As I have been pondering my Relief Society calling, my thoughts have resonated on the words "Tender Mercies." My concern was centered around how to increase all our testimonies, including the sisters whose callings are in YW and primary. My desire was to find ways to motivate my sisters of the Cornerstone Park Ward to feel God's reality and love and the truthfulness of the gospel. Two talks clearly came to my remembrance: O Remember, Remember by Elder Eyring in 2007 http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=88562bce258f5110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?
and The Tender Mercies of the Lord by Elder Bednar in 2005 hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=0a838fbe352fe010VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD.
I realized the clear memory of these two talks was a tender mercy. As I read them, I felt they were not just for me, but for the sisters in our ward. What powerful testimonies we will gain as we seek to remember and see God's tender mercies in our lives. Although seeking to see and remember God's Tender Mercies is a simple act that takes minimal time, the promise is powerful: an increase in testimony. Another thought I had was that as sisters we have ample opportunity to share our experiences with others we love, and as we share, we increase our testimonies and theirs. What power this could be! Finally I felt an absolute reassurance that we as Sisters needed to develop deeply rooted testimonies for these days.
Today I was driving and a name of a friend that I had not seen for nearly 10 years came to my mind. I did know that she had left the church. I said to myself, "I should make contact with her," but did nothing to remind myself to do that (this is a pattern in my life!) My son needed me to deposit some money in his bank account at a bank that I never go to. When I went inside the bank, there were only 3 customers: one was the friend that I had thought about earlier that day, and one was her son who had influenced her decision to leave the church. As we talked, she said, "Let's get together." I felt the reality that God is not restrained by time--he brought my friends name into my mind and prepared my heart for a meeting that I had not arranged, and in a place that I do not frequent. My feelings were of gratitude and awe.
