90 Minute Oratorio

About 2 years ago, I was to participate in a performance of the oratorio "Joseph Smith, the Prophet." I didn't have a big part, but it was still a challenging choral part, and we had been rehearsing for months for this show. Then, 2 days before the performance, I completely lost my voice. I had to lip-synch my way through the final rehearsal.

I was so sad about this! I had been working so hard, and I was so excited to use my talent to glorify the Lord in this way. I received a blessing, and I prayed and prayed, and I fasted the entire day of the performance. I knew that it wouldn't really have an effect on the show if I had to just stand there and fake my way through the whole thing. And it's not like it would have affected my testimony in any way if these prayers didn't get answered the way I wanted them to be. But I really, really wanted to be able to sing this beautiful music!

Even on the way to the performance that evening, I still couldn't talk above a raspy whisper. I just figured I would have to stand on the stage and pretend, and be content to listen to the music and feel the Spirit there. But I am my Father in Heaven's daughter, and He saw how much I wanted something, and it was a good and worthy thing, and He delights in giving us gifts and making us happy whenever possible!

So when the show started, I decided just to try out my voice and see what happened. And I then proceeded to enjoy exactly 90 minutes of having my voice back! I was singing the very highest soprano part, and there were a few of those grand high notes that I simply could not make come out of my mouth. But I was able to sing almost every other note in the performance!

Immediately after the show, my voice disappeared again, and it was actually worse after that. It was a couple more days before I could speak again. But I know that Heavenly Father gave me a huge gift that night. It wasn't earth-shattering, it wouldn't have been a big deal to anyone else if I had had to "sit that one out," but it was a big deal to me, so it was a big deal to Him.

Rob Gardner, the composer of "Joseph Smith, the Prophet" took the words to one of our more under-used hymns and put them to his own music in his show. I absolutely love his composition, and this is now my very favorite hymn. I sing it to myself when I am lonely, when I have a bad day, or when I have a sad or worldly thought I want to get out of my head. And I think that the words to this hymn express perfectly how I feel about the Lord's tender mercies in my life:

Savior, Redeemer of My Soul

Savior, Redeemer of my soul,

Whose mighty Hand hath made me whole,

Whose wondrous power hath raised me up

And filled with sweet my bitter cup.

What tongue my gratitude can tell?

Oh, gracious God of Israel!

Never can I repay Thee, Lord,

But I can love Thee, Thy pure Word.

Hath it not been my one delight?

My joy by day? My dream by night?

Then let my lips proclaim it still,

And all my life reflect Thy Will.

O'er rule mine acts to serve Thine ends,

Change frowning foes to smiling friends,

Chasten my soul till I shall be

In perfect harmony with Thee.

Make me more worthy of Thy love,

And fit me for the life above.

story submitted by

Erin J.

Utah

Not Too Far From Home

I recently moved about 1,000 miles away from my family and friends. For the most part, it's been great! My husband and I love where we're at and we've met some great people here too. But some days are harder than others.

On one of those days I was having a rough time. I was missing my friends a lot and feeling like we hadn't met very many people here yet. I was talking to my husband about how I was feeling. At that exact moment he got a text from a ward member asking if we had plans that night and if not, did we want to come over?

Such a small thing, but I felt like at that moment God knew who I was and He knew what I was going through. We have been blessed to have such great ward members who have reached out to us and made us feel welcome here!

story submitted by
Heather A.
Le Mars, Iowa

My Fruity Pebbles Birthday Cake

My sixth birthday was coming up and at that time my mom was a single mom trying to make ends meet for her two little girls. Although, I never felt deprived and really had no idea of us ever wanting/needing anything, my mom told me this sweet story when I was in high school.

I remember my sixth birthday cake, it was one of my VERY favorites. I was so excited for this birthday. I remember my mom had a few of the neighborhood friends come over to play pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey and musical chairs.

My mom told me she didn't know how she was going to afford to make me a birthday cake. I don't remember all the details but there happened to be a cereal box she had with an easy birthday cake recipe on the back. With that particular type of cereal she was able to make me a super colorful/fun for a six year old birthday cake.

She mentioned feeling so grateful for that tender mercy at that tough time in her life.

story submitted by
Brooke W.
Kaysville, Utah

The Perfect White Dress

When my youngest daughter, Barbara, got baptized our family was fairly destitute and just making ends meet financially. So I set off with an impossible task at hand.

I wanted so badly to find a special baptism dress for Barbara. The only money I had to spend was a five dollar bill. Not knowing where to go or what I might find - I set off in faith hoping that I'd be able to find the perfect dress.

I drove to Ogden and started looking through the stores. I went across the street to a little store just north of the New Gate Mall and when I walked in there it was. Three dresses on a rack near the front door - one of which was the perfect size, and on sale for only five dollars.

It was white with a big full skirt - just what my little girl wanted. A skirt that she could dance in. It was a great blessing to me to find it at the very price that I could afford. I've always thought of it as a tender mercy.


story submitted by
Barbara F.
Logan, Utah

Submit Your Story

Ever watch the news and get discouraged? There seems to be so much heartache in this world. The Tender Mercies Project is proof that the Lord's hand is in our lives daily - guiding us. And if we're looking - we'll notice blessings we didn't even know were there!

Have a tender mercy to share? Please do! No tender mercy is too small! Please email your story (and pictures if applicable) to barb.tendermerciesproject@gmail.com - thanks!