How the Joseph Smith Quote Relates to News Writing

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There’s something powerful about the way Joseph Smith talks about kindness, love, and compassion not as soft emotions but as forces that influence the mind, elevate the soul, and transform how we see others. When he says that even “the least kindness” has power over him, I think of the emotional weight journalists hold when they report on human experiences. News writing often focuses on facts, accuracy, and objectivity, yet behind every event are real people with real struggles, hopes, and flaws. Joseph Smith’s message reminds me that true storytelling isn’t just about quoting sources or listing events; it’s about recognizing the humanity behind the headlines.

In news writing, compassion doesn’t remove objectivity; it enhances it. A compassionate reporter is more careful with their words, more mindful about the impact of their reporting, and more willing to consider how their story affects the people involved. If Joseph Smith teaches that drawing closer to God makes us more inclined to “take others on our shoulders,” then perhaps the closer journalists get to the heart of a story, the more they feel responsible for how it’s told.

This idea also challenges sensationalism. Instead of exploiting suffering for attention, compassionate writing focuses on truth, context, and dignity. It avoids casting judgment and instead seeks understanding. When Joseph Smith says, “If you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another,” it feels like a call for responsible storytelling to write in a way that uplifts, informs, and treats people as more than characters in a dramatic headline.

Good journalism is the truth. Great journalism is truth told with mercy.

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