Dear Reader,
While listening to a talk by President Russell M. Nelson tonight, I was drawn to a thought about kindness—where it can be found and for what purpose. The thoughts below follow:
Each day brings us opportunities that reach far beyond the moment. “Each day brings opportunity for decisions for eternity.” Our choices—especially the way we treat others—reverberate across generations and into eternity.
President Nelson reminds us that “eternal principles that govern happiness apply equally to all.” Kindness is one of those eternal principles. It cannot be bought, borrowed, or bartered. It is the simple, quiet decision to honor others as children of God.
But too often, he warns, “too many have sadly surrendered their agency to the adversary and are saying by their conduct, ‘I care more about satisfying my own desires than I do about bearing the Savior’s power to bless others.’” When we turn inward, kindness diminishes. When we turn outward—toward family, neighbor, and stranger—our lives begin to reflect the Savior’s love.
The Lord has not asked us to be flawless, but He does ask us to place our faith in Him. “Even the best teams can fail. Celebrities can fade. There is only One in whom your faith is always safe, and that is in the Lord Jesus Christ. And you need to let your faith show!” That faith blossoms into kindness when we reach out, forgive, and serve, even on days that feel heavy. Indeed, “we can feel joy even while having a bad day, a bad week, or even a bad year!”
As we come to know who we are—“It is important for you to know who you are and who you may become”—we recognize our divine capacity for kindness. Service becomes the natural outpouring of conversion. Whether through missionary work, family life, or simple daily acts, “a desire to serve is a natural outcome of one’s conversion, worthiness, and preparation.”
At the heart of God’s plan is love, expressed in marriage, family, and eternal relationships. “Marriage and family are ordained of God. The family is the most important social unit in time and in eternity.” Within families and communities, kindness is the glue that binds us together now and forever.
Faith in Christ empowers us to choose kindness over selfishness, service over apathy, and joy over despair. In doing so, we carry His light to others, making His eternal principles real in daily life.
The challenge: Find moments in your daily experience to show kindness to others. Notice how even a small act of kindness can ripple outward—and ask yourself: how might it change your life?
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