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If you would like to join us for our Trail of Tender Mercies walking celebration in Highland Utah
 this Saturday evening, June 22, 2013 at 6:30PM,
please “contact us” in the menu bar above and RSVP by this Wednesday. 

We will send you the address and other information you will need.
We would love to see you! 

For more information about this walking celebration, please click here.

I have been thinking a lot lately about what is good.

Fifty cent Ice cream, in its very simplicity is good.  Ripe watermelon, with all of its juicy sweetness overflowing is good.

The moment we call twilight, which sends soft yellow like a blanket over all the Earth is good.

Sometimes things feel good, or look good, or sound good.

There is a lot of emotion in that four letter word, good.  In fact, have you ever looked up the word good in a dictionary?  Here are just a few of the definitions:  of a favorable character, profitable, advantageous, pleasant, wholesome, amusing, clever, considerable, full, well-founded, honorable, virtuous, right, kind, benevolent, and loyal.

Many verses in our scriptures describe the Lord as good.  I stumbled upon one just today  ”…he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him…” (2 Nephi 26:33)

The Lord is good.

Which means He IS every one of those words defined above…and more.  When we experience His goodness it often comes in the form of a tender mercy.

Sometimes I wonder if we could learn to be good like He is, then perhaps we could also learn to become more tender and full of mercy.

Since we started this challenge I have been watching for tender moments.

Trying to learn from them.

This week I happenchanced upon one I won’t forget.

My daughter plays on a lacrosse team with girls from all over Utah County.  She is the only girl from her school who plays on the team.  She is cute, and darling, and fun to be with…but sometimes she is shy.  She has been from the day she was born.  Playing on this team has stretched her.

I have watched her grow through this experience…but I have also seen the stretching.

It is painful at times, this trying to make new friends.

The other afternoon her team huddled together just before their game.

I watched them put their arms around each other and huddle close, and I ran up next to them to get a photo.  It was as I got closer that I realized what they were doing.

The coach would say, “What do we love about Lauren…”  and the girls would go around in a circle and say what made Lauren a great lacrosse player, but even more…a good friend.

I got there just in time to hear her say my daughter, Grace’s, name.  ”What do we love about Grace…” and then the girls began shouting out positive things.

I realized in that moment that kind words are tender mercies.

They are good.

When we say kind words we “doeth that which is good among the children of men…”

We become tender in those moments.

We become more like Him.

I love holidays.

I really, really love them.  The gathering.  The day off from regular responsibilities.  The celebration.

It is a day that is set apart…dedicated…for remembering.

Independence Day, Christmas, Easter, and Valentines Day are all days that have been set apart for celebrating and remembering.

This month I propose we create our own day of celebration.

A day dedicated to remembering.

Let’s set apart June 22, 2013 as a day devoted to celebrating and remembering the tender mercy moments in our lives.

What if all around the world, in neighborhoods and communities everywhere, we gathered for a walk of celebration to remember His many mercies?

Here is how you can participate…

GATHER A GROUP you would like to celebrate with.  It might be your walking group, your family, or some friends that have also been taking the month of many mercies challenge this month.  Perhaps you will include a group of young women or members of your Relief Society.  You could even walk by yourself to create a sacred personal experience.

FIND A THREE-MILE WALKING ROUTE in your area.

SCHEDULE A TIME ON JUNE 22 FOR A WALKING CELEBRATION.  You will need about two hours.  You could do a morning walk, or you might consider an evening walk.

On Monday we will be posting printables of everything you will need for your walk.  If you want us to email you when the materials are available, just make sure you are SIGNED UP for the Higher Challenge here. 

Here is what you will find in this WALK PACKET (PDF):

1.     A PDF file that will allow you to print a runner’s bib for every person.  You will need to purchase safety pins.  Instead of a number, each walker should be prepared to write their favorite tender mercy scripture on their bib.  You could consider sharing these scriptures as you walk.

2.     A PDF file that will allow you to print a small handout for every person to take home.  You will need to purchase ribbons or fabric to attach to the top of each handout.

3.     A PDF file that will include all of the instructions for the walking celebration from start to finish.  Part of the celebration will include 5 really short stops where one member of your group can read a small devotional.  These devotionals will be included in the document.

I can hardly wait for June 22 to arrive!  In my mind I am already imagining small groups gathered around the world celebrating the many mercies of the Lord.

If you will be joining us here in Highland, Utah–Will you please send us an email through the “contact us” in the menu bar at the top of the page.  Please let us know how many people will be coming with you.  We will email you details and directions.

I hope you will join us on our Trail of Tender Mercies Walk no matter where you live.

Perhaps it will become an annual celebration.

June 22.

A day dedicated to remembering the many mercies the Lord bestows upon us.

And don’t forget to SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE with us!

Please take a minute during your walk to post pictures of your group on our FACEBOOK PAGE,  INSTAGRAM and TWITTER #HigherChallenge.

We can’t wait to see your celebration in your corner of the world.

Today another blog friend sent an email that left an impression on my heart.

“In Finnish (I served my mission in Finland), the phrase “tender mercies” in 1Nephi 1:20

is written lempeät armoteot,

which translates directly into “gentle works of grace.”

It reminded me of a thought I had several years ago…

He is the tender behind the mercy.

As I ponder on those words…gentle  and tender  my testimony of who the Savior is increases.

In the past two weeks I have felt His gentle hand.

I have experienced His tender touch.

And I am beginning to understand that Grace is divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.  (Bible Dictionary)

This journey has helped me to know the Lord in ways that I haven’t before.  The attributes I am writing in the back of my Book of Mormon have spilled over into a journal.  My understanding of His hand as its orchestrates my life is increasing.

And I am realizing that one month of many mercies is not going to be long enough.

This challenge is going to have to fill my entire summer…

Because it is not enough to know what Nephi knew, I want to know what Jacob and Enos and Alma and Moroni knew.  I want my testimony of the attributes of the Lord to expand.  I want to experience a Summer of Many Mercies…and I feel like I am just in the beginning phases of knowing how.

I really want to finish the entire Book of Mormon and mark every verse that testifies of the realities of His Gentle Grace and His Tender Mercies.

I want to gather a list of attributes 10 times the size of the one below.

I want to know the Savior in a way that I haven’t before––

until I have a deeper testimony of His gentle grace because I have experienced firsthand His tender mercy.