Just as small problems can compromise the integrity of the physical heart, seemingly small breeches of honor can compromise personal integrity.
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This devotional was given on February 23, 1993.
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The title of my message today is “Integrity of Heart.” I hope you will permit me to draw on my experience as a cardiac surgeon to illustrate this important topic.
Cardiac surgeons speak of the heart in terms of its structural integrity. The word integrity is related to the word integer, which means “entire” or “whole.” Integrity may be defined as “unimpaired.” Integrity also means “incorruptible,” a firm adherence to a code of values. Integrity denotes a state of completeness. If any component of the heart loses its integrity, the heart is impaired and a vicious cycle ensues. An anatomical flaw leads to improper function, and improper function leads to further failure. Therefore, the ultimate objective of any cardiac operation is to restore structural integrity to the heart.
Fishermen also understand the danger of sequential stress as it relates to integrity of their nets. To the untrained, a small tear may seem to be relatively insignificant. But the experienced fisherman knows about sequential stress. A broken strand in his net may allow the loss of a fish or two but, more important, it causes undue strain on adjacent strands. Before long a small hole becomes larger and larger. Eventually the entire net is worthless.
Most of you will not be cardiac surgeons or professional fishermen, so you may wonder why I use such teaching models at a devotional assembly. The reason comes from scripture. The Lord said that “all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal” (D&C 29:34).
He is our Creator. Thus, temporal or physical laws that relate to our divine creation often have a spiritual application. This should come as no surprise because “all [of God’s] kingdoms have a law given; . . . And unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions” (D&C 88: 36, 38).
The Lord taught that anyone “who hath seen any or the least of these [kingdoms] hath seen God moving in his majesty and power” (D&C 88:47). Because he is the Creator of both the physical and spiritual components of our being, examples of the importance of structural integrity can teach much about the importance of spiritual integrity.
Imagine now that one of those supporting cords is broken-the cord of honesty, for example. If that cord breaks, the law of sequential stress immediately imposes additional strain on the neighboring cords of chastity, virtue, benevolence, and so on.
In familiar scripture, we have been warned of such risk:
And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; . . . yea, lie a little, take the advantage of . . . thy neighbor; . . .
Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines. [2 Nephi 28:8-9]
Those teachings are dangerous because they are hazardous to your precious integrity. Yet some people are so easily tempted to lie a little, to cheat a little, to steal a little, or to bear false witness-just a little. You cannot commit a little sin without being subject to the consequences. If you tolerate a little sin today, you tolerate a little more tomorrow, and before long, a cord of integrity is broken. Sequential stress will follow, putting at risk adjacent cords of chastity, virtue, being true, and so on.
Brigham Young had strong feelings about such matters. On one occasion, he said:
Many want to shade a little, rather than to work hard for an honest living. Such practices must be put away, and this people must become sanctified in their affections to God, and learn to deal honestly, truly, and uprightly with one another in every respect, with all the integrity that fills the heart of an angel. They must learn to feel that they can trust all they possess with their brethren and sisters, saying, “All I have I entrust to you: keep it until I call for it.” . . . That principle must prevail in the midst of this people: you must preserve your integrity to each other. [JD 6:47] Read more at speeches.byu.edu