather, Crozier Kimball, worked for a week moving heavy mining machinery into the mountains about 50 miles north of Benson, Ariz., He was paid $135 by check, which he took to cash at the bank in Benson. After leaving the bank, he counted the money and realized he had one $20 gold piece too many. He returned and told the cashier there was a mistake. The cashier, thinking Crozier was short-changed, said the bank would not correct any mistake after the person left the teller's window. Crozier replied, "I do not want your $20. If I keep it, I shall not sleep well tonight, neither could I ever forget that I had taken your money from you." The cashier, embarrassed, accepted the money.

Honesty is a characteristic of people who are truly converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Savior compared the seed, or word of God, that falls on good ground as "they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience" (Luke 8:15). The Book of Mormon states that the Lamanites who were converted through the efforts of Ammon and his brothers were "perfectly honest and upright in all things" (Alma 27:27).

One modern Lamanite convert reminded me of the faith needed for honesty. Years ago I stopped in the meetinghouse foyer to visit with a group of men. As I approached them, I overheard a couple of the men calling one by a name different from the name by which I knew him. I expressed my curiosity and was told they were engaged in some friendly teasing. That evening, the man — a recent convert — called me. "Bishop," he said, "I didn't tell you the full story." He explained he had obtained work under a cousin's name — the name I heard in the foyer. He said he did not feel good about the practice now that he had learned the Gospel and joined the Church, but he was afraid of losing his job if he tried to correct it. He needed the job to provide for his young family. After some discussion, he agreed to consider the matter further and seek prayerfully to learn what he ought to do. A few weeks later he told me he had given his employer his correct name and work information. I was impressed that he took this step knowing that he probably would lose his job, and I was grateful he didn't lose it.

Elder J. Golden Kimball, a member of the Presidency of the Seventy a century ago, taught the importance of honesty with his characteristic dry wit: "What can God do for a man who is not honest? You may baptize him every 15 minutes, but if he does not repent, he will come up out of the water just as dishonest as ever. What can God do for a liar who refuses to repent? Can the Lord save him? He can't claim salvation. Baptizing him in water will not settle the trouble, unless you keep him under" (Conference Report, April 1909, 37, emphasis added).

Robert L. Kimball is a member of the Dallas 9th Ward, Dallas Texas East Stake, where he serves as the stake president. He is a partner in a law firm.