Integrity is one of those values that is unfortunately remembered too seldom in today’s society. Promises are made, but kept only as long as the parties making them feel that they are getting what they want out of the deal. Public behaviors may be honorable, but private behavior may be a completely different matter. Even marriage vows are often made “until death do you part,” with an invisible addendum: “…or until you’ve decided to do something else.”
So what is integrity? Elder L. Tom Perry, a modern-day apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as “the Mormons”), explains it like this: “We can find several definitions in the dictionary: rigid adherence to a code or standard of values; moral soundness, especially as it relates to steadfastness to truth, purpose, responsibility, or trust; moral and ethical strength; or the quality of being whole, complete, undivided.” (L. Tom Perry, “Staying Power,” Ensign, Jul 2003, 40–44)
It’s the quality of being “whole, complete, (and) undivided” that perhaps we ignore too often. Society often focuses on the part about “rigid adherence” and sees the following of rules and the unbending keeping of promises as restricting freedom. Yet, as the Savior said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.” (Matthew 12:25) He also said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24) In other words, as James put it in the New Testament, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8)
To have true stability in our lives, we need integrity. More specifically, we need commitment to the Lord and His values. Those are the only values that will bring us peace.
Job in the Old Testament is someone who practiced integrity. He lost his property, his family, his health, and his friends. Yet he remained absolutely faithful to God:
3 All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
4 My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
5 God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live. (Job 27:3-6)
Job did not waver in his faith in God, even when he had lost everything. Too often people commit to God, a spouse, or any other cause when things are going well, but when times get rough their commitment ends. The Savior taught us that, while life may not always be easy, He is always there for us and we can trust in Him and His purposes: “And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20)
