My youngest daughter loves her birthday. She begins planning her next birthday about 51 weeks in advance. So, it was wonderful to celebrate her 13 th birthday a few weeks ago. As part of the celebration, I took her to lunch. During our visit, we discussed the past and the future and, as part of the conversation, I asked her to share some of her earliest memories. With virtually no hesitation, she said, “Dressing up.” I thought you might like to see a few of the photos we’ve captured of her dress-ups over the years. Maybe you can see why dressing up is one of the things she remembers. These pictures provide wonderful memories for my wife and me when we see them and think about the brief time our children were small.
The English poet G. A. Studdert-Kennedy wrote the poem “Roses in December,” which reads, in part:
God gave his children memory
That in life’s garden there might be
June roses in December. [1]
As wonderful as the thought of June roses in December is, there must be more to our memories than that. In my studies, I have found three gospel-oriented purposes related to remembering that I would like to explore with you today. They are:
- Creating Connections
- Providing Protection
- Helping Us Look to the Future in Faith
Creating Connections
First, creating connections. You remember the story of the captivity of the children of Israel in the land of Egypt and how they were miraculously delivered from the Egyptians. Think about their predicament as they came to the Red Sea with the armies of Pharaoh close behind—their situation must have seemed hopeless. Here’s what they said to Moses:
Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. [2]
With a limited view of God’s plan, the Israelites were willing to choose captivity over what they surely perceived as certain death at the hands of their enemies. Fortunately, Moses knew that God had commanded him to lead the Israelites out of captivity. He responded:
Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. [3]
Of course, Moses’s words were fulfilled, and the children of Israel were saved from the armies of Pharaoh. This was a defining experience for Israel for years to come. In fact, it was so important, that it is referenced in each of the standard works. Clearly, the children of Israel remembered God’s intervention in their behalf—at least, their leaders tried to help them remember. Remembering their deliverance helped connect the Israelites to their ancestors for generations.
In a 1997 devotional address given at BYU, President Russell M. Nelson called Brigham Young “the modern Moses” [4] because of his efforts to gather the Saints to Salt Lake City. Many pioneer companies were successful in their journeys, but notable exceptions included the Martin and Willie handcart companies that became stranded in Wyoming during early snowstorms in 1856.
Three years ago, my wife and I participated in a trek at Martin’s Cove and Rocky Ridge, where the Martin and Willie handcart companies were rescued. These historic sites are sacred because of the pioneers who dedicated their lives to and, in some cases, gave their lives for the gospel of Jesus Christ. My heart was touched, and my life changed through this experience. As we silently walked through Martin’s Cove, I pondered the deep commitment of those Saints seeking shelter from the cold and trying to ward off starvation. And as we pulled handcarts up the aptly named Rocky Ridge and listened to stories of individuals who were helped along by angels, I wondered if I would have had the faith and dedication to walk the remaining miles to Rock Creek Hollow, where supplies and food waited. Recounting these experiences connected me with those Saints and has helped strengthen my commitment to my own covenants. It has also helped me recognize my dependence on Jesus Christ for my own spiritual rescue. I hope to be as faithful to my covenants as they were.
Providing Protection
The second way remembering helps us is by providing protection. Perhaps you can relate to a simple experience I had as a boy. The furnace in our home was in a small utility closet. One winter day, as I reached for something, I put my hand on the hot furnace pipe for balance and burned myself. This experience taught me a tangible lesson that I remember all these years later: don’t touch hot things! Similarly, the memory of our mistakes can help keep us from making them again.
Alma the Younger’s experience as recorded in Alma 36 provides additional insight. As Alma taught Helaman about his conversion, he spoke of his desire to be “banished” so that he would not have to “stand in the presence of . . . God, to be judged of [his] deeds.” [5] He then relates this crucial experience:
And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.
Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. [6]
Alma did not say that he no longer remembered his sins, only that he no longer remembered the pain associated with his sins and that he was not harrowed up by their memory any longer. This is an important distinction. It seems that remembering is a critical element in our learning process. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught this principle in a 2007 general conference address. Let’s watch a short clip from his talk:
Satan will try to make us believe that our sins are not forgiven because we can remember them. Satan is a liar; he tries to blur our vision and lead us away from the path of repentance and forgiveness. God did not promise that we would not remember our sins. Remembering will help us avoid making the same mistakes again. But if we stay true and faithful, the memory of our sins will be softened over time. This will be part of the needed healing and sanctification process. Alma testified that after he cried out to Jesus for mercy, he could still remember his sins, but the memory of his sins no longer distressed and tortured him, because he knew he had been forgiven. [7]
Repentance is real and God always keeps His promises. If we have truly repented and been forgiven of our sins, God’s promise is that He remembers them no more. [8] It will be critical for us to remember, as Sister Janine Gilbert taught in last week’s devotional, that “as the Gardener, [God] recognizes that wherever we are now is just a step in the process to becoming who we truly are.” [9] As we learn from our mistakes and keep this truth in our sights, remembering will help protect us from making the same mistakes again.
