“Four Latter‐day Saint boys set out from a Utah city on a cross‐country trip. They
had saved all their money during the last year of high school for this purpose, and now
that graduation was over, they packed their suitcases into the trunk of their car and said
good‐byes to worrying parents and envious friends. It was a matter of considerable
celebration when they crossed the Utah State line and entered into another state. They
pulled up alongside the highway and got out to see how it felt to be in new surroundings. A
certain thrill of excitement was noted by each of the young travelers and a sense of
adventure led them to great speculation.
They had agreed to send their parents a postcard every other day to indicate their whereabouts, and had promised to send a collect telegram if they ran into any trouble. One of the boys commented that it felt real good to be on his own and not be under the necessity of getting advance approval from someone for every move he made. Another suggested that they must act like seasoned travelers and not impress others as country boys on their first junket away from home. As a follow‐up, this same boy proposed to his friends that they forget all about being Mormons for the duration of their adventure. Asked why by the other three puzzled boys, he said that they could now afford to ‘let their hair down’ and sample some of the excitement enjoyed by other people, not of the Mormon Church. ‘Anyway,’ he argued, ‘what difference will it make? Nobody out here in the world knows us or cares anything about our church connections.
The thrill of the new experience weighted their judgment, and the group made an agreement to give it a try. They decided to announce themselves to the world as students from the East who had been to school in Utah for a short time. Their Utah license plates made this necessary.
Nightfall on the first day of the journey found them at a famous tourist attraction spot, and they made arrangements for camping near the resort. After the evening meal they gathered at the large hotel for the night’s entertainment. No sooner had they arrived when the ringleader of the boys suggested that they begin here and now sampling the things they had so long been denied by strict parents and teachers. The first thing that caught their eyes was a large neon sign at the far end of the lounge. It read, ‘Bar—beer, cocktails.’ Thinking it a moderate nod in the direction of ‘sinning just a little bit,’ they agreed to go into the bar and order a glass of beer for each one. There was a nervous air about them as they entered the gaudily lighted bar and surveyed the counters loaded with intriguing bottles of liquor. The boy who had been delegated to give the order lost his voice on the first try and had to swallow hard to get out an understandable, ‘Four glasses of beer, please.
What the beer lacked in palatability, the atmosphere and thrill more than made up. They grew bolder and began to talk of the next adventure they would undertake. Suddenly a well‐dressed man entered the bar and walked straight toward their table. The look on the stranger’s face and the determined pace at which he walked toward them left the boys completely unnerved.
When the man reached the table at which the boys were sitting, he extended his hand to one of them and said, ‘I beg your pardon, but aren’t you George Redford’s son from Utah?’ The boy was speechless and terrified. His fingers froze around the base of the glass of beer and he answered in a wavering voice, ‘Why, yes, sir, I am.’ ‘I thought I
They had agreed to send their parents a postcard every other day to indicate their whereabouts, and had promised to send a collect telegram if they ran into any trouble. One of the boys commented that it felt real good to be on his own and not be under the necessity of getting advance approval from someone for every move he made. Another suggested that they must act like seasoned travelers and not impress others as country boys on their first junket away from home. As a follow‐up, this same boy proposed to his friends that they forget all about being Mormons for the duration of their adventure. Asked why by the other three puzzled boys, he said that they could now afford to ‘let their hair down’ and sample some of the excitement enjoyed by other people, not of the Mormon Church. ‘Anyway,’ he argued, ‘what difference will it make? Nobody out here in the world knows us or cares anything about our church connections.
The thrill of the new experience weighted their judgment, and the group made an agreement to give it a try. They decided to announce themselves to the world as students from the East who had been to school in Utah for a short time. Their Utah license plates made this necessary.
Nightfall on the first day of the journey found them at a famous tourist attraction spot, and they made arrangements for camping near the resort. After the evening meal they gathered at the large hotel for the night’s entertainment. No sooner had they arrived when the ringleader of the boys suggested that they begin here and now sampling the things they had so long been denied by strict parents and teachers. The first thing that caught their eyes was a large neon sign at the far end of the lounge. It read, ‘Bar—beer, cocktails.’ Thinking it a moderate nod in the direction of ‘sinning just a little bit,’ they agreed to go into the bar and order a glass of beer for each one. There was a nervous air about them as they entered the gaudily lighted bar and surveyed the counters loaded with intriguing bottles of liquor. The boy who had been delegated to give the order lost his voice on the first try and had to swallow hard to get out an understandable, ‘Four glasses of beer, please.
