Rabbits and Kindness

We recently took a trip as a family, and in the place we rented there were bunnies in the backyard running around. One of my daughters in particular really took to the bunnies and she couldn’t get enough watching them from our deck. We weren’t supposed to go in the backyard because someone else was in the basement of the house, but at one point she couldn’t help it anymore and ran back there to try to be with the bunnies. I got after her, and looking back I was not as understanding and gentle as I should have been with her, for she came home from the trip in tears because we will not get bunnies in our home despite her fervent pleas (we have a dog—they would not mix well!). I thought of this experience, though, as I read Elder Stevenson’s talk today from the most recent general conference about kindness. He told the story of the scientist who showed so much love for the bunnies in her care that they were physically healthier that otherwise identical bunnies under the care of others. I’m sure if we did that experiment, and my daughter and I were the scientists, her bunnies would show the same statistical difference from mine and be in better health. Elder Stevenson made this comment after relating the experience: “For me, this lays another brick in the foundation of kindness as a fundamental, healing gospel principle—one that can heal hearts emotionally, spiritually, and, as demonstrated here, even physically.” We need to strive to be like this scientist so that all those whom we associate with will be strengthened and blessed by our kindness.  

               Surely to show kindness and love to all those around us is a fundamental part of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, for He spent His life serving and teaching and helping those in need around Him. Many of His instructions in this dispensation have invited us to help and love and show compassion to those we come in contact with. In one revelation He said, “Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees” (Doctrine and Covenants 81:5). Whatever we are doing, we should be seeking to succor the weak and lift up those who are down. In another instruction He invited us with these words: “Strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings” (Doctrine and Covenants 108:7). In all our doings we should seek to strengthen and help others. To Thomas B. Marsh and all of us the Savior said this: “Be not partial towards them in love above many others, but let thy love be for them as for thyself; and let thy love abound unto all men, and unto all who love my name” (Doctrine and Covenants 112:11). I think that word partial is key: sometimes I show love but only partially and I hold back some. The Lord wants us to abound in kindness love and show it for all. Elder Stevenson further said this about what the scriptures teach on kindness: “An ancient prophet commanded ‘that there should be no contention one with another, but that [we] should look forward … , having [our] hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.’ We are further taught that ‘power or influence … ought to be maintained … by gentleness and meekness, … by kindness, … without guile.’” Indeed, this story of the rabbits shows that the scientist who nurtured with kindness did have power to help improve the health of the animals because of her kindness and love. Surely we too can have power to strengthen and bless those around us if we will seek to abound in kindness and love towards them.