The ink-black schnauzer that greets the man at the front door each evening will never claim "Best of Show" honors. He won't even finish near the top of his class at the local dog obedience school.

In truth, this wiry-coated creature dodges about in the gray areas that divide the "good dogs" from the "bad dogs." He climbs on furniture, chases away the backyard songbirds and barks at the home teachers. Once he shimmied into the kitchen pantry and wolfed down an entire bag of marshmallows. And he accepts his scoldings with a slack-jawed grin — a warning, perhaps, that his days of doggy mischief are far from over.

Still, when the day begins to wane, the dog abandons his chew toys and his warm spot in the sun and stands like a stone in front of the door, waiting for the man's return. Finally, the front door opens. The man is home. The dog celebrates as if his master had been away for months, dancing and wagging his tail with such joyful vigor that he sometimes loses his balance.

For all his faults, this mustachioed mutt possesses a redeeming trait that endears him to the man: a steady, unconditional loyalty.

The man knows his own shortcomings as a pet owner. Sometimes, he forgets to fill the kibble bowl and some days the walking leash goes untouched. He will nudge the happy dog aside when the cares of the world weigh heavy on his mind. But the dog loves his flawed master. He patiently anticipates his return each day and relishes whatever company and affection he offers.

How much greater is the steady loyalty of another person? Treasure that rare, priceless friend who can be counted on in the most difficult, trying times. Fair-weather "friends" are legion when the day is festive and the sun shines. But who can we rely upon when life's clouds are dark, threatening or even unloading their deluge? Can we be counted as such a friend? Can loyalty be listed as one of our redeeming traits?

As Proverbs teaches: "A friend loves at all times," (Proverbs 17:17).

David of the Old Testament was among the many imperfect men of the scriptures. Given his ambition and dreadful lapses of judgment, it's likely many "friends" abandoned the man. But in Jonathan, the son of Saul, David was blessed with a loyal companion — a man who "loved him as his own soul."

King Saul was jealous of his subject David's success and popularity in Israel and conspired to take his life. Despite the wicked desires of his powerful and impulsive father, Jonathan stood by and protected his friend. He was an advocate on David's behalf and demonstrated loyalty in a moment that may have placed himself in mortal danger.

"And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:

"For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel; thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

"And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain" (1 Samuel 19:4-7).

King Saul's jealousy would return and he again sought David's life. Once more, Jonathan's loyalty was revealed in his warning to his friend. "But if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father" (1 Samuel 20:13).

President Thomas S. Monson said the loyalty demonstrated by the Old Testament's Ruth to her mother-in-law and friend, Naomi, defines the very model of ideal womanhood.

"Sensing the grief-stricken heart of her mother-in-law Naomi — who suffered the loss of each of her two fine sons — and feeling perhaps the pangs of despair and loneliness that plagued the very soul of Naomi, Ruth uttered what has become the classic statement of loyalty: 'Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God' (Ruth 1:16, October 2002 general conference).

President Monson's prophetic predecessor, President Gordon B. Hinckley, spoke of loyalty as being synonymous with being "the best that is in you."

"I think of loyalty in terms of being true to ourselves. I think of it in terms of being absolutely faithful to our chosen companions. I think of it in terms of being absolutely loyal to the Church and its many facets of activity. I think of it in terms of being unequivocally true to the God of heaven, our Eternal Father, and His Beloved Son, our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ" (April 2003 general conference).