Gospel Principles
Unit 7: Perfecting Our Lives
Chapter 31: Honesty
Concept 2: Honesty Is a Principle of Salvation
"Complete honesty is necessary for our salvation. An Apostle of the Lord has said: "Honesty is a principle of salvation in the kingdom of God... Just as no man or woman can be saved without baptism, so no one can be saved without honesty" (Mark e. Petersen, in Conference Report, Oct. 1971, p. 63; or Ensign, Dec. 1971 P 72).
God is honest and just in all things (Alma 7:20 "I perceive that it has been made known unto you, by the testimony of his word, that he cannot walk in crooked paths; neither doth he vary from that which he hath said; neither hath he a shadow of turning from the right to the left, or from that which is right to that which is wrong; therefore, his course is one eternal round."). We too must be honest in all things to become like him. The bother of Jared testified, "Yea, Lord, I knowest that thou... art a God of truth and canst not lie." (Ether 3:12). In contrast, the devil is a liar. In fact, he is the father of lies 2 Nephi 9:9 "And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness."). 'those who choose to cheat and lie and deceive and misrepresent become his slaves" (Mark e. Petersen, in Conference Report Oct. 1971; or Ensign, Dec. 1971, p. 73).
Discussion
Why is honesty a principle of salvation?"