What the beer lacked in palatability, the atmosphere and thrill more than made up. They grew bolder and began to talk of the next adventure they would undertake. Suddenly a well‐dressed man entered the bar and walked straight toward their table. The look on the stranger’s face and the determined pace at which he walked toward them left the boys completely unnerved.
When the man reached the table at which the boys were sitting, he extended his hand to one of them and said, ‘I beg your pardon, but aren’t you George Redford’s son from Utah?’ The boy was speechless and terrified. His fingers froze around the base of the glass of beer and he answered in a wavering voice, ‘Why, yes, sir, I am.’ ‘I thought I
recognized you when you came in the lobby of the hotel,’ the stranger continued. ‘I am
Henry Paulsen, vice‐president of the company your dad works for, and I met you and your
mother last winter at a company dinner at the Hotel Utah. I have never forgotten how you
explained your Mormon priesthood to one of the other executives of our company who
asked you what it meant to be a Mormon boy. I must say I was a little surprised to see you
head for the bar, but I suppose that with Mormons as well as non‐Mormons, boys will be
boys when they’re off the roost.
These boys had heard a sermon they would never hear duplicated in the pulpit. They were sick, ashamed, and crestfallen. As they left their half‐filled glasses and walked out through the hotel lobby, they had the feeling that everyone was looking at them. The cover of darkness was kind as they made their way to their camp. ‘You just can’t win,’ said the boy who had proposed their dropping their true identity, trying to ease the tension. ‘I’m not so sure,’ replied the boy to who the stranger had spoken. ‘If we have any sense left, we can make this experience into the most winning lesson of our lives” (Romney).
I am grateful to be able to speak to you today and for the opportunity it had provided me to learn more deeply the central importance of integrity in our lives to help us come closer to Christ. “Integrity, or lack of it, touches almost every facet of our lives; everything we say, every thought and desire” (Tanner). “Natural, inherent integrity is manifested almost every hour of every day of our lives” (Faust). “Integrity is the foundation of our character and all other virtues” (Callister).
N Eldon Tanner stated, “We have heard sermons and exhortations upon honesty, trust, righteousness, dependability, truthfulness, kindness, justice, mercy, love, fidelity, and many other principles of right living. When one has integrated all of these attributes within his being, when they become the moving force of all his thoughts, actions, and desires, then he may be said to possess integrity.”
Joseph B Worthlin explained integrity this way, “Integrity means always doing what is right and good, regardless of the immediate consequences. It means being righteous from the very depth of our soul, not only in our actions but, more importantly, in our thoughts and in our hearts. Personal integrity implies such trustworthiness and incorruptibility that we are incapable of being false to a trust or covenant.”
From James E Faust, “Integrity is the value we set on ourselves. It is a fulfillment of the duty we owe ourselves. An honorable man or woman will personally commit to live up to certain self‐imposed expectations. They need no outside check or control. They are honorable in their inner core.”
And finally from Brother Callister, “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 fellowman. It would be choosing the right—not merely because God desires it but because our character demands it. Integrity is the very core of our being. When all the scaffolding is removed, it is our integrity that both defines us and identifies us.”
“A man’s true greatness is not in what he says he is, nor in what people say he is; [but] in what he really is” (Leon R. Hartshorn, Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration, Salt lake City: Deseret BookCo., 1970, p.38).
These boys had heard a sermon they would never hear duplicated in the pulpit. They were sick, ashamed, and crestfallen. As they left their half‐filled glasses and walked out through the hotel lobby, they had the feeling that everyone was looking at them. The cover of darkness was kind as they made their way to their camp. ‘You just can’t win,’ said the boy who had proposed their dropping their true identity, trying to ease the tension. ‘I’m not so sure,’ replied the boy to who the stranger had spoken. ‘If we have any sense left, we can make this experience into the most winning lesson of our lives” (Romney).
I am grateful to be able to speak to you today and for the opportunity it had provided me to learn more deeply the central importance of integrity in our lives to help us come closer to Christ. “Integrity, or lack of it, touches almost every facet of our lives; everything we say, every thought and desire” (Tanner). “Natural, inherent integrity is manifested almost every hour of every day of our lives” (Faust). “Integrity is the foundation of our character and all other virtues” (Callister).
N Eldon Tanner stated, “We have heard sermons and exhortations upon honesty, trust, righteousness, dependability, truthfulness, kindness, justice, mercy, love, fidelity, and many other principles of right living. When one has integrated all of these attributes within his being, when they become the moving force of all his thoughts, actions, and desires, then he may be said to possess integrity.”
