On Kindness

These words from Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin floated around in my head last night and today.

"Kindness is the essence of a celestial life. Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others. Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes. ... When we are filled with kindness, we are not judgmental. The Savior taught, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” He also taught that “with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

“But,” you ask, “what if people are rude?”  Love them.  “If they are obnoxious?”  Love them.  “But what if they offend? Surely I must do something then?”  Love them.  “Wayward?”  The answer is the same. Be kind. Love them.  Why? In the scriptures Jude taught, “And of some have compassion, making a difference.”  Who can tell what far-reaching impact we can have if we are only kind?"

It has been 4 years since he spoke these words.  I am finally starting to recognize the implications of their application.  This is one of the greatest sermons on kindness of which I am aware.