Integrity in Public Officials

Occasionally we find an individual who is seeking to hold high office in business, in education, or in government. Such a person may claim to be worthy of trust, may insist that he or she would not cheat the public, or misrepresent them, or mislead them, or break faith with them. In assessing the sincerity of these expressions, the integrity of the person concerned, we may ask ourselves, What does that individual do with a private trust? A good measure is to determine how he keeps covenants relating to his family.

While one could not excuse, one perhaps could understand, that it would be somewhat easier to steal from, cheat on, or misrepresent to an anonymous stranger, or the "public," than it would be to do so to someone very close to you, someone with whom you live, someone with whom you have entered into covenants. But however that may be, one who is not faithful to his marriage partner and to his family is hardly worthy of confidence and trust. If he could cheat on marriage vows, counting perhaps on forgiveness and tolerance that may have been extended at times, surely he must stand unworthy of any great public trust. And he cannot reasonably claim that his dealings in this situation are a private matter, having no bearing on integrity before the public. They do indeed have a very great bearing.

- Elder Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple, 167