Much is wrong in the world today. Through the media or first hand, we witness the trail of misery perpetrated by people who rob, vandalize, desecrate, hate, maim and murder. We shake our heads and ask, "What is the world coming to?"

Before we presume to say there is no good in the world today, we should look at the positive things that unfold right before our eyes. If the truth were known, there are more acts of kindness performed each day than there are of hatred, inconsideration, rudeness and criminal behavior.

For every discourteous driver on the road there are dozens who are considerate. The number of people who steal is miniscule in comparison to those who are honest. The mean-spirited are overwhelmingly outnumbered by the kindhearted.

People help each other in small towns, large cities, rural settlements, remote villages and within family units, social circles and work environments. They visit the homebound; drive the elderly to doctors' appointments; do grocery shopping for those who can't go to stores themselves; mop floors, wash dishes and prepare meals for those who are sick or just too overwhelmed to perform their own household tasks; and mow lawns in summer, shovel sidewalks in winter and run errands year-round for those who can't do so themselves or as gestures of friendship.

Many tend young children so parents can have much-needed breaks; volunteer in schools, service organizations, hospitals and other venues; write letters and send cards to those who are bedridden, imprisoned or otherwise cut off from society; telephone and visit the lonely; cook and deliver meals to the hungry; and invite into their homes those who have no place else to go.

There is no paper long enough to contain the list of good deeds performed daily. Some are heroic and extraordinary, while others are routine and seemingly mundane. Many people travel great distances to serve their fellowmen — to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort those that mourn — while still more simply go next door, across the street or into the next room to "succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees." (Doctrine and Covenants 81:5.)

Latter-day Saints and fellow Christians are joined by people of numerous faiths, and even some non-believers, in the performance of kind deeds. Time and again, we see Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and followers of various religions band together to serve specific needs in their communities and across the world.

Without doubt, the Lord never intended that compassion, kindness and charity be demonstrated only by apostles, prophets, seventies, stake presidents, bishops and others called as leaders in His Church. Certainly, He expects these characteristics and behaviors of all His children.

Paul told the saints to be "kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. . . ." (Ephesians 4:32.)

We have more detailed and specific direction. Amulek urged the people to cry to the Lord in their houses and over their households, crops and fields, and then instructed that they pray not only for themselves but also for the welfare of those around them. (See Alma 34:20-27.)

Then Amulek said: "And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need — I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.

"Therefore, if ye do not remember to be charitable, ye are as dross, which the refiners do cast out, (it being of no worth) and is trodden under foot of men." (Alma 34:28-29.)

Nearly everywhere we look we can find something we can do and evidence of good done by others. Our deeds ought always to be numbered among those that enable people to say that there is much that is right about the world today.