Joseph B Worthlin explained integrity this way, “Integrity means always doing what is right and good, regardless of the immediate consequences. It means being righteous from the very depth of our soul, not only in our actions but, more importantly, in our thoughts and in our hearts. Personal integrity implies such trustworthiness and incorruptibility that we are incapable of being false to a trust or covenant.”
From James E Faust, “Integrity is the value we set on ourselves. It is a fulfillment of the duty we owe ourselves. An honorable man or woman will personally commit to live up to certain self‐imposed expectations. They need no outside check or control. They are honorable in their inner core.”
And finally from Brother Callister, “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 fellowman. It would be choosing the right—not merely because God desires it but because our character demands it. Integrity is the very core of our being. When all the scaffolding is removed, it is our integrity that both defines us and identifies us.”
“A man’s true greatness is not in what he says he is, nor in what people say he is; [but] in what he really is” (Leon R. Hartshorn, Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration, Salt lake City: Deseret BookCo., 1970, p.38).
We cannot develop integrity if we are not being honest with ourselves. (Stapley)
“Those of us who teach in church organizations—are we honest in living as we teach, or
do we have a double standard?” Elder Stapley questions. “Integrity is making sure that the
things that we say and the things that we do are in alignment” (Anonymous). “Whosoever
therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall
be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the
same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:19)” “The Savior’s sternest
rebukes were to hypocrites.” Elder Christofferson points out, “Hypocrisy is terribly
destructive, not only to the hypocrite but also to those who observe or know of his or her
conduct.”
When this happens, we begin to not trust that individual and we see them as being dishonest. Spencer W. Kimball states, “It would be well if all of us would take frequent inventory to see if hidden away under the rugs and in the corners of our lives there might be some vestige of [dishonesty].” Honesty is a crucial part to integrity and hard to overcome. “One can overlook many sins, but the sin of dishonesty is most difficult to forgive. We are sympathetic to the weaknesses of men and tolerant in our relations with them, but there is nothing that upsets or disturbs confidence more than dealing with a dishonest individual” (Stapley). How can we fix dishonesty? It comes by learning what causes it. President Kimball explained, “Practically all dishonesty owes its existence and growth to this inward distortion we call self‐justification. It is the first, the worst, and most insidious and damaging form of cheating—to cheat oneself.” “Dealing justly with oneself lays a foundation for dealing justly with others” (James E Faust). So to better develop integrity, be honest with ourselves and “be sincere and upright and fully practice what we teach” (Stapley).
One way we can be honest with ourselves and develop integrity is by keeping the covenants we have made with God. At baptism we covenanted that we would take upon us the name of Christ, remember him and keep his commandments. Part of the covenant we made at baptism is recorded in Mosiah 18:8‐10. “And now as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death...being baptized...as a witness ...that ye will serve him and keep his commandments.” Many of us have made covenants in the temple with the Lord to “devote our time, talents, and means to His kingdom and to give of our resources in time and money and talent—all we are and all we possess—to the interest of the kingdom of God upon the earth. In simple terms, we covenant to do good” (Boyd K Packer). “Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness” (D&C 58:27).
“When we make a covenant or agreement with God,” President Kimball says, “we must keep it at whatever cost...by taking our covenants lightly, we will wound our own eternal selves...Of course, we can choose; the free agency is ours, but we cannot escape the consequences of our choices. And if there is a chink in our integrity, that is where the devil concentrates his attack.” Marion G Romney explains, “Our individual exaltation
When this happens, we begin to not trust that individual and we see them as being dishonest. Spencer W. Kimball states, “It would be well if all of us would take frequent inventory to see if hidden away under the rugs and in the corners of our lives there might be some vestige of [dishonesty].” Honesty is a crucial part to integrity and hard to overcome. “One can overlook many sins, but the sin of dishonesty is most difficult to forgive. We are sympathetic to the weaknesses of men and tolerant in our relations with them, but there is nothing that upsets or disturbs confidence more than dealing with a dishonest individual” (Stapley). How can we fix dishonesty? It comes by learning what causes it. President Kimball explained, “Practically all dishonesty owes its existence and growth to this inward distortion we call self‐justification. It is the first, the worst, and most insidious and damaging form of cheating—to cheat oneself.” “Dealing justly with oneself lays a foundation for dealing justly with others” (James E Faust). So to better develop integrity, be honest with ourselves and “be sincere and upright and fully practice what we teach” (Stapley).
