Honesty may be divided into three parts: the thinking, the saying and the doing. Of course, all three aspects bear discussion, especially in this day and age. But here we focus on just the first, that is, what goes on in the heart — the part of honesty necessary for self-improvement.

This is where the truest form of honesty begins, deep within the soul. Sometimes this kind of self-honesty is automatic. Sometimes it takes a little courage and sometimes a full-scale battle. Yet no matter how it is applied, honesty is an essential element in the catalog of improving virtues.

Virtues such as humility, courage, gratitude, duty and endurance integrate honesty in such a way they would be shorn of power without it. In the overall scope of things, without honesty, all virtue suffers. And let's face it: virtue has suffered enough. Throughout our mortal existence, virtue comes under constant siege and at times this siege may come from within, often beginning with an attack on honesty.

President David O. McKay often quoted, "The most important of life's battles is the one we fight daily in the silent chambers of the soul," (Conference Report October 1954, 82-83).

Fighting this battle by erecting a facade of appearance, or hiding behind a hardened shell of uncaring, or busying ourselves with the things of the world obstructs self-improvement. When honesty — both emotional and intellectual honesty — is adhered to within those silent chambers, we face our weaknesses of virtue openly. That is when improvement begins.

"Remember, the Lord expects us as members of His Church not only to appear to be good but also to actually be good," observed Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve. (Brigham Young University–Idaho, Nov. 11, 2008.)

One of the virtues that honesty reverberates with is a most significant aspect of mortality: wise use of time. Promptness to repent is near kin to true honesty.

Consider, for example, the virtue of repentance. While belated confessions are always welcomed, it must be agreed that besides harboring a sin in the silent chambers of the soul, one has also held honesty hostage in those inner precincts during the period between commission and admission. However, as honesty and promptness work together, they become a power tool in the repair of the soul. Undergirding our self-honesty must be a growing understanding of the Fatherhood of God, and of our potential as His children. Our time upon this earth is limited and our eternal progress is directly proportional to our success in being quickly honest. When promptness and honesty are used together, the healing power of the Savior's Atonement may immediately begin to be applied.

As Bishop H. David Burton observed: "If integrity is absent, civility is impaired. If integrity is not important, spirituality is difficult to maintain" (April general conference, 2010; Ensign, May 2010).

Honesty speaks with the "Spirit of truth" (Doctrine and Covenants 50:19) first and foremost to one's self — one's inner self.

"There are so many aspects of being honest and of living the gospel that simply cannot be enforced in our lives by anyone else," said Elder Marvin J. Ashton, of the Quorum of the Twelve from 1971-94. "You and I bear the responsibility to become people of integrity and honesty — people who are true and trustworthy when no one is watching and when no one else is around" (New Era, September 1983).

Bad choices are the wellspring of dishonesty. Using time improperly, such as failing to study, not doing an honest day's work for an honest day's pay, spending money on impulse and in deficit, being unwilling to work, coveting others' property, are examples of bad choices with consequences that foster dishonesty. Once dishonesty is indulged, temptations grow to fabricate additional tangled webs in support. One soon becomes a prisoner to his or her dishonesty.

"Honesty implies freedom from lying, stealing, cheating, and bearing false witness," said President Marion G. Romney, then second counselor in the First Presidency (October 1976 general conference).

As an individual slips into dishonesty, self-discipline suffers. When prominent people lose self-discipline, society suffers. "Some may regard the quality of character known as honesty to be a most ordinary subject," said President Gordon B. Hinckley. "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" (Ensign, October 1990, p. 2).

In this day and age, we simply cannot see the weakening morality of so many prominent in our society and use it to justify our own, even internal, dishonesty.

Some wish to hide behind what they say are shades of gray. But as one person aptly noted, even the lightest gray is merely white with black dots on it. "When we tell little white lies, we become progressively color-blind. It is better to remain silent than to mislead," noted President James E. Faust, then second counselor in the First Presidency ("Climb High," New Era, June 1997, p. 4).

This above all: to thine ownself be true, And it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man (William Shakespeare, "Hamlet," Act I, Scene III).

May we be as Job, who said, "Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me" (Job 27:5).