Honesty

Honesty is being true, speaking truth, and acting true.  It doesn't actually cover all of that in the BYU-I Honor Code-- it mostly is about not cheating, not making up references, and giving credit where credit is due.   

 

But here's the thing: honesty is so much more.  It is about having what is in your heart and mind match with what is coming *from* you-- written word, spoken word, or actions-- and having all of that match what you know to be right and true.    There are times when I've been immensely overwhelmed with things in life, and I have thought: does it *really* matter if I just  _______?   So, depending on how in tune with the Spirit I am, will determine who I am listening to-- Satan or the Holy Spirit.  

 

The Holy Spirit does not lie.  It can't.   But if we choose to listen to the other guy, well...... he lies all the time.  But he is tricky about it-- because he knows we are smart, so he doesn't always outright lie, he weaves truth and lies together; he mixes it up.  And if we are leaning into his temptations, we are giving him control-- over many parts of our lives, including our own honesty-- remember even Adam and Eve went and hid in fear-- so they were trying to conceal things too.  The Holy Spirit, by contrast, likes us to share -- that we may share one another's joys, but also that we may share one another's burdens, too.

 

I think real honesty comes in those moments when we are living what we know to be good and true, and when those moments come, they come with joy-- joy of not only knowing that we are acting with true and honorable integrity, but also I think we feel the joy that comes from our Savior who is thrilled when we are following Him.  He knows what we need, and when we are acting in accordance to that truth, we feel the joy that He has for us.  The more we act honestly with what we know to be right and true, the greater our opportunity for joy.