Honesty is of God and dishonesty of the devil; the devil was a

The words of Joseph B. Wirthlin, a man of faith and integrity, resound with the solemn gravity of eternal truth: “Honesty is of God and dishonesty of the devil; the devil was a liar from the beginning.” In this declaration, Wirthlin draws a sacred boundary between the light of truth and the darkness of deceit. Honesty, he teaches, is not merely a social virtue or a moral preference—it is divine in nature, a reflection of God’s own essence. To live truthfully is to align oneself with heaven; to embrace deceit is to descend into chaos, for lies were the first rebellion against divine order.

The origin of this quote lies in the teachings of Wirthlin, a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose words were steeped in scripture and moral clarity. His reflection echoes the Gospel of John, where Christ declared that Satan “was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.” Wirthlin sought to remind his listeners that dishonesty, no matter how small, distances the soul from God. Truth, on the other hand, draws the spirit upward, harmonizing the human heart with the eternal order of righteousness. Thus, honesty becomes not only a moral duty, but an act of spiritual alignment.

At the heart of Wirthlin’s teaching is the sacred connection between truth and divinity. God, as the embodiment of truth, calls His children to walk in light and transparency. Dishonesty, by contrast, belongs to the realm of corruption and destruction. Lies poison relationships, erode trust, and lead nations, families, and individuals to ruin. The devil’s first deception in the Garden of Eden was not merely an act of rebellion—it was the introduction of distortion, confusion, and separation between humanity and its Creator. In this light, every falsehood, no matter how trivial, carries the echo of that ancient corruption.

History offers vivid examples of the destructive power of deceit. Consider Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal, where the web of lies unraveled not only a presidency but the public’s trust in leadership. His downfall was not caused by the act of espionage alone, but by the persistent dishonesty that followed. Similarly, in every age, those who build upon falsehood eventually find their foundations crumble, while those who cling to truth—even at great personal cost—stand unbroken. The stories of honest souls, from Socrates to Abraham Lincoln, reveal that integrity endures long after power, fame, or comfort fade.

Wirthlin’s statement carries an emotional power because it calls the soul to courageous purity. To live honestly is not easy—it demands humility, strength, and sometimes sacrifice. Yet the reward is peace, clarity, and divine favor. The dishonest may prosper for a moment, but the truthful live in freedom, unburdened by the chains of deceit. The liar must constantly remember his fabrications, but the honest man stands unafraid before both God and man, his conscience as clear as daylight.

The lesson is timeless: truth is sacred, and integrity is the measure of a soul’s strength. Speak truth even when it costs you comfort. Keep your word, even when no one is watching. Avoid the subtle deceptions—the exaggeration, the evasion, the convenient omission—that erode moral clarity. For every small act of dishonesty dulls the conscience and distances one from the divine, while each act of truthfulness strengthens the spirit and anchors it in eternal light.

Practically, this wisdom calls for daily vigilance and self-examination. Be truthful in speech, but also in intention. Let honesty govern your dealings, your labor, and your promises. When you err, confess with humility rather than hide in falsehood, for confession restores the soul to truth. Cultivate transparency in all relationships, for trust—once lost—is slow to return. Live in such a way that your life itself becomes a testimony to truth, a reflection of divine light in a world often clouded by deceit.

Thus, the words of Joseph B. Wirthlin stand as both warning and invitation: “Honesty is of God and dishonesty of the devil; the devil was a liar from the beginning.” Let them remind us that truth is not a burden but a blessing, not a constraint but a liberation. To walk in truth is to walk with God; to dwell in falsehood is to follow the path of destruction. Choose truth in all things, and your heart will find the peace that neither shadow nor deception can ever claim.