Nations Shine Beyond Boundaries

At TheGoodNewsCast.com we believe that multicultural success and spiritual maturity begin within each nation's own community. When values and worship begin within the borders, diversity reaches its full potential.

In a world influenced by globalization and migration, multicultural societies stand at the forefront of humanity’s newest and most complex experiment: learning not just to live together but to thrive together. Current research reveals that cultural diversity is neither a strength nor a weakness; however, it emerges when communities cultivate the inner conditions that allow it to thrive. What appears on the surface should be rooted in what is revered within.

This pattern mirrors a timeless cultural progression. Holy Scriptures often present truths that pull in different directions, yet converge in deep wisdom. Ancient Israel was taught to worship God in secret—a reverence in the heart. Centuries later, Jesus called his followers to become a “light on a hill,” shining unashamed in the public square. What begins in privacy ultimately matures into a luminous testimony. The inner life fuels the outer radiance.

A lone adventurer stands on the edge of a rugged cliff, overlooking a city illuminated by twinkling lights at dusk, under a sky painted with dramatic clouds.

Both religious and sociological perspectives highlight a shared truth: successful societies do not originate from diversity. They begin in the heart, a peaceful work of all that God loves. Only then can individuals, cultures, and communities diversify and illuminate the world with an appreciation and understanding for those same values.

Both multicultural success and spiritual maturity stem from the same fundamental principle: they are efforts that start within one's own nation and people.

• The Strength Inside A Nation

• When Inner Foundations Are Exposed

• Inner Strength, a Beacon of Hope

The Strength Inside A Nation

In an age when nations are being influenced by migration, cultural blending, and global interdependence, researchers are uncovering a compelling truth: diversity becomes a powerful force for societal and economic success—but only when the underlying foundations that influence it are met. A sweeping international study recently covered more than 130 countries, revealing that cultural diversity explains just 20% of a nation's economic success (McCarthy et al.). The engine for multicultural success lies not merely in the presence of diverse peoples, but within the conditions that influence how they think, relate, trust, and come together.

A diverse group of individuals join hands to support, symbolizing a community who share in each other's values.

Diversity means people solve problems and handle conflicts in different ways. This variety creates new ideas that are easily accessible. Research shows that families in mixed cultures are happier, students who study ethnic topics care more about their communities, and diverse classrooms often work together better than less diverse ones. Overall, diversity—when supported—helps nations handle conflict in innovative ways.

But the same research issues an urgent caution: diversity without inclusion and supporting institutions can destroy the trust people put into their efforts, rather than strengthening the community. Places lacking supportive governance struggle to weave distinct groups into a cohesive whole because they believe diversity is magic—it is potential. It has the potential to heal or divide, depending on the inner structures supporting it.

Strikingly, this system mirrors the teachings within the Holy Scriptures. Before Israel enters the Promised Land, God instructs the nation to worship privately. Their worship, as described in Deuteronomy 12 and Exodus 8, was intentionally kept within familiar spaces, protected from misinterpretation or hostility. Even Moses understood how cultural differences could lead to misunderstandings—even violence. Israel was hidden from the outside world so that when the time came, the nation could shine publicly without rivalry or prejudice.

Modern societies face a similar truth. Just as Israel’s hidden worship prepared them to become a light among nations, the systems within the borders of modern societies prepare them to unlock their full potential.

When Inner Foundations Are Exposed

The deeper scientists dig into the data on multicultural societies, true life becomes clearer: diversity alone is not the basis on whether or not multiculturalism will succeed. Recent research highlights not a universal formula, but a complex landscape where “thriving” depends on what you choose to measure—success (Dohse & Gold). Each metric is only a small percentage of what is needed, reminding us that no single number can determine the strength of an entire people.

This complexity explains why different societies with nearly identical demographics can experience radically different outcomes. One society may succeed due to institutional support, citizen trust, and laws that judge fairly. Any society lacking those inner strengths may crumble even with the same degree of cultural variety.

Bar Chart: Same Diversity, Different Results

Diversity is a potential—one that can be cultivated or wasted, strengthened or squandered. It is the systems within a nation or community that determine whether diversity becomes a source of strength or a source of weakness.

This pattern unfolds in Deuteronomy 12, when Israel worships privately, starting in the wilderness, where its people are confined for their safety. However, they eventually worship openly in unfamiliar zones. The wilderness was preparing them for a time when they would worship openly among other nations.

The values of a nation are intended to be shared with the world, not kept hidden.

Together, they converge into one message: multicultural success cannot exist without inner support systems. Israel’s private worship prepared them for transparent worship in a new land; so too must today’s diverse societies prepare themselves within their boundaries before they can successfully migrate abroad. Only then can migration progress toward a land of opportunity—where multicultural communities can truly flourish successfully and peacefully.

Inner Strength, a Beacon of Hope

As new research continues to influence our understanding of multicultural life, one truth is rising above it: diverse societies are neither weak nor strong—they occupy a wide landscape of possibilities. Their outcomes depend not on peace alone, but on the inner systems that support them. When nations create environments where everyone, regardless of religious or cultural background, has value, is respected, and is accepted, diversity becomes a powerful force across all nations for multicultural success (Putnam). In the future, the most robust societies will be those that genuinely embrace this way of life, serving as a brilliant example of mutual understanding.

This movement from inward worship to outward expression is nothing new. Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount challenges systems based on loving only those within our boundaries, reminding us that such inward-facing affection is only the beginning. A light concealed beneath a basket may provide warmth, but if it stays hidden, it turns into a scorching fire for those on the outside. Instead, Jesus calls us to become a “city on a hill”—visible, generous worship done openly.

Concertgoers raise their hands in the air, immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of a live music performance, as colorful lights illuminate the stage in the background.

The vision is remarkable: works of God in thriving communities within and among our own, yet seen and embraced across the globe. Whether a nation is learning to navigate cultural complexity or whether a believer is learning to worship in the public eye, the path forward is clear. Worship must eventually be seen in a light where life is appreciated and valued. As values develop within a nation's borders, they emerge with a wealth of treasures and turn differences into strengths.

The Book of Mormon highlights this same principle. Alma teaches:

“Let your light so shine before people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Heavenly Father who is in heaven.” 3 Nephi 12:16

A society that embraces this truth does more than coexist across cultures; it becomes a beacon—proof that with God nothing is impossible.

Works Cited

Dohse, Dirk, and Robert Gold. “Determining the Impact of Cultural Diversity on Regional Economies in Europe.” WWWforEurope Working Paper No. 58, 2014.

McCarthy, Paul X., Xian Gong, Marieth Coetzer, Marian-Andrei Rizoiu, Margaret L. Kern, John A. Johnson, Richard Holden, Fabian Braesemann. The Economics of Global Personality Diversity. arXiv, Mar. 2025.

Putnam, Robert D. “E Pluribus Unum: Diversity and Community in the Twenty-First Century.” Scandinavian Political Studies, vol. 30, no. 2, June 2007, pp. 137–174.