BYU Devotional: Becoming men and women of integrity
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PROVO, UTAH
Integrity is what defines the greatness of a man or woman, Elder Tad R. Callister of the Presidency of the Seventy told BYU students during a campus devotional on Dec. 6 in the Marriott Center.
"What then is this integrity that is such a dominating force in determining greatness?" he asked. "Integrity is a purity of mind and heart that knows no deception, no excuses, no rationalization, nor any coloring of the facts. It is an absolute honesty with one's self, with God, and with our fellow man."
Integrity is the very core of one's being — who one really is, Elder Callister said.
"When all the scaffolding is removed it is our integrity that both defines us and identifies us. Men of integrity are like the Rock of Gibraltar — steadfast and immovable; men without it are like the shifting sands on the Sahara Desert — tossed to and fro by every variant wind of life."
In order to make integrity a fundamental character trait in one's personal life, Elder Callister shared seven principles of the Christlike attribute.
First, integrity is the foundation of one's character and all other virtues.
"Integrity is the foundation upon which character and a Christlike life are built," he said. "If there are cracks in that foundation, then it will not support the weight of other Christlike attributes that must be built upon it."
In order for individuals to acknowledge their weaknesses, develop charity for others, be honest in all dealings and repent, they must have integrity, he said.
"We cannot continue to fully acquire other Christlike virtues until we first make integrity the granite foundation of our lives," he said.
Second, Integrity is not doing just that which is legal, but that which is moral or Christlike.
"Integrity is not just adherence to the legal code, but to the higher moral code," he said.
Sharing a story of when he needed to terminate an employee at work, Elder Callister told of the importance of being Christlike in all dealings with others.
"After some discussions we reached a settlement to compensate him for his past services," he said. "I felt the settlement was more than fair, but nonetheless there were some strained relationships as a result of the negotiations. That night I felt a gloom come over me. I tried to dispel it by reasoning within myself that I had been fair, but the feeling would not leave. Then this impression came — 'It's not enough to be fair; you must also strive to be Christlike.' Adherence to the highest moral code is a hallmark of a man and woman of integrity."
Third, integrity makes decisions based on eternal implications.
"The man of the world has his heart focused upon his temporal net worth: the man of integrity has his heart focused upon his spiritual net worth," he said. "No doubt there will be a lot of millionaires, even billionaires who in the life to come will find themselves spiritually bankrupt, and a lot of goodly Saints who with meager net worths will become spiritual billionaires — discovering that integrity has been the wisest investment of all. Those with integrity have that eternal foresight."
It is through focusing on those things that are eternal, sometimes even changing one's nature, that individuals are able to increase their resistance to temptation and purify their inner motives and thoughts.
"Changing our natures, not just our behaviors, is facilitated by an eternal perspective that we are the children of God, that we do have His spark of divinity within us, and that through the Atonement we can become like Him — the perfect model of integrity," he said.
Fourth, integrity is disclosing the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
"I believe the Lord can live with our weaknesses and mistakes, provided there is a desire and effort to repent," Elder Callister said. That is what the Atonement is all about, but I do not believe that He can easily tolerate a deceitful heart or lying tongue."
Sharing a story of a missionary who was struggling with obedience, Elder Callister said that as he voluntarily disclosed his mistakes by being 100 percent honest, the missionary was able to bring the Spirit to his life, and change his foundation of sand for a granite foundation of integrity.
By disclosing the whole truth — and nothing but the truth — individuals are able to experience unlimited spiritual horizons.
Fifth, integrity knows no abilities or excuses.
"There is something ennobling about the man or woman who admits his or her weaknesses or takes the blame 'square on' without excuse or alibi," he said.
Using the Prophet Joseph Smith as an example, he told of how he was willing to admit his weaknesses, or imperfections. Because of this honesty, he was a man of integrity, and his words are credible.
"It tells us we can trust him; that we can believe his every word because he is indeed, a man of integrity."
Sixth, integrity is keeping our covenants and our commitments, even in time of inconvenience.
"Integrity is the courage to do right regardless of the consequence, and regardless of the inconvenience," he said. "A man of integrity does not yield or succumb merely because it is hard or expensive or inconvenient. ... One of the acid tests of our integrity is whether or not we keep the commitments and promises we have made, or whether there are loopholes in our word."
Seventh, integrity is not governed by the presence of others. It is internally, not externally driven.
"Would you watch pornography in front of your mother, your date, your spouse, your bishop?" he asked. "If it is wrong in the presence of others it is just as wrong in their absence. The man of integrity, who is true to self and to God, will choose the right whether or not anyone is looking because he is self-driven, not externally controlled."
A lack of integrity is a major problem in the world today, undermining every business transaction and every spousal, family and social relationship it touches, Elder Callister said.
"It is a concern of every profession," he said. "It is a day and age when men and women of integrity are in desperate demand but in short supply. May the integrity of our souls have a sign which reads in bold, black letters, 'Not for sale at any price,' ... May we all become men and women of integrity, not because we have to, but because we want to."
