The Tender Mercies of the Lord

The Tender Mercies of the Lord

December, the last month of the year! Christmas is around the corner. Can’t believe it. We seem to be forgetting about our good news moment lately, I don’t have any except for the same missionary information: Vince Darly is now home, Welcome home and Elder Daniel Ribble comes home on December 18th. Any you have any good news or know of any good news, pleas share them with us or email them to me and I’ll post them. In fact, if you have anything that you would like me to add to share, feel free to email me and I’ll be glad to post your comments on the blog. My email address is utahgalkelly@roadrunner.com. We would love to hear from you. Your experiences are ours.

So today, our discussion was on “The Tender Mercies of the Lord” given by Julie Barlow. She takes her discussion from a talk given by Elder David A. Bednar. Julie starts off by reading a scriptures in 1 Nephi 1:20: “And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.”

Bednar reflects upon an experience when he first entering into his calling of a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was to present his first conference talk and how he prayed to invite the help from the Holy Ghost. And now, on that day as he stands once again, another conference speaking again, he brings up the topic of the music and how the music for conference is pick weeks in advance. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf had just finished speaking and bearing his testimony of his belief in the power of the savior, everybody stands up and begins to sing “Redeemer of Israel” hymn #6. That being one of his favorite hymns, this would have been a hymn that he would have suggested to be sung had he had the choice. The fact that this hymn was chosen long before, he concludes that as being a loving, tender and a very personal message, a “timely message of comfort and reassurance” message from the Savior. Now as he says, most people would count his up as a “nice coincidence”, but Bednar testifies that this is just one of the tender mercies from the Lord. These tender mercies are real. They do not just happen randomly. They are not just coincidence. The “Lord’s timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them.”

What are the Tender Mercies of the Lord? Bednar explains that the Tender Mercies are “personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support and spiritual gifts” that we received from the Lord. D&C 46:15, it says, “And again, to some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know the differences of administration, as it will be pleasing unto the same Lord, according as the Lord will, suiting his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men.” The Savior instructed His Apostles that he would not leave them comfortless. Not only would he send “another Comforter”, the Holy Ghost, but he would came to them (John 14:16 & 18). This is how the Savior comes to each and every one of us, through his tender mercies. Bednar says, “as you and I face challenges and tests in our lives, the gift of faith and an appropriate sense of personal confidence that reaches beyond our own capacity are two examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. Repentance and forgiveness of sins and peace of conscience are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. And the persistence and the fortitude that enable us to press forward with cheerfulness through physical limitations and spiritual difficulties are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord.”

There are some who will dismiss the thought that the tender mercies happen to them or that they have been chosen to receive these tender mercies. “We may falsely think that such blessing and gifts are reserved for other people who appear to be more righteous or who serve in visible Church callings.” They are not. They are available to all of us. “Behold, there many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men” (D&C 121:35-35). Our Heavenly Father does not have a list of favorites. We can achieve these tender mercies through our obedience, our aspirations and through our hearts.

Each and every conferences that we are blessed to receive are tender mercies from the Lord. Inspired counsel given to us from our leaders for us to take and use in our lives and for the purpose of our times, our circumstances and the challenges that we will soon face and are facing now. Palms 145:9, it says, “…the Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works”.

Tender Mercies are wonderful blessings that are given to us from our Heavenly Father. They are limitless. I know there are times, many times in fact, that I feel like am not worthy of receiving these tender mercies, and I am sure that are a lot of us who feel that way, but as Bednar says, that is not the case. We must remember that they are available to all of us. Like these little miracles that happen every day, so do these tender mercies happen in our lives. So on that note, I’ll say so long. Please feel free to share one of your tender mercies with us. We would love to hear about it. You just might uplift someone who may need to read about your experiences. We would love to hear from you. Next week our discussion will be on Repentance given to us by Marietta Sperry. Please be sure to join us. Until that time, take some time and read ahead. Enjoy, and thanks for reading. Until next time…

Kelly