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In a world that often feels increasingly divided and harsh, there exists what I’ve come to think of as a “cult of kindness” – the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you’ve ever interacted with practicing LDS members (sometimes still called Mormons), you’ve likely experienced firsthand their exceptional warmth and generosity. But what makes this community stand out in their approach to kindness?
Kindness as a Way of Life
What strikes me most about LDS members isn’t just occasional acts of service, but how thoroughly kindness is woven into their daily existence. Their faith doesn’t just suggest being nice – it provides a comprehensive framework that makes service to others a fundamental part of their identity.
I’ve watched LDS neighbors shovel driveways for the entire street after snowstorms, bring meals for weeks to families experiencing illness, and organize community-wide cleanup efforts without fanfare or recognition. This isn’t random or exceptional behavior within their community – it’s standard practice.
At the heart of this approach is the fundamental Christian teaching that God wants us to follow Jesus’s example of boundless love and compassion. Christ himself taught that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves—a principle that transcends denominational boundaries and speaks to our shared humanity.
When families center their lives around these teachings, children learn that faith isn’t just about beliefs, but about actively demonstrating Christlike kindness in everyday interactions. By emulating Jesus’s example of serving others, forgiving freely, and showing mercy to all, families create living testaments to the transformative power of divine love in action.
The Power of Organized Compassion
The LDS church has created something remarkable: an infrastructure of kindness. Their ward (congregation) system ensures nobody falls through the cracks. Each member is assigned “ministering brothers or sisters” who regularly check in, meaning every single person has someone specifically designated to care about their wellbeing.
When crises happen, their response is nothing short of extraordinary. I’ve seen LDS congregations mobilize within hours to provide shelter, food, childcare, emotional support, and practical help. What might take other groups days to organize seems to happen almost automatically within their community.
Radical Hospitality
Perhaps you’ve encountered those young missionaries in white shirts and name tags. While their primary purpose involves sharing their faith, what many don’t realize is how deeply service-oriented these missions are. These young people spend two years living modestly, waking up at dawn, and dedicating themselves to helping communities – often learning new languages and adapting to unfamiliar cultures in the process.
The hospitality extends beyond missionaries. Many LDS members have an almost supernatural ability to make strangers feel welcome. I’ve attended events where newcomers are immediately enfolded into conversations and made to feel like old friends. There’s a genuine interest in others that doesn’t feel forced or superficial.
The Sacrifice Behind the Smile
What makes their kindness particularly meaningful is the sacrifice behind it. LDS members donate 10% of their income to the church through tithing, plus additional fast offerings for welfare programs. They volunteer countless hours in church callings and community service projects. Young people save for years to fund their own missions.
Despite these sacrifices, there’s a remarkable cheerfulness to their service. Rather than complaining about the demands, most LDS members I’ve met speak about service opportunities as privileges rather than burdens.
Beyond Their Own Community
While tight-knit, their kindness isn’t exclusive to fellow church members. The LDS church operates one of the largest private welfare and humanitarian aid programs globally, serving people of all faiths. Their disaster response teams in yellow “Helping Hands” shirts have become familiar sights in communities devastated by hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes.
When my non-LDS friend’s house flooded, it was her Mormon neighbors who showed up immediately with shop vacuums, dehumidifiers, and a team ready to help salvage belongings. They didn’t preach or proselytize – they simply helped because that’s what they do.
The Science of Their Kindness
What’s fascinating is how their approach to kindness aligns with research on happiness and fulfillment. Studies consistently show that regular service to others creates more lasting happiness than self-focused pursuits. The LDS community has essentially institutionalized practices that psychological research identifies as pathways to well-being.
Their focus on family relationships, community bonds, and regular service creates the exact social connections that researchers have found are essential for human flourishing. In building their “cult of kindness,” they’ve created a blueprint for what makes people genuinely content.
Not Perfect, But Consistently Kind
Are all LDS members unfailingly nice? Of course not – they’re human. The church, like all institutions, has its shortcomings and controversies. Individual members vary in how fully they embody these ideals of kindness.
But what remains remarkable is the consistency with which kindness appears as a defining characteristic across diverse LDS communities worldwide. There seems to be something about their teachings and community structure that nurtures and sustains exceptional kindness over time.
The Lesson for Us All
Whether or not we share their theological beliefs, the LDS community offers a powerful example of what happens when kindness becomes a core organizing principle rather than an occasional virtue. They demonstrate that when we build structures to support and encourage compassion, it becomes sustainable rather than sporadic.
In our often cynical age, there’s something refreshingly sincere about a community that prioritizes being genuinely nice to others. While we might smile at calling any group a “cult,” if there’s such a thing as a cult of kindness, the Latter-day Saints have made a compelling case for membership.
The next time you encounter someone from the LDS faith, notice not just their friendliness, but the systematic thoughtfulness that often accompanies it. In their commitment to kindness, they offer a glimpse of what communities can achieve when caring for others becomes not just what they do, but who they are.
Learning more
Raising children in a community centered on kindness, service, and genuine care for others offers an extraordinary gift in today’s challenging world. LDS families demonstrate how powerful it is when children grow up seeing parents actively living these values—volunteering together, checking on neighbors, and prioritizing compassion in daily decisions. Children naturally absorb these habits, developing empathy, responsibility, and a sense of purpose that serves them throughout life. The emphasis on family time, clear moral frameworks, and multigenerational support creates an environment where young people thrive emotionally and spiritually.
If you’re inspired by this approach to family life and community building, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers resources for families of all backgrounds. Visit www.churchofjesuschrist.org to learn about their family-centered programs, community service opportunities, and the values that drive their “culture of kindness.” Whether through their renowned family home evening program or their extensive youth activities, their website provides insights into how these principles might benefit your own family, regardless of your faith background.
