The Presidency Lesson taught this past Sunday was on "Kindness" -- here is a recap through quotes:
KINDNESS.
“Kindness has many synonyms—love, service, charity. But I like the word kindness because it implies action. It seems like something you and I can do. Kindness can be shown in so many ways. My favorite examples of kindness come from what Jesus did. He spent his ministry searching for the weary, the sick, the poor, and the lonely, that he might show kindness toward them.” — From “Kindness—A Part of God’s Plan” by Betty Jo Jepsen, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency
Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”
—Scott Adams (1957) Creator Of Dilbert Comic Strip
“Many of us live in such an atmosphere that we are almost dumb when it comes to praising somebody else. We seem unable to say the things that we might say … to the blessing of others. Let us look for the virtues of our associates and observing them make them happy by commending them.— From “The Power of Kindness” by George Albert Smith, President of the Church
I plead with you my brethren and my sisters, let us be generous with one another. Let us be as patient with one another as we would like others to be with us. Let us see the virtues of our neighbors and our friends and speak of those virtues, not find fault and criticize. If we will do that we will radiate sunshine, and those who know us best will love us.” — From “The Power of Kindness” by George Albert Smith, President of the Church
Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.
— Proverbs 3:3
“The Church is not a place where perfect people gather to say perfect things, or have perfect thoughts, or have perfect feelings. The Church is a place where imperfect people gather to provide encouragement, support, and service to each other as we press on in our journey to return to our Heavenly Father. Each one of us will travel a different road during this life. Each progresses at a different rate. Temptations that trouble your brother may not challenge you at all. Strengths that you possess may seem impossible to another. — From “The Virtue of Kindness” by Joseph B. Wirthlin, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself…
— Leviticus 19:34
“Do not waste time bothering whether you love your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we will find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.” — “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis
“It's good to do uncomfortable things. It's weight training for life.”
― Anne Lamott, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
—Hebrews 13:2
“What a joy, what a comfort, what a satisfaction can be added to the lives of our neighbors and friends through kindness. How I would like to write that word in capital letters and emblazon it in the air. Kindness is the power that God has given us to unlock hard hearts and subdue stubborn souls and bring them to an understanding of His purposes.”
— From “The Power of Kindness” by George Albert Smith, President of the Church
“You can either practice being right or practice being kind.”
― Anne Lamott
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil…
― 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment. We can start now, start slowly, changing the world. How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make a contribution toward introducing justice straightaway. And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!”
—Anne Frank (1929-1945) Diarist
There is no end to the good we can do, to the influence we can have with others. Let us not dwell on the critical or the negative. Let us pray for strength; let us pray for capacity and desire to assist others. Let us radiate the light of the gospel at all times and all places, that the Spirit of the Redeemer may radiate from us. In the words of the Lord to Joshua, brethren, “be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God [will be] with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Josh. 1:9). — From “The Need for Greater Kindness” by Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the Church
“Your life is going to be a gradual process of becoming kinder and more loving: So, hurry up. Speed it along. Start right now. There’s a confusion in each of us, a sickness, really: selfishness. But there’s also a cure. So be a good and proactive and even somewhat desperate patient on your own behalf — seek out the most efficacious anti-selfishness medicines, energetically, for the rest of your life.
Do all the other things, the ambitious things — travel, get rich, get famous, innovate, lead, fall in love, make and lose fortunes, swim…in wild jungle rivers – but as you do, to the extent that you can, err in the direction of kindness. Do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial. That luminous part of you that exists beyond personality — your soul, if you will — is as bright and shining as any that has ever been. Bright as Shakespeare’s, bright as Gandhi’s, bright as Mother Teresa’s. Clear away everything that keeps you separate from this secret luminous place. Believe it exists, come to know it better, nurture it, share its fruits tirelessly.
And someday, in 80 years, when you’re 100, and I’m 134, and we’re both so kind and loving we’re nearly unbearable, drop me a line, let me know how your life has been. I hope you will say: It has been so wonderful.” — From “The Importance of Kindness” by George Saunders at Syracuse University, May 2013
Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.
— Proverbs 21:21
“I pray that the love of the gospel of our Lord will burn in our souls and enrich our lives, that it will cause husbands to be kinder to wives, and wives to be kinder to husbands, parents to children, and children to parents because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is a gospel of love and kindness.” — From “The Power of Kindness” by George Albert Smith, President of the Church
“My brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness—be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. Treat everyone with kindness. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.” — From "What Have I Done for Someone Today?" by Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church
"What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness. Those moments when another human being was there, in front of me, suffering, and I responded . . . sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly. Or, to look at it from the other end of the telescope: Who, in your life, do you remember most fondly, with the most undeniable feelings of warmth? Those who were kindest to you, I bet. It’s a little facile, maybe, and certainly hard to implement, but I’d say, as a goal in life, you could do worse than: Try to be kinder." — From “The Importance of Kindness” by George Saunders at Syracuse University, May 2013
“Ultimately, we’re all just walking each other home.” — Ram Das, Hindu-Jew
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