President Camille N. Johnson, general president of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said that when it comes to addressing great global challenges, the solution lies in one act of kindness a day.
“I still believe that the most important work, the most impactful work that any of us do continues to be done when we care for our children, teach a friend to read, patiently attend to the needs of an elderly neighbor, prepare a meal for a sick person or cry with someone who is grieving,” she said.
President Johnson spoke with thought leaders, business and government leaders, educators, religious and civic leaders at the 2026 Kindness Summit, sponsored by the Semnani Family Foundation and One Kind a Day, held in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10.
While Relief Society works with the world’s humanitarian organizations to care for people in need around the world, President Johnson said, “We don’t have to wait for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to Africa to feed hungry children.”
“While this period of my life, and my current work, includes extensive organizational efforts to improve the situation of women and children in general, my most important job is still to recognize the needs of those closest to me and respond with kindness, patience, and love,” she said.
President Johnson said the best way to be kind is to practice one act of kindness a day.
“One act of kindness a day is how we put the Heart Principle into practice,” she said. “Kindness is a fundamental characteristic of the noblest women and men. And if I want to acquire that fundamental characteristic myself, I will practice one act of kindness a day.”
President Johnson told how she “practised kindness first” with her parents. As a child, she observed and helped her mother prepare meals for others and care for the sick and injured. She also observed how her father took the time to engage in conversations with others.
Global efforts
As Relief Society general president, President Johnson has witnessed kindness on a global scale.
“I believe that women have a special talent and inclination to sense human needs and to comfort, teach and strengthen with kindness,” she said. “That’s why our communities depend on ordinary women for human flourishing.”
President Johnson said he has seen women come together in their homes and communities to consistently provide acts of kindness and service.
As an example, Relief Society members in the Philippines shared how they organized a family nutrition screening in their church building to teach parents about proper nutrition. The initiative has since expanded beyond the Philippines and is implemented in more than 26 countries.
President Johnson said Relief Society works to “equip women and families with more knowledge and resources to better equip them to make changes that can have a lasting impact on their families, communities, and nations.”
“When women are informed and healthy, families are blessed, communities are uplifted and nations are strengthened.”
President Johnson also shared details of the Church’s humanitarian efforts to improve the welfare of women and children. The initiative groups four consortia, each focused on projects that benefit women and children in 12 high-need countries.
During the first two years of this initiative, we:
42 million women and children received vitamin supplements, 23 million children were dewormed, 3.5 million children were screened for malnutrition, 67,000 families received water, sanitation and hygiene assistance, and 85,000 people were trained in agricultural techniques.
As a final example, President Johnson shared how his family has been blessed by kindness. When my grandson was born prematurely and required continued care in the hospital, a kind neonatal intensive care nurse left a note in his basket for his sisters to see. One note read, “I love you so much. I can’t wait to get home and hug you.”
“These words have soothed our aching hearts during a traumatic time for our family,” President Johnson said.
President Johnson said, “The task of caring for those in need is obviously big and far-reaching and can feel overwhelming, but I know that if we approach it one mother, one child at a time, one family at a time, one act of kindness at a time, this can be accomplished. Looking at these challenges through that lens makes me optimistic. The challenges are great, but our opportunities are even greater.”
