When the Jaredites arrived at the promised land, they rushed onto dry ground and thanked the Lord for the “multitude of his tender mercies” (Ether 6:12). How many times are we that overwhelmed by the grace and guidance of God in our lives? And how hard can it be to even recognize those tender mercies? Ether 6–11 is full of tender mercies that some of the people saw, and others missed because of their pride. So, let’s use this week to find gratitude for all the little things from God in our lives.
Segment 1
Scriptures:
Isaiah 9:12 (God’s hand is stretched out)
Ether 8:19 (God does not work in secret)
Words of the General Authorities:
God is in relentless pursuit of you. He “wants all of His children to choose to return to Him,” and He employs every possible measure to bring you back. (Patrick Kearon, “God’s Intent Is to Bring You Home”, April 2024 General Conference)
Segment 2
Scriptures:
Jeremiah 23:29 (Word of God like a fire)
Ether 6:3 (The Lord gives light)
Ether 6:9 (The people gave thanks)
Words of the General Authorities:
Each of us can be a part of this wind—the same wind that blessed the Jaredites in their journey and the same wind that, with our help, will bless the unrecognized and forgotten to reach their own promised lands. (Aroldo B. Cavalcante, “The Wind Did Never Cease to Blow”, October 2024 General Conference)
Segment 3
Scriptures:
Ether 6:12 (The Jaredites arrive)
1 Nephi 1:20 (Tender mercies)
Words of the General Authorities:
I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often, the Lord’s timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them.
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.
When words cannot provide the solace we need or express the joy we feel, when it is simply futile to attempt to explain that which is unexplainable, when logic and reason cannot yield adequate understanding about the injustices and inequities of life, when mortal experience and evaluation are insufficient to produce a desired outcome, and when it seems that perhaps we are so totally alone, truly we are blessed by the tender mercies of the Lord and made mighty even unto the power of deliverance.
The very conference in which we are participating this weekend is yet another example of the Lord’s tender mercies. We have been blessed to receive inspired counsel from the leaders of the Savior’s Church—timely counsel for our day and for our circumstances and for our challenges. We have been instructed, lifted, edified, called to repentance, and strengthened. The spirit of this conference has fortified our faith and fueled our desire to repent, to obey, to improve, and to serve. Like you, I am eager to now act upon the reminders, counsel, and personal inspiration with which we have been blessed during this conference. (David A. Bednar, “The Tender Mercies of the Lord”, April 2005 General Conference)
Ancient voices from the dust plead with us today to learn this everlasting lesson: prosperity, possessions, and ease constitute a potent mixture that can lead even the righteous to drink the spiritual poison of pride. (David A. Bednar, “In the Space of Not Many Years”, October 2024 General Conference)
To be or to become chosen is not an exclusive status conferred upon us. Rather, you and I ultimately can choose to be chosen through the righteous exercise of our moral agency. (David A. Bednar, “Put On Thy Strength, O Zion”, October 2022 General Conference)
We stay the course with the true Church of Christ. Why? Because as with our Redeemer, we signed on for the whole term—not ending with the first short introductory quiz but through to the final exam. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “I Am He”, October 2024 General Conference)
Segment 4
Scriptures:
Ether 6:17,30 (Humbly teaching)
Ether 9:30-35 (Compelled to be humble)
Ether 10:2 (Top of the Pride cycle again)
Words of the General Authorities:
As we pridefully focus upon ourselves, we also are afflicted with spiritual blindness and miss much, most, or perhaps all that is occurring within and around us. We cannot look to and focus upon Jesus Christ as the “mark” if we only see ourselves. (David A. Bednar, “In the Space of Not Many Years”, October 2024 General Conference)
Segment 5
Scriptures:
Ether 7:20-24 (Rebelling against prophets)
Ether 9:28-29 (Unbelieving people)
Amos 3:7 (God reveals to prophets)
Words of the General Authorities:
The joy in this is that the Headmaster gave us all open-book answers before the course began. Furthermore, we have a host of tutors who remind us of these answers at regular stops along the way. But of course, none of this works if we keep cutting class. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “I Am He”, October 2024 General Conference)
Study Helps:
It should be remembered that Lucifer has a very cunning way of convincing unsuspecting souls that the General Authorities of the Church are as likely to be wrong as they are to be right. This sort of game is Satan’s favorite pastime, and he has practiced it on believing souls since Adam. He wins a great victory when he can get members of the Church to speak against their leaders and to “do their own thinking.” He specializes in suggesting that our leaders are in error while he plays the blinding rays of apostasy in the eyes of those whom he thus beguiles. What cunning! And to think that some of our members are deceived by this trickery. (Improvement Era, June 1945)
Segment 6
Scriptures:
Ether 7:25-27 (Blessings from remembering the prophets)
Ether 10:19-28 (Blessed land)
View transcript here.