The Virtue of Kindness

Elder James E. Talmage, a man who is remembered for his doctrinal teachings, showed great kindness to a neighbor family in distress. They were complete strangers to him. Before he was an Apostle, as a young father, he became aware of great suffering at a neighbor’s home whose large family was stricken with the dreaded diphtheria. He did not care that they were not members of the Church; his kindness and charity moved him to act. The Relief Society was desperately trying to find people to help, but no one would because of the contagious nature of the disease.

When he arrived, James found one toddler already dead and two others who were in agony from the disease. He immediately went to work, cleaning the untidy house, preparing the young body for burial, cleaning and providing for the other sick children, spending the entire day doing so. He came back the next morning to find that one more of the children had died during the night. A third child was still suffering terribly. He wrote in his journal: “She clung to my neck, ofttimes coughing [germs] on my face and clothing, … yet I could not put her from me. During the half hour immediately preceding her death, I walked the floor with the little creature in my arms. She died in agony at 10 A.M.” The three children had all departed within the space of 24 hours. He then assisted the family with the burial arrangements and spoke at their graveside services. This he did all for a family of strangers. What a great example of Christlike kindness!

After making arrangement for food and clean clothing to be taken to the survivors, James went home. He changed clothes and bathed “in a strong zinc solution, in the coal house” and kept away from the rest of the family for a considerable period.

The emotional and physical strain of such an experience may be imagined. Fear that the dread disease might have taken deep root in his own person, or that he might serve as a carrier to transmit the deadly germs to his own loved ones, must have been all but overpowering... The day following his return home, James’ journal consisted of this terse comment:

“Confined to the house the entire day through illness- fever, lassitude, and pains in the head. All temporary, I hope–simply the effect of over-exertion and nervous strain, I think”