Tender Mercies in the TKM: Mike and Ada

Alma 5:14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

As Written by Mike and Ada Farmer

This story begins on a bright and cold brisk day in Jamestown, TN where Mike and Ada Farber had lived since January 12th of this year. The Farbers had just left Florida, and they were both excited about the new ventures they would have. Before their departure from Florida, Ada told Mike that he would have to seek help for his depression/PTSD, which he has struggled with after 20 years in the Navy. Long sleepless nights, nightmares, and many other symptoms were normal for Mike. This caused Mike to get easily aggravated, high strung, and agitated, and many arguments began to ensue between the Farbers. Mike continued to see a psychologist via telehealth on the computer and although the medication seemed to help a bit, they continued to up his dosage. The arguments continued to get worse, and after a big argument between Mike and Ada’s son the two began to talk about divorce. 

It was under these conditions, that on April 6th, Elders Brown and Bluemel stopped by for the first time. As they drove down a dead-end road Elder Brown had an inclination that we needed help, and they ignored the no trespassing sign that was visible at the front of the drive, they ventured down the long driveway to the house. Mike was ready to send them on their way when he saw them coming down the long, gravel driveway but with the circumstances, decided to hear what they had to say, accept a Book of Mormon and allow them to come back on a later date. Ada was calling around and trying to come up with an amicable agreement between her and Mike and how they were going to split the assets and bills they had, once she had a plan together, she gave it to Mike and once he agreed she sought out an attorney to file the paperwork with the court, which she did, they advised her the divorce would be final on 7/7/23, both her and Mike signed the paperwork.  

Mike finally told the missionaries the situation between him and Ada, and Elder Bluemel asked if he should speak to Ada, “Mike said no, Ada’s not in the right state of mind right now to speak to you”, he thought it would just make matters worse.  The missionaries gave Mike a priesthood blessing out on the front porch and advised Mike they would look for a church in Evansville, Indiana as this is where Mike would live. 

Mike was at the lowest part of his life, and deep-down Ada was concerned about what Mike would do, which made it difficult to know what she should do.  She cried so many tears, had so much heartache and really had no idea as to what she would do.  Mike pleaded with her to give him another chance.

Mike continued to study with the missionaries, but Ada was very skeptical that Mike could change, especially after all they had been through, and all the things he had tried in the past that didn’t work.   It was a Sunday afternoon, and Mike had decided that he would go to Evansville so he could seek out a new place to live, as the divorce paperwork was signed by them both, he had 6 months to get all his belongings.  So, Mike began to load the truck with some of his stuff and he was on his way to Evansville to stay with his high school friend Joe.  As Mike drove away, Ada felt that this wasn’t the right decision, and as she walked into the bedroom she asked, “God what should I do” and she had the strongest feeling that she should call Mike and tell him to come home, which she did.  

Once he arrived back at the house, she told him this was only a trial period, as she was still so skeptical that he could change.  Mike continued to read the Book of Mormon and his studies with the missionaries and advised Ada he wanted to be baptized.  The missionaries were coming to the house twice a week to get Mike ready to be baptized and Mike continued to attend church without Ada. Mike and the missionaries set a date of June 4th for his baptism and asked Ada to come, which she did. Ada couldn’t believe the profound change in Mike since meeting with the missionaries; he was more humble, loving, and caring.

Ada decided to start sitting in on Mike’s new member lessons. About a month after his baptism, Mike received the Aaronic Priesthood.

While Ada originally had some concerns about joining the church, she read Acts 8:36-38 in the weekly Come, Follow Me study which tells the story of an Ethiopian eunuch who is baptized after he confesses his belief in Christ. This scripture touched Ada and she knew she needed to be baptized because she believed in God. The Farbers and the missionaries set a date for July 26th for Ada’s baptism.

Ada advised her children that she was getting baptized and her daughter Valerie said she wanted to attend. On July 26th, Ada was baptized by her husband Mike. It was a very spiritual and humbling experience. A couple days later, the Farbers attended the Nashville Temple, the day before its closing for 6 months.