One way we can be honest with ourselves and develop integrity is by keeping the covenants we have made with God. At baptism we covenanted that we would take upon us the name of Christ, remember him and keep his commandments. Part of the covenant we made at baptism is recorded in Mosiah 18:8‐10. “And now as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death...being baptized...as a witness ...that ye will serve him and keep his commandments.” Many of us have made covenants in the temple with the Lord to “devote our time, talents, and means to His kingdom and to give of our resources in time and money and talent—all we are and all we possess—to the interest of the kingdom of God upon the earth. In simple terms, we covenant to do good” (Boyd K Packer). “Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness” (D&C 58:27).
“When we make a covenant or agreement with God,” President Kimball says, “we must keep it at whatever cost...by taking our covenants lightly, we will wound our own eternal selves...Of course, we can choose; the free agency is ours, but we cannot escape the consequences of our choices. And if there is a chink in our integrity, that is where the devil concentrates his attack.” Marion G Romney explains, “Our individual exaltation
depends upon our proving to the Lord that we will at all hazards and under all
circumstances faithfully discharge the trust He has placed in us.” “You must...remain true
to the covenants you have made with God” (Ballard). “The covenants we make with God
involve promises to do, not merely to refrain from doing, to work righteousness as well as
to avoid evil. Not to honor these pledges, to refuse to serve or to accept responsibility and
do less than one’s best at it, is a sin of omission” (Kimball). “All that it takes for the
triumph of evil is that good men do nothing” (Anonymous). We read in the Doctrine and
Covenants, “For of him unto whom much is given much is required;” and in James 4:17,
“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
The good news is that we know we have help. We have the gift of grace, the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to help us and strengthen us. The Lord said, “For I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on our left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88).
We have been promised marvelous blessings as we honor our covenants, keep the commandments, and endure faithfully to the end. We can be sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise and will be “given all things” (D&C 76:55) including an inheritance in the celestial kingdom (2 Ne. 31:16‐20) and spiritual power over the influence of Satan (Ballard). “The consummate reward of integrity is the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost” (James E Faust, D&C 121:46) and “the [approval] of our Eternal Father and Jesus Christ, his Son” (Tanner). “When we do what is right, he can dwell with us and guide us in all we do” (Worthlin). As we show integrity by keeping our covenants, we are coming unto Christ.
Brother Callister stated, “Integrity is not just changing our behavior, it is changing our nature. Our natures have changed when our inner motives and thoughts are consistent with our outward behavior. With the Lord’s help we can transform our natures. King Benjamin told us how we might change our natures from a natural man to a spiritual man: “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father”” (Mosiah 3:19).
Joseph B Worthlin said, “Let us strive for personal, practical integrity in every endeavor, regardless of how mundane or inconsequential it may seem.” Because as he says, “The small matters accumulate to shape the direction of our lives.”
There are many great examples in the scriptures of people possessing integrity. The people of Ammon are one. “The were distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end” (Alma 27:27). They were great examples to their sons, who were men of integrity as well. It was said of them, “They were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him” (Alma 53:20‐21). The Lord said of Hyrum Smith, “blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and
The good news is that we know we have help. We have the gift of grace, the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to help us and strengthen us. The Lord said, “For I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on our left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88).
We have been promised marvelous blessings as we honor our covenants, keep the commandments, and endure faithfully to the end. We can be sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise and will be “given all things” (D&C 76:55) including an inheritance in the celestial kingdom (2 Ne. 31:16‐20) and spiritual power over the influence of Satan (Ballard). “The consummate reward of integrity is the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost” (James E Faust, D&C 121:46) and “the [approval] of our Eternal Father and Jesus Christ, his Son” (Tanner). “When we do what is right, he can dwell with us and guide us in all we do” (Worthlin). As we show integrity by keeping our covenants, we are coming unto Christ.
Brother Callister stated, “Integrity is not just changing our behavior, it is changing our nature. Our natures have changed when our inner motives and thoughts are consistent with our outward behavior. With the Lord’s help we can transform our natures. King Benjamin told us how we might change our natures from a natural man to a spiritual man: “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father”” (Mosiah 3:19).
Joseph B Worthlin said, “Let us strive for personal, practical integrity in every endeavor, regardless of how mundane or inconsequential it may seem.” Because as he says, “The small matters accumulate to shape the direction of our lives.”
There are many great examples in the scriptures of people possessing integrity. The people of Ammon are one. “The were distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end” (Alma 27:27). They were great examples to their sons, who were men of integrity as well. It was said of them, “They were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him” (Alma 53:20‐21). The Lord said of Hyrum Smith, “blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and
because he loveth that which is right before me (D&C 124:15). Of the prophet Joseph
Smith, “his greatness did not lie alone in prophesying,... speaking, or writing, but in what
he was.”
