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TheDiscipleMD

The story is told of an English farmer at work one day in his field when he saw a party of huntsmen riding about his farm.  Concerned that they might ride into the field where the crop could be damaged by the horses, he sent one of his workmen to shut the gate and then keep watch over it and on no account was he to open it.

He had barely arrived at this post when the huntsmen came up and ordered the gate to be opened. He declined to do so, stating the orders he had received and steadfastly refused to open the gate in spite of the threats and bribes, as one after another of the hunters came forward.

Then one of the riders came up and said in commanding tones, “My boy, do you know me?  I am the Duke of Wellington, one not accustomed to being disobeyed, and I command you to open that gate, that I and my friends may pass through.”

The boy lifted his hat, and before the man whom all of England delighted to honor, answered firmly, “I am sure that the Duke of Wellington would not wish me to disobey orders.  I must keep this gate shut and not suffer anyone to pass but by my masters expressed permission.”

Greatly pleased, the Duke lifted his own hat, and said, “I honor a man or boy who can neither be bribed nor frightened into doing wrong.  With an army of such soldiers, I could not only conquer the French, but the world.”

“…the ground must be carefully prepared for our foundation of faith to withstand the storms that will come into every life. That solid basis for a foundation of faith is personal integrity.” (Henry B. Eyring, “Mountains to Climb”, April 2012, GC)