Our brains are designed to forget. Every day, we forget far more than we remember. Our brains naturally select some knowledge for retention, but it is up to us to intentionally remember the most important things, especially the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
He Has…and He Will
Remembering how God has helped us in the past can strengthen our faith that He will help us in the future. Alma reviewed with his son Helaman the ways that God had sustained and delivered him, and then testified, "He will still deliver me."
Remember
Before the children of Israel were delivered, God taught them how to commemorate their deliverance. Before the Savior's sacrifice, He taught His disciples how to remember the event. Remembering is intentionally retaining things of enduring value.
My Ebenezer
Near the end of Joshua's life, he called his people together and challenged them to commit to follow God. They made a covenant to obey and serve God. In order to remind them of their covenant, Joshua "took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord." He told... Continue Reading →
“Keep Thy Soul Diligently”
Remembering spiritual experiences and staying faithful to them doesn't just happen. It requires intentional effort on our part. As the children of Israel prepared to enter the promised land, Moses gave them a warning: Take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy... Continue Reading →
Jeshurun Waxed Fat
Just before the children of Israel entered the promised land, Moses shared with them a song. In the song, he expressed sorrow for the fate of future generations: But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and... Continue Reading →
Signs and Wonders – 3 Nephi 2:1-3
I wrote last week that we all have signs in our lives—reasons to believe that God lives and loves us. The question is whether we are willing to recognize those signs or whether we choose to ignore them. As Samuel the Lamanite revealed to the Nephites in Zarahemla the signs which would correspond with the... Continue Reading →
“My Sons [and My Daughters], Remember, Remember” – Helaman 5:6-12
This morning, I studied Helaman's words to his sons, Nephi and Lehi. His message is that he wants them to remember some important truths. In fact, he uses the word "remember" thirteen times in just seven verses. I studied these words because I have several children going off to college this week, one of them... Continue Reading →
“Remember the Captivity of Thy Fathers” – Mosiah 27:16
The angel who appeared to Alma the Younger gave him a specific instruction: Now I say unto thee: Go, and remember the captivity of thy fathers in the land of Helam, and in the land of Nephi; and remember how great things he has done for them; for they were in bondage, and he has... Continue Reading →
How Can I Participate More Meaningfully in the Sacrament?
When something significant happens to us, we may refer to it as an "unforgettable experience." But we all know that nothing is inherently unforgettable. We may always be aware that it happened, but its impact on our daily lives will fade unless we do something to keep it on the forefront of our minds. When... Continue Reading →