Valerie attended the baptisms, and she received a priesthood blessing due to some problems she was experiencing, and it had a profound impact on her.  Once she returned home, she sought out an LDS church in her area and is now studying the Book of Mormon with the sisters.  Valerie had a dream that she would be in the celestial kingdom with God which she knew nothing about and asked the sisters about her dream and they told her yes that was real and explained to her the different levels of heaven. Valerie plans to get baptized in November.  

Elder Bluemel’s Perspective

Our day started out pretty normally. We got up, did our normal routine and got out the door. We had decided to try to find more people to teach along a long dirt and gravel road. We knocked a couple houses and had limited success.

At one point we passed a long driveway with a no trespassing sign on our way to the next house. After a little while longer we were on our way back when Elder Brown turned down the driveway. I noted the no trespassing sign in my mind but didn’t say anything. We walked on the porch and heard a bunch of killer dogs inside the house barking like crazy.

We knocked on the door and a guy opened it. He said his name was Mike and we walked through a short introduction of our purpose as missionaries and what the Book of Mormon is. He seemed pretty closed off but did accept a Book of Mormon and Restoration Pamphlet. He said he would read the pamphlet and we set up a time to come by in a week or so.

When we came back we knocked on the door but nobody was there. We started to walk back to the car but I felt like we should try to go down to the other building on the bottom side of the property. We started going over there when we saw Mike down by the chicken coop. We were able to talk to him and he had actually read the pamphlet! We asked if we could teach him about what the pamphlet contained. He said yes and asked how long it would take. We said maybe 15 or 20 minutes. It ended up being around an hour.

I remember wondering if Mike was an undercover member. He so easily accepted the things we were teaching. It astounded me. He continued to show us that attitude until his baptism just a month later. He made changes so rapidly and willingly. I loved teaching Mike. 

Eventually Ada began joining Mike’s new member lessons but remained skeptical. The lessons shifted into being focused on her. Eventually she surprised us by saying that she had started listening to the Book of Mormon and after praying about it, knew that it was true.

From that time on the lessons became much easier. She wasn’t yet ready for baptism but after a Come Follow Me class that we had, she told us she was ready to be baptized. I had the privilege of confirming Ada a member of the church and giving her the Gift of the Holy Ghost. The blessing that I gave afterwards was one of the greatest experiences that I’ve had on my mission. I know that the things I said came directly from Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for the supreme impact the Farber’s have had on my life and for the trust which my Father in Heaven has placed in me.

Elder McClellan’s Perspective

One of my favorite drives is driving over to the Farber’s house in Allardt, TN. Everytime I drive to their house I think, “How in the world did the Elders find this place?!”

On my first day in Jamestown, I had the pleasure of meeting Mike and Ada Farber. On our way to the teaching appointment that we had with them, Elder Bluemel told me that they found Mike by knocking on doors. As we drove down to their house, I remember asking Elder Bluemel; “you guys knocked into them?” Before I even met them, I knew that the way the Farbers were found by the missionaries was divinely inspired. Meeting Mike and Ada was such a joy.

The Elders had been teaching the new member lessons to Mike when Ada began to sit in on the lessons too. My first lesson with them was the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Spirit was so strong, as it always was with Mike and Ada as we discussed and testified of gospel truths. One of the most spiritually powerful experiences of my life happened while teaching the Farbers when they opened up to us about the circumstances that they were going through when found by the missionaries, and the change in Mike’s behavior, attitude, and countenance since meeting with the Elders. It was so powerful, and that was when we extended a baptismal invitation to Ada. She told us there were some things that she had to let go of before she could make that commitment, and she explained that she did not yet have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. But we knew that she had a testimony of the Gospel. 

Just a few weeks later, we had another powerful lesson with the Farbers, when our discussion, completely led by the Spirit, turned towards baptism. That was when Ada told us that she had been talking to Mike about getting baptized! She told us she knew the Book of Mormon was divinely inspired and she had decided that she needed to be baptized. We were so excited! Elder Bluemel and I celebrated with a McFlurry that night.

Ada’s baptism was amazing. The Spirit was so strong and it was amazing to see Mike baptize his wife. I will never forget the Farbers and I am so grateful to God for allowing me the privilege to teach the Farbers. They are such a testament to me that God is there, and loves us each individually. 

#TKMTenderMercies