Honesty and Integrity
113
Honest With Time and Money—Men are wanted whose sense
of justice, even in the smallest matters, will not allow them to make an
entry of their time that is not minute and correct—men who will realize
that they are handling means that belong to God, and who would not
unjustly appropriate one cent to their own use; men who will be just
as faithful and exact, careful and diligent, in their labor, in the absence
of their employer as in his presence, proving by their faithfulness that
they are not merely men-pleasers, eyeservants, but are conscientious,
faithful, true workmen, doing right, not for human praise, but because
they love and choose the right from a high sense of their obligation to
God
Just What He Wants Others to Think He Is—In every business
transaction a Christian will be just what he wants his brethren to think
he is. His course of action is guided by underlying principles. He does
not scheme; therefore he has nothing to conceal, nothing to gloss over.
He may be criticized, he may be tested, but his unbending integrity will
shine forth like pure gold. He is a blessing to all connected with him,
for his word is trustworthy. He is a man who will not take advantage
of his neighbor. He is a friend and benefactor to all, and his fellow
men put confidence in his counsel.... A truly honest man will never
take advantage of weakness and incompetency in order to fill his own
purse
[154]
Allow No Deviation From Rigid Honesty—In every business
transaction be rigidly honest. However tempted, never deceive or
prevaricate in the least matter. At times a natural impulse may bring
temptation to diverge from the straightforward path of honesty, but do
not vary one hairsbreadth. If in any matter you make a statement as
to what you will do, and afterward find that you have favored others
to your own loss, do not vary a hairsbreadth from principle. Carry
out your agreement. By seeking to change your plans you would
show that you could not be depended on. And should you draw back
in little transactions, you would draw back in larger ones. Under
such circumstances some are tempted to deceive, saying, I was not
understood. My words have been taken to mean more than I intended.
The fact is, they meant just what they said, but lost the good impulse,
5
Testimonies For The Church 3:25
.
6
Letter 3, 1878
.