2024 January 9, Tuesday, Journal Entry

 We went to breakfast at Chick-fil-a in Provo yesterday. They have been closed for remodeling for the last few weeks and I just wanted to see what's been done. It was mostly stuff that makes their workers jobs easier. Then we took a little drive and later stopped in at Beth's home. She was in California visiting Jeanette and her family but Karen was home. We had a short visit then decided to all go to lunch together in Springville. Sounds like all we do is eat, huh?

Today it's Bishops Storehouse and we are looking forward to that.

Come Follow Me 

Tomorrow is Wednesday and I need to be at the temple early. So I'm going to try to do today's and tomorrow's Come Follow Me reading all today. Don't want to get behind.

"At the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Nephi states, “Having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days.” 

I think of the many trials that Nephi experienced, many of which are included in his writing. His trials help us understand that we all have our dark days... Despite these and many other trials during the course of his life, Nephi always recognized the goodness of God…

My dear brothers and sisters, how do we react to our afflictions? Do we murmur before the Lord because of them? Or, like Nephi...do we feel thankful in word, thought, and deed because we are more focused on our blessings than on our problems?"

Elder Moisés Villanueva Of the Sevent, October 2021

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.

"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.

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 of the children of men."

Elder David A. Bednar, April 2005