Former Seventy teaches BYU-Idaho students about truth and honesty

Elder David R. Stone, a former member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke to Brigham Young University-Idaho students at the campus devotional on Tuesday, October 9. He taught students about the importance of being truthful and honest in all their dealings.

"The need for people who are honest and incorruptible is greater than it ever was," Elder Stone taught. He went on to give several examples of times that he observed integrity in the lives of members of the Church and the importance of preaching these principles.

Quoting President David O. McKay, Elder Stone said, "To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved ... Yes, because we are very often loved simply because we are, as our parents love us because we are their children. But we are trusted because of what we are, or what we have become."

Elder Stone also taught the people of the Lord are a covenant making people and to the Lord the only poor are those who do not keep their covenants. He also pointed to the fact that members who wish to enter the temple are asked "Are you honest in all your dealings with your fellow men?"

Elder Stone shared an experience he had as a mission president in the Dominican Republic when he was asked to give an interview for a major newspaper. After citing the great expense of the temple that was being built at the time, the reporter demanded to know what the Church was doing for the poor people of the country.

Elder Stone told her the Church teaches people to be truthful, honest, dependable, trustworthy, reliable, punctual, and to establish goals and objectives and work to achieve them. "That's what we do for the poor people in your country," he told the reporter.

Students were finally exhorted to make incorruptibility a hallmark of BYU-Idaho and that people will know they are trustworthy because they are dependable and reliable. He also said that people should come to understand they are this way because of their membership to the Church and because of their testimony in Jesus Christ.

Next week's devotional speaker will be Elder Glenn L. Pace, a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. Devotionals are held every Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Hart Auditorium with additional seating in the Hinckley Chapel, Taylor Chapel and Kirkham Auditorium. Devotionals are broadcast on KBYI-FM 100.5 at 2 p.m. and rebroadcast Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m.