Integrity

Elder David A. Bednar recently shared an unexpected—and encouraging—comment he received from a stranger while on a travel assignment.

“I don't want to try to compartmentalize my spiritual life from everything else. It’s all part of who I am,” McKay Coppins, writer for The Atlantic.

In preparing for this week’s Come, Follow Me lesson, I keep accidentally typing “virtual” instead of “virtuous.” Which got me thinking, what would it mean to be a virtually virtuous woman or man?

In creating the world, God was organized and methodical. The foundations were built such that each step built upon the next. But when almost all the creative work was done, the Lord noted that Adam was alone: “And I, the Lord God, said unto mine Only Begotten, that it was not good that the man should be alone; wherefore, I will make an help meet for him…. And I, the Lord God, caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and he slept, and I took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in the stead thereof; And the rib which I, the Lord God, had taken from man, made I a woman, and brought her unto the man” (Moses 2:18, 21–22). It was clear that Adam, on his own, was unequal to the tasks ahead of him. He needed a partner. It was then that Eve was brought forth. It was only after her creation that the world was complete.

In 1973, Bob Woodward was a young reporter for the Washington Post when he won a Pulitzer Prize for his pursuit of the Watergate scandal. His influence on the events that led to Richard Nixon’s resignation, the first-ever resignation from a U.S. president, is undeniable. Since Watergate, he has written many books, been portrayed in a Hollywood movie by Robert Redford, and appeared on countless network news programs, but on Monday, he sat down with Elder D. Todd Christofferson. During Watergate, Elder Christofferson was a young law clerk for Judge John J. Sirica and was among the first to listen to President Nixon’s White House tapes. Together, Woodward and Elder Christofferson relived their experiences surrounding Watergate, discussing specifically why integrity and trust matters in government today.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, who worked as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Sirica during the Watergate trials, and legendary Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Bob Woodward, who worked with Carl Bernstein to break the Watergate story, are coming together for an unprecedented event. The two will highlight the lessons they learned about trust and integrity in public life during their unique experiences with Watergate and beyond. Hosted by the Deseret News,the event will be held in Washington, D.C. and streamed live online on Monday, January 14, 2019, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. EST (4:30 to 6 p.m. MST).

Conference Talk: For more information on this topic read “Dare to Stand Alone”, byPresident Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Nov. 2011, 60.

"Integrity cannot become a lost art form for those of us who are disciples of Jesus Christ," Elder Ronald A. Rasband said.

The Lord spoke powerfully about the idea of honor. He said:

Conference Talk: The small matters accumulate to shape the direction of our lives (Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Personal Integrity," Ensign, May 1990, 30).

"Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth telling, truth speaking, truth living, and truth loving [. . .] Honesty is a moral compass to guide us in our lives [. . .] Honesty is a principle, and we have our moral agency to determine how we will apply this principle. We have the agency to make choices, but ultimately we will be accountable for each choice we make. We may deceive others, but there is One we will never deceive."

CNN and news outlets across the country are talking about two adorable boys who were caught on a security camera "doing the right thing." Becky Squire shared a video of her sons, Eli and Bronx, talking after they found money outside a neighbor's house.

This lesson on Choice & Accountability is the first in an 8-part FHE series featuring the Young Women's values. Get the other 7 lessons here.

Karen Petitt is a devoted Latter-day Saint, a proud mother, a photographer, and an artist at heart—not to mention an avid fan of ABC's Once Upon a Time. Until recently, all of these hobbies and roles represented different facets of Petitt's life. But, last year, Pettit found a way to weave them all together in one meaningful project: Value Quest.

Admittedly, there are not a lot of worthy role models to be found among the heroes of Hollywood. The image promoted by the mass media is one of debauchery, gratification, and impulsive decisions. Despite this, the prophet Mormon taught that “The Spirit of Christ is given to every man”—which means that even in the darkest corners of the entertainment industry, the light of positive moral values can and does shine through. It’s easy to focus on the bad when discussing celebrities, but there is still good to be found in some statements from various household-known names, who have taken at least one stand for the right.

“You’re Mormon? You don’t look Mormon. How Mormon are you?”

Personal progression isn't just for young women—we could all use a dose of faith, knowledge, and virtue. To help your family develop these qualities and more, use these 8 complete FHE lessons inspired by the Young Women's values from Faith to Integrity. And if you do have any young women in your family, you can encourage them to complete their personal progress value experiences starting in these 8 Family Home Evening lessons.