Looking to the Future in Faith
The last thing remembering helps us do is look to the future in faith. Truth be told, the future of our mortal lives is uncertain. As Paul taught, “we see through a glass, darkly.” [10] Remembering times we have seen the hand of the Lord in our lives can help us navigate the present and look to the future. Consider Nephi’s experience.
As a young man, Nephi’s family was forced to leave Jerusalem, because the people were unhappy with his father’s preaching and tried to kill him. As difficult as it must have been to leave, Nephi records that he had “great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold, he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him.” [11]
This experience established a foundation for Nephi that allowed him to trust in the Lord through a lifetime of difficult experiences. It was the catalyst that allowed Nephi to state with conviction, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded”; [12] it was the reason he was able to make a bow and arrow and ask his father where to find food for his family; and it was the reason he was able to say, “Nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.” [13]
Diligently trusting the Lord and seeking to learn from our experiences will strengthen our faith that God is always there for us; remembering the times He has lifted us will give us confidence to face life’s challenges and opportunities with faith.
As noted in the introduction, my wife and I celebrated our 20 th anniversary last week. We really did meet in a parenting class. I noticed her on the first day, but it took me half the semester to pluck up the courage to talk to her. The rest is history. This photo is from our wedding day, which was filled with joy and optimism for the future. Our life together has been full and happy, but not without challenges. Over the years, we have experienced the opportunity of learning to live together and build on one another’s strengths while seeking to minimize faults; at times we have struggled to find suitable employment; and, like many of you, we have struggled to make ends meet. Through it all, remembering the times God has answered our prayers has been the key to accepting our challenges and trusting that we can look to the future in faith.
When we married, we looked forward to having our own family. God has blessed us with three beautiful children, who have provided some of the greatest joys we could imagine. We are eternally grateful for them. We always hoped to have more children. We had our first miscarriage after our son was born. Things had gone so smoothly with his pregnancy and birth, that I think we forgot that we were not in charge. I was unable to go to my wife’s monthly appointment because of work obligations. I’ll never forget the call I received from her, telling me the doctor had been unable to locate the baby’s heartbeat. Since that time, we have had two beautiful daughters and several other miscarriages. Remembering the times the Lord sustained us in other challenges allowed us to accept His will for our family and look to our future with faith in His divine plan for us.
Remembering Christ
Remembering is a wonderful gift we have been given that can help us in so many ways. However, remembering is also a covenant obligation we accept when we are baptized and confirmed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Specifically, we covenant to always remember Jesus Christ. [14] I appreciate those who responded to the questions I posted on this week’s discussion board. This video highlights some of the responses:
One of my favorite things is talking with Heavenly Father--just being able to pray to Him any time of the day that I need. I love to just go to a quiet place--if it’s up at the temple, during the night, or if it’s just in my bedroom, I love just being able to communicate with Him. And through that, I know that He loves me, that He cares for me, that the promises that I’ve made with Him are true, and that it’s important that I keep them for eternity.
One of the things that I’ve been trying to do lately is, along with reading my scriptures in the morning, I like to listen to Church music or conference talks in the morning as I get ready for going to class. And it just helps to put me in the mindset that the Spirit’s with me throughout the day and that I can do hard things--that even with my busy schedule, I’ll have the help that I need to get everything accomplished that I need to get done.
Remembering the Savior throughout the week, it helps me to trust in His promises. It helps me to be able to endure to the end. It helps me to see the end goal, and by seeing this end goal I’m able to more easily study my scriptures, I’m able to say my prayers frequently, and to do that which is right.
I love the Sabbath because it always points me back to my Heavenly Father. I remember that the moments we experience here on earth are really short, and it’s important to make those moments meaningful. But throughout the week, keeping my covenants, they show me what heaven is really about. They show me what my divine potential is, and that we have so much potential while we’re here on earth--so much more than we can ever realize--that comes from the Atonement of Jesus Christ. And that’s what really helps me throughout the week, is remembering the true purpose of why we are here.
