Spiritual Prompt

Quote by Joseph Smith: “When persons manifest the least kindness and love to me, O what pow’r it has over my mind. . . . The nearer we get to our heavenly Father, the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls—[we feel that we want] to take them upon our shoulders and cast their sins behind our back . . . if you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another.”

• How do you think the quote above relates to news writing?

I think the quote relates quite well to news writing since it's all about how we see people. Journalism is essentially the same; it's an act of seeing people for who they really are, and in a fair, compassionate way. In news writing, the same principles are used to keep storytelling ethical and human-centered. Joseph Smith spoke about being kind to keep your mind soft, or as I see it, open and not biased, as a journalist should approach their sources of information. By being respectful and empathetic, you can hear stories with a clearer view, get more honest interviews since people feel safe talking to you, and gain perspectives you may not have had before.