The Essence of Greatness

Elder Wirthlin stated in general conference ten years ago, “Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have known” (The Virtue of Kindness).  I’ve been thinking about this today after listening to the pivotal chapter in Les Misérables where Jean Valjean is accused of stealing from the Bishop.  After the Bishop showed great kindness to him in letting the ex-convict stay in the comfort of his home, Jean Valjean stole the silverware of the Bishop and snuck away.  He was seen by officers and brought back the next day to the Bishop, who by that point knew that Jean Valjean had stolen from him.  With almost no time to think about his reaction, the first words out of his mouth expressed his gladness to see Jean Valjean.  The Bishop inquired as to why he did not take the candlesticks as well.  This man was so fundamentally good, that his unmeditated response to the man who had stolen from him was to express love and give even more to him.  That is kindness. 

                I think the scriptures give us other powerful examples of kindness like the humble Bishop of Digne.  One of the first that comes to mind is the way that Joseph treated his brothers when he was finally reunited with them after all those years in Egypt.  What were his first words to them after revealing to them that it was him? “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life” (Genesis 45:5).  Of all the reactions he could have had towards these brothers who had sold him into servitude, he chose words of forgiveness to comfort them and try to appease their guilt—he thought more of them than of himself.  What a noble man he was indeed.  A New Testament example of this same type of kindness is shown by Paul.  In Thyatira he and Silas were put into prison after being beaten and were given to the charge of the jailor.  God caused an earthquake in the middle of the night to shake the prison and “immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed” (Acts 16:26).  When the jailor woke up and realized what was happening, he was ready to end his life because he knew what the consequences would be if these prisoners escaped.  What did Paul do?  Instead of leaving, he comforted the jailor and stayed, saving his life: “Do thyself no harm: for we are all here” (Acts 16:28).  Paul was more concerned about this jailor who was holding him captive then he was about his own freedom.  That is kindness. 

                Of course the most powerful examples are those of the Savior, and there are far too many to name.  His life was filled with showing kindness to the poor, sick, afflicted and to any in need.  He healed the lepers, gave sight to the blind, and raised the dead.  He was as Elder Wirthlin said, “the epitome of kindness and compassion.”  The greatest example of kindness was the atoning sacrifice which we scarcely understand, and I think we get a glimpse of His incredible love in the middle of that experience.  After suffering in the garden so much that blood came from His pores, the Jewish leaders came by night to take Him.  Peter in his eagerness to protect his Master raised his sword and “smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear” (Luke 22:50).  How did Jesus respond?  Despite His enormous suffering that He had just experienced and despite the fact that He knew this group was about to take Him to brutally murder Him, the Savior “touched His ear, and healed him” (Luke 22:51).  That is kindness. 

                All of these examples—the Bishop of Les Misérables, Joseph, Paul, and the Savior—showed incredible kindness despite being personally injured and abused.  That I think is the sign of a truly great man or woman, and as Elder Wirthlin put it, “is the essence of a celestial life.”  It’s the quest of a lifetime to develop that kind of kindness.