President Nelson has repeatedly urged us to stay on the covenant path. [15] As we faithfully seek to keep our covenant to always remember Jesus Christ throughout the week, we will not only stay on the covenant path, but progress toward our goal of returning to live with our Father in Heaven.
This image of Lehi’s dream captures President Nelson’s invitation and our task perfectly for me. If you look carefully, you’ll see that we have all the tools required to succeed: we have the path before us; we have the word of God to help us remain on the path, given to us through the words of ancient and living prophets; and we have our goal in sight—the tree of life, representing the love of God. The embodiment of that love is Jesus Christ—we simply cannot afford to forget Him.
After recounting his repentance process, Alma taught Helaman the importance of staying on the path and warned him of the dangers of forgetting the Lord. He spoke of the Liahona, which guided Lehi’s family in the wilderness and worked
according to their faith in God . . .
. . . Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence . . . and they did not progress in their journey. [16]
Alma then likens the temporal journey of Lehi’s family to our spiritual journey back to God and says, “The words of Christ, if we follow their course, [shall] carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.” [17]
We are on a journey back to Christ. If we are to become His true disciples, we must always remember Him. President Nelson taught, “There is nothing easy or automatic about becoming . . . powerful disciples. Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel.” [18] While it may not be easy to be such disciples, it is possible and can become a reality as we daily remember our Savior.
May I leave you with one last scripture? This scripture is found in Doctrine and Covenants 121. In verse 45 the Lord invites us to “let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly.” [19]
As I’ve pondered the word “virtue” in this context, I wondered—if we think of Jesus Christ as our perfect example in all things, as the most virtuous person who ever walked the earth, couldn’t we substitute His name for the word “virtue”? When we do that, the scripture reads:
Let [Jesus Christ fill] thy thoughts unceasingly. [20]
Imagine the results in our personal lives if the Savior always filled our thoughts. In reality, we don’t need to imagine anything, because the rest of the scripture teaches us the results we can expect as we always remember Him:
Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God . . .
. . . The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion. [21]
Each week as we participate in the ordinance of the sacrament, we are reminded through the prayers that we have covenanted to always remember Jesus Christ. Each week, we renew that covenant. In return, our Heavenly Father promises that we will “always have His Spirit to be with [us].” [22] Always remembering Him is the way we progress on the covenant path. As we remember Him, He helps us overcome the challenges and temptations of everyday life.
I invite you to consider the ways you seek to actively remember our Savior throughout your week. Do you feel a connection to Him during your day? I testify that your efforts to always remember will allow you to connect with Him in ways that will strengthen you on your covenant path. Do you recognize the protection that remembering Him provides when you are faced with difficult decisions? I testify that always remembering Him will provide us with the protection we so desperately need when we face temptation. And finally, as you remember Him, do you feel strengthened in your ability to face the future with faith? I testify that always remembering Him will help us look to a great future with faith, determination, and hope. He lives and I love Him. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
[1] G. A. Studdert-Kennedy, “Roses in December”; poetrynook.com/poem/roses-december.
[2] Exodus 14:11–12.
[3] Exodus 14:13.
[4] Russell M. Nelson, “The Exodus Repeated,” Ensign, July 1999.
[5] Alma 36:15.
[6] Alma 36:17–19; emphasis added.
[7] Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Point of Safe Return,” Ensign, May 2007.
[8] See Doctrine and Covenants 58:42–43.
[9] Janine Gilbert, “A Work in Progress,” BYU-Idaho devotional, Oct. 15, 2019.
[10] 1 Corinthians 13:12.
[11] 1 Nephi 2:16; emphasis added.
[12] 1 Nephi 3:7.
[13] 2 Nephi 4:19.
[14] See Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79.
[15] See “A Message from the First Presidency,” Jan. 16, 2018; see also Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel,” Worldwide Youth Devotional, June 3, 2018; see also Russell M. Nelson, “Come, Follow Me,” Ensign, May 2019.
[16] Alma 37:40–41; emphasis added.
[17] Alma 37:45.
[18] Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign, May 2017; emphasis added.
[19] Doctrine and Covenants 121:45.
[20] Ibid.
[21] Doctrine and Covenants 121:45–46.
[22] Doctrine and Covenants 20:77.