General Conference April 2005 - Pages 87 - 103

The conference talk that I've heard more comments about is the talk by Elder David E. Bednar - The Tender Mercies of the Lord. The scripture of reference is -

"...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." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 1:20)

Of which Elder Bednar said -

"...I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence."

And that -

"...Often, the Lord's timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them."

What are the "tender mercies of the Lord"?

"...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 of the children of men" (D&C 46:15).

"...the fundamental purposes for the gift of agency were to love one another and to choose God. Thus we become God's chosen and invite His tender mercies as we use our agency to choose God."

"Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 11:20)

As I read this morning, I was specifically touched by a few closing words of President Hinckley -

'But may I say, as I have said in the past, our membership in this Church, with eligibility for all of the blessings that flow therefrom, should never be any cause for self-righteousness, for arrogance, for denigration of others, for looking down upon others. All mankind is our neighbor. When asked which was the greatest commandment of the law, the Lord said: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. . . . [And] thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Matthew 22:37, 39). Regardless of the color of our skin, of the shape of our eyes, of the language we speak, we all are sons and daughters of God and must reach out to one another with love and concern. Wherever we may live we can be friendly neighbors. Our children can mingle with the children of those not of this Church and remain steadfast if they are properly taught."

"We repeat what we have said before: make a habit of going to the house of the Lord. There is no better way to ensure proper living than temple attendance. It will crowd out the evils of pornography, substance abuse, and spiritual atrophy. It will strengthen marriage and family relations."

This last quote reminded me of that which the Prophet Joseph Smith addressed in the dedication of the Kirtland Temple -

"...that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them..."

"That no weapon formed against them shall prosper; that he who diggeth a pit for them shall fall into the same himself;
26 That no combination of wickedness shall have power to rise up and prevail over thy people upon whom thy name shall be put in this house." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 109:25 - 26)
(Doctrine and Covenants Section 109:22)