There are times when something magical happens. Some might say the stars aligned or luck was shining down on us. Sometimes we smile and say, "It was meant to be!" Or we might use the overused phrase, "Wow, what a coincidence!"
I don't believe in coincidences. I believe in so much more. Call them "tender mercies" as Elder David A. Bednar called them, referring to a verse found in 1 Nephi in the Book of Mormon: “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) I think that all those listening to that session of General Conference smiled and nodded their head as they heard a phrase that could be used to explain the many times when their Father in Heaven blessed their lives in such sweet and tender ways.
Or, we could call them miracles, for, as we know, miracles have not ceased, but continue, even now, in our day, to bless the lives of those who follow Him.
Whatever you wish to call them, I testify that they are real. I have seen them happen on a regular basis here on our mission. Some are so small that only the receiver realizes the miracle that has taken place. Sometimes many benefit from the tender mercy, but don't realize all the intricate details that had to fall into place to make it happen.
I want to tell you about a few of these tender mercies that we have seen here in Italy, not because they are great or wondrous, but because it helps remind us that our Heavenly Father is indeed in charge of all things and that He is always there to show us His never-ending love if we will but open our eyes and see it.
The story that I will tell here was not necessarily important to the missionary work (that I know of anyway), but I absolutely marveled at the things that had to take place for this relatively small event to take place.
One day we received a phone call from a worried mother whose daughter was attending a music program in a place called Orvieto, a city a little over an hour away. She said that her daughter was sick and needed a blessing. We didn't know exactly when we could go, but realized that there was a block of time after church the next day. We weren't entirely sure, but wondered if this might be the city we had looked at longingly from the autostrada (freeway) each time we had driven by during the past year and would say, "Someday we'll take some time to drive up there" knowing that perhaps we would never really have or take the time. As the GPS guided us there, we realized, that, sure enough, it was the beautiful city we had wanted to see!
We did the best we could in finding the young woman who was ill, but the streets were narrow and the car had to stay parked outside the city walls. When the director of the music program came to find us and take us to her apartment, we realized that even though we could have come into the city from several directions, we had fortunately chosen one that would bring us within just a block from her apartment.
President gave her a blessing that she might be made well and be able to participate fully in her 3+ week music program. (She played the violin.) She asked if there was a church that she could attend nearby, but there wasn't one close enough for her to easily reach and still return in time for the events of her music seminar. We invited her to come to Rome before she flew back to the U.S. and stay with us and attend church. She (Lauren) said she would think about it and we exchanged hugs and phone numbers.
We took the pictures below on our way out. As you can see, it was a beautiful evening and a beautiful city. That we were able to finally see it was while rendering service was a tender mercy all on its own.
Can you tell where the rock ends and the bricks begin?
A glimpse of the duomo:
The facade of the duomo:
Some up-close pictures of details of the duomo:
One of the many beautiful views from the city above:
Driving away from Orvieto:
Fast forward to a couple of weeks later. Sharlee, a young woman from our neighborhood back home in Utah, was on a study abroad program in Austria. She had asked if she could bring a few friends and come and see Rome for a few days. Since the missionary beds weren't being used and our children were gone for the summer, we agreed. They were a delightful group and we loved having them! When they returned to Austria on a Saturday, one of the young women who was studying music and who played the piano beautifully while they were here, told us that her plane ticket wasn't until the next evening. She had wanted to stay and attend church in Rome. We were only too happy to have her. Her name is Emily.
Lauren, in the meantime, had called and asked if she could come on Saturday evening to stay, attend church with us, then fly out early Monday morning. We were excited that she was able to make these arrangements, but it didn't hit me until she was walking through our front door that she played the violin and Emily played the piano and that they might be able to play a musical number in Sacrament Meeting the next day! Before she could even put her things down, I asked if it might be possible. She immediately pulled out copies of several selections that her mother had sent with her just in case she had the occasion to play and we all agreed on "Oh, My Father." President Acerson cleared it with the bishop, I called a sister missionary who also played the violin to see if she might have something planned (she didn't) and it was all set. Even though both of the girls were majoring at college in musical performance and were consummate musicians, they practiced for a couple of hours that night so it would be perfect for the next day.
When they had finished practicing, Lauren, the violinist asked if we had a Sister Ferry serving in our mission. I said in amazement, "I just talked with her on the phone. She's in our ward! How do you know her?" She said that they both had worked on double majors in violin performance and Italian at universities across the country from each other (in Washington state and in Maryland) and that they had met at a couple of violin camps and seminars. She then asked if she had brought her violin with her. When I answered, "Yes," she laughed and said, "Call her and have her bring it to church tomorrow! This song we've been practicing is actually written for two violins and she knows the music by heart. In fact, her neighbor from back home is the person who wrote the arrangment!" Wow!
You have to know that since I have been here, I have never heard a musical number played in our Sacrament Meeting. The congregation was blessed that day to hear an incredible rendition of "Oh My Father," a fitting tribute to Him who had made it all happen. They encouraged the members of the congregation to open their hymn books and read the words to the song as they played so they would understand the beautiful message there. There was not a dry eye in the chapel as these three beautiful daughters of God used their God-given talents to bring a feeling of peace and love from our Father who is in Heaven. Here are the words to that song written by Eliza R. Snow.
O my Father, thou that dwellest
In the high and glorious place,
When shall I regain thy presence
And again behold thy face?
In thy holy habitation,
Did my spirit once reside?
In my first primeval childhood
Was I nurtured near thy side?
For a wise and glorious purpose
Thou hast placed me here on earth
And withheld the recollection
Of my former friends and birth;
Yet ofttimes a secret something
Whispered, “You’re a stranger here,”
And I felt that I had wandered
From a more exalted sphere.
I had learned to call thee Father,
Thru thy Spirit from on high,
But, until the key of knowledge
Was restored, I knew not why.
In the heav’ns are parents single?
No, the thought makes reason stare!
Truth is reason; truth eternal
Tells me I’ve a mother there.
When I leave this frail existence,
When I lay this mortal by,
Father, Mother, may I meet you
In your royal courts on high?
Then, at length, when I’ve completed
All you sent me forth to do,
With your mutual approbation
Let me come and dwell with you.
Text by Eliza R. Snow (1804–1887) and music by James McGranahan (1840–1907)
See: Romans 8:16–17 & Acts 17:28–29 (22–31)
“Has the day of miracles ceased?
“Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?
“Behold I say unto you, Nay; for … it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men."
I testify that this is true. Miracles do happen each and every day. We just need to open our eyes to see them and acknowledge God's hand in them.
Watch for more stories of tender mercies and miracles that have happened to us, our missionary daughters, and the missionaries who serve here with us.
All our love from Rome,
The Acersons
