Tender Mercies

During the April 2005 Sunday afternoon General Conference, Elder David A. Bednar shared a scripture with us. “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” (1 Ne. 1:20).

Does anyone remember that stirring discourse by Elder Bednar? Speaking of an experience in his life, he said, “Some may count this experience as simply a nice coincidence, but 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.” He then defined tender mercies. “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.”

I would like to share some tender mercies afforded me in my life. I begin in March 1995 in a suburb Northwest of Phoenix, AZ. We found out that a position as Claims Manager with my company was available in Salt Lake City, Utah. As I began my insurance claims career in Salt Lake, this presented a great opportunity for us to return to our “roots” as a family. We pondered greatly about moving to Salt Lake and returning to our families. I was asked to post for the job by many people. I quote from a letter to my parents dated 3/29/95—“I decided that I would not apply for the job in Salt Lake City. …. After fasting and praying, I did not have the peaceful assurance that we were to move. When I discussed the matter with you (my parents) by phone on Sunday evening, we were of the opinion to go for the job. Your phone call did not change how I looked at it. I just was still confused and mixed up about the move. I had prayed that we should move and asked for a confirmation. I believe I was having a stupor of thought. LaRee and I also got the feeling that the Lord rally didn’t care what we did—that both options would be okay with Him. I think LaRee is disappointed, her folks are too and the girls are ecstatic (they didn’t want to move). I am not really sad but realize that it may have been a once in a lifetime chance to return to Utah.

Tender mercies: Six months later, I was called as a counselor in the Peoria Stake Presidency. Three years later, the Salt Lake Office closed and everyone was transferred to Phoenix.

Move forward to July 17, 2007. Early in the work day (about 10:30 am), I received an e-mail to call a number for a conference call at 11 am. I did so and heard the Regional Claims Manager announce that a number of offices for my company throughout the United States would be closing before the end of 2007. He read offices that would remain open. Phoenix was not one of them. After the short conference call, I received an e-mail telling me that my office was closing and details about a severance package. I was in shock. I went to the Temple with LaRee to ponder our situation and what we should do. In the Celestial Room, LaRee asked me what I thought. I was dumbfounded, I never even thought about it while I was there. We resolved to return to the Temple. Again, in the Celestial Room, LaRee asked my opinion. I was stunned. For a second time, I had forgotten to think about the job situation. In the weeks following, I was informed I could move to Orange, California. LaRee and I felt that it would be a step back financially to move there. We quickly ruled Orange out of our plans. Then we were offered an opportunity to move to Englewood, Colorado. We pondered and prayed about this city. We looked up information on the Internet, looked at homes online and spoke to people who lived there. We thought it would be a good place to live. Becci was totally against it. She said she would remain behind and finish her senior year of High School in Peoria. Faced with a deadline, LaRee and I knelt in our front room. We agreed that we should not move to Colorado. As we knelt in prayer, we presented our problem and expressed our thoughts that we were not to move. “This is our decision—not to move. Is this correct?” When we finished, we immediately received a strong response that our decision was correct and we were not to move. We were still on our knees when the confirmation came. My last day with my company was on 11/16/07. I spent 28 years and three months with them. I was once out of work for 10 months and vowed never to be unemployed again. But, we were. It took six months to find a job. I am so happy with my new job. I love it and I enjoy my fellow employees and the culture that exists at my new company. What a blessing. I did not think so when I received the news that my office was closing. But truly, the Lord was and is watching over me.

Now the tender mercies:

My new job: the lead for it came from my daughter Melissa during a Temple Recommend interview. The member of the Stake Presidency asked her how I was doing (this was in October 2007). She told him I was losing my job. He told her to have me call him. He is a recruiter and places people in jobs. He and I used to car pool to work together 21 years ago. His office and mine were close to each other. He was a counselor in a Bishopric and I was the Executive Secretary. He set up an interview for me which led to my job. The weekend before he set up the interviews, I ran into him in the Celestial Room of the Temple.

Orange, CA Claims Office: In August 2008, an announcement was made to close the Orange office and move the employees to Beaverton, Oregon.

Englewood, CO Claims Office: In April 2009, the employees were told that their office is closing in June and if they want a job, they need to move to Irving, Texas.

I received a phone call this week from a friend who still works for my former company. “Jim, you made the right choice.”

May I quote Elder Bednar again:
“Some may count this experience as simply a nice coincidence, but 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.” He then defined tender mercies. “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.”

How true, How true, How true.