“We [can] show our integrity by caring for and serving others” (Worthlin). Marion G Romney said, “Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made.” Mark 8:35 reads, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” To help us serve, we might take counsel from President Monson who said, “We must develop the capacity to see men not as they are at present but as they may become.”
When I was down at BYU this past year, Elder Ballard shared some counsel in Stake Conference that I loved and feel can help us to better develop integrity. He said, “Stop and interview yourself. Find a quiet place, sit with the scriptures, talk with the Lord and look inwardly at how you are doing spiritually. Pause and look at life and think of anything that you are not satisfied with. Have the courage to decide that you are going to fix it. Have that personal interview often. Figure out what you need to do to accelerate your progress.”
I hope that we will all strive to be better, change and improve. That we might sing as the primary child, “I’m trying to be like Jesus; I’m following in his ways. I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say. At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice, but I try to listen as the still small voice whispers, Love one another as Jesus loves you. Try to show kindness in all that you do. Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought, for these are the things Jesus taught.”
I hope each of us will strive to have the integrity of Job who said, “till I die, I will not remove mine integrity from me. (Job 27:15)” and Karl G Maeser who said, "I have been asked what I mean by 'word of honor.' I will tell you. Place me behind prison walls‐‐walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground‐‐there is a possibility that in some way or another I may escape; but stand me on the floor and draw a chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross it. Can I get out of the circle? No. Never! I'd die first!"
I am excited to be able to share with the people of Hong Kong the message of this gospel, to help them come unto Christ and to bring them the joy and happiness the gospel has brought me, to them. I know this gospel is true. I know that God hears and answers our prayers as we pray with a desire to receive an answer and an intent to act on the answer received. I know the Book of Mormon is true. It is the word of God. As we study and ponder it, we can receive answers and guidance for our lives. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that through His Atonement we can be forgiven of the sins we have committed, the mistakes we have made and trouble caused. I know that as we are striving to become better, to greater develop integrity, we can have the divine help of Jesus Christ through the enabling power of his Atonement to help us do things we could not do on our own. As we listen to our leaders and the apostles and prophets and follow their counsel and teachings, we will be lead in the way of life and salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“We [can] show our integrity by caring for and serving others” (Worthlin). Marion G Romney said, “Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made.” Mark 8:35 reads, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” To help us serve, we might take counsel from President Monson who said, “We must develop the capacity to see men not as they are at present but as they may become.”
When I was down at BYU this past year, Elder Ballard shared some counsel in Stake Conference that I loved and feel can help us to better develop integrity. He said, “Stop and interview yourself. Find a quiet place, sit with the scriptures, talk with the Lord and look inwardly at how you are doing spiritually. Pause and look at life and think of anything that you are not satisfied with. Have the courage to decide that you are going to fix it. Have that personal interview often. Figure out what you need to do to accelerate your progress.”
I hope that we will all strive to be better, change and improve. That we might sing as the primary child, “I’m trying to be like Jesus; I’m following in his ways. I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say. At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice, but I try to listen as the still small voice whispers, Love one another as Jesus loves you. Try to show kindness in all that you do. Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought, for these are the things Jesus taught.”
I hope each of us will strive to have the integrity of Job who said, “till I die, I will not remove mine integrity from me. (Job 27:15)” and Karl G Maeser who said, "I have been asked what I mean by 'word of honor.' I will tell you. Place me behind prison walls‐‐walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground‐‐there is a possibility that in some way or another I may escape; but stand me on the floor and draw a chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross it. Can I get out of the circle? No. Never! I'd die first!"
I am excited to be able to share with the people of Hong Kong the message of this gospel, to help them come unto Christ and to bring them the joy and happiness the gospel has brought me, to them. I know this gospel is true. I know that God hears and answers our prayers as we pray with a desire to receive an answer and an intent to act on the answer received. I know the Book of Mormon is true. It is the word of God. As we study and ponder it, we can receive answers and guidance for our lives. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that through His Atonement we can be forgiven of the sins we have committed, the mistakes we have made and trouble caused. I know that as we are striving to become better, to greater develop integrity, we can have the divine help of Jesus Christ through the enabling power of his Atonement to help us do things we could not do on our own. As we listen to our leaders and the apostles and prophets and follow their counsel and teachings, we will be lead in the way of life and salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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