What are the Tender Mercies of the Lord? (A talk from Elder Bednar)
"Since last October I have reflected repeatedly upon the phrase "the tender mercies of the Lord." Through personal study,observation,pondering, and prayer, I believe I have come to better understand that the Lord's tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord suits "his mercies according to the conditions ot the Children of men" (D&C 46:15) This is from a talk by Elder Bednar called "The tender mercies of the Lord". He said that "the tender mercies are available to all of us and the Redeemer of Israel is eager to bestow such gifts upon us."
My thoughts:
I love tender mercies. Brent loves to tell the story of a time when he was on his mission in Peru. He had only been in Peru for about a week when he got sick with appendicitis. He needed surgery. His family did not know about this until after the surgery. While he was recovering his spirits were down. He was sick in a strange country with no family and did not speak the language well. He was questioning why he was there. When one day he got a letter from his grandma Isabelle Hanson. She didn't know of his surgery when she wrote the letter. She wrote this letter before he left the MTC because she wanted it to be in Peru waiting for him when he got there.
At the beginning of the letter she said "You are still at the mission home...(I am thinking she means the MTC) but will be on your way soon so wanted this to be there in Peru waiting for you to say welcome to this new mission."
She said to him "Be sure to listen to the still small voice and it will prompt you, guide you and keep you from harm as you obey. How many times it thus watched over me while I was in the mission field and before since. What a great blessing it is in our lives. Especially when one is in a strange place...to have that trust and faith is so special and great."
She goes on to say:
"In every life some rain must fall…and with help we try to
dry off…It makes us stronger I am sure…and I remember the D&C 120 and 121. The Prophet Joseph Smith cries “Oh God, where
art thou?...and his plea continues…remember thy suffering saints, O our God…and
then comes the answer My son, peace be unto thy soul, thine adversity and
thine afflictions shall be but a small moment and then if thou endure it well,
God shall exalt thee on High, thou shalt triumph over all thy foes" (and I would
say problems too) Read it and re-read it, Brent. I get goose bumps I am so
touched. And then 122, read it and feel it…If thou shouldst be cast into the
pit, or into the hands of murderers…If the very jaws of hell shall gape open…know
thee my son that all these things shall give thee experience and shall be for
thy good…The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
Hold on thy way and the Priesthood shall remain with thee. What a promise and
this is to all not only to the Prophet Joseph. So we know you are in good hands
and will delight in your missionary endeavors for God will guide and walk
beside."
Love you much. Keep smiling and we will be writing again
soon. Grandpa and Grandma Hanson
Wow!! She was in tune with the Spirit and knew exactly what to say to Brent, her grandson, at a very critical time in his life. She said exactly what he needed to hear and her words cheer him up and gave him the courage that he needed. A Tender Mercy for Brent.
Wow!! She was in tune with the Spirit and knew exactly what to say to Brent, her grandson, at a very critical time in his life. She said exactly what he needed to hear and her words cheer him up and gave him the courage that he needed. A Tender Mercy for Brent.
One of the things that Parker needed to take on his mission was family stories from his ancestors. I was looking for a story that uncle Steve had on a 1981 Ensign, I was surprised to find a story that grandma Isabelle Hanson had shared in the Ensign also in 1981.
A warning in the night (Ensign Article March 1981)
It was a hot summer night in August, and my husband, Lynn,
and our six children were asleep in the car. I had taken over driving just out
of Rock Springs, Wyoming, so that my husband might rest. We could be at his
parents’ home by midnight, he said, so it was best we go on. We were en route
to Idaho from St. Louis, Missouri, where Lynn studied dentistry.
Soon after turning off Highway 30 and taking 30N toward Bear
Lake, I came to a detour sign that sent me to the right on a dirt road. I drove
for quite some time, thinking I would soon see a sign to put me back on the
main road. But the road got rougher and rougher. Suddenly out of the stillness
came a very clear voice: “Stop!”
I stepped on the brakes, and since I had been driving very
slowly was able to stop almost instantly. Seven sleepy heads popped up to
inquire: “Where are we? What’s the matter? Why did we stop here?”
All I could say was, “A voice told me to stop. Something
must be wrong.” My husband took the flashlight and got out of the car—and found
the front wheels on the edge of a canal.
By this time I was shaking, so Lynn took the wheel and our
older son guided him back. As we retraced our path, we noticed a very small
sign that pointed back to the main highway—so small I had missed it in the
darkness. Eight heads bowed in grateful thanks.
Isabelle J. Hanson, mother of six children, lives in Orem,
Utah.
After I posted this on Facebook aunt Lynette said this:
After I posted this on Facebook aunt Lynette said this:
I remember that very well. I was the youngest in the car and mom had just relieved dad from driving. We used to drive straight through-didn't use motels very often. I often remember waking up parked under a street light while the drivers slept. But this time all of a sudden mom hit the brakes and we all popped up wondering what was wrong. She said she didn't know but heard a voice urgently tell her to stop. Her faith and closeness to the spirit allowed her to stop immediately. Dad got our with a flashlight and found the front tires on the edge of a deep ditch. Had she not stopped I probably wouldn't be writing this since I was only six sitting in the front seat and no seatbelt. We used the flashlight to help back the car and get back to the road. We offered a prayer of thanks and finished our trip. Most of us still wide awake.Sorry this was long but brought back wonderful memories of this spiritually strong woman that I was blessed to call mom. She would be a hundred on her birthday this December.
I am thankful that I was able to meet grandma Hanson. She was a sweet and kind lady. I loved that she was there for Brent when he needed her and as I was getting Parker's things ready for his mission, she was in a way there for him also. I sent this story with him on his mission. How wonderful to learn from his own great-grandmother's experience, the importance of being in tune with the spirit. To me this is a Tender Mercy.
Elder Bednar said: "We should not underestimate or overlook the power of the Lord's tender mercies. The simpleness, the sweetness, and the constancy of the tender mercies of the Lord will do much to fortify and protect us in the troubled times in which we do now and will yet live."
Finding her story was just a simple thing but it made me feel great inside. When I read it I felt the spirit so strong. I put it in an envelope in Parker's bag for him to take and read in the MTC. I know that he will be inspired by it. I am thankful for wonderful family members who are such great examples to us. I am thankful that grandma Hanson loved to write in her journal because we can have those stories in our family and be inspired and strengthened by them.
I am thankful that I was able to meet grandma Hanson. She was a sweet and kind lady. I loved that she was there for Brent when he needed her and as I was getting Parker's things ready for his mission, she was in a way there for him also. I sent this story with him on his mission. How wonderful to learn from his own great-grandmother's experience, the importance of being in tune with the spirit. To me this is a Tender Mercy.
Elder Bednar said: "We should not underestimate or overlook the power of the Lord's tender mercies. The simpleness, the sweetness, and the constancy of the tender mercies of the Lord will do much to fortify and protect us in the troubled times in which we do now and will yet live."
Finding her story was just a simple thing but it made me feel great inside. When I read it I felt the spirit so strong. I put it in an envelope in Parker's bag for him to take and read in the MTC. I know that he will be inspired by it. I am thankful for wonderful family members who are such great examples to us. I am thankful that grandma Hanson loved to write in her journal because we can have those stories in our family and be inspired and strengthened by them.
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| Brent's grandma Isabelle and grandpa Lynn Hanson |
