Sabbath Devotional :: Reflections on Remembering

During more than one lesson I was taught at church during my youth, I learned that President Spencer W. Kimball once said the most important word in the dictionary is “remember” (Spencer W. Kimball, “Circles of Exaltation,” June 28, 1968). This really stuck with me, and I have thought of it often over the years.

There have been times in my life when “remember” has been an especially painful word. There have been traumatic events that replay in my mind that I desperately want to forget. There have been losses that sting and ache, and remembering is accompanied by waves of sadness and grief. Still, I recognize that remembering some things is essential. In recent days, during these surreal and unsettling times, the importance of remembering has repeatedly come to the forefront of my thoughts.

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about remembering is my own commitment to “always remember him” (Moroni 4:3; Moroni 5:2; D&C 20:77, 79). For me, this means continually striving to stay focused on Jesus Christ. It means remembering and cherishing His atonement and grace and the gift of repentance. It means remembering the covenants I have made and the things that I can hope for because of Him. It means more than I can possibly write in a few sentences or paragraphs.

Throughout the Book of Mormon, we find repeated pleas to remember. Many of these are pleas to remember the things the Lord has done for previous generations. This counsel feels especially applicable to me right now. When I reflect on the many ways that others have been delivered out of impossible situations by the hand of God, it strengthens my own faith, and I am reminded that the Lord can also deliver me. He can provide miracles for all of us. I can look to countless examples of miracles and deliverance in the scriptures, in church history, and in my own family history. When I remember what God has done for so many others, I am reminded of what He can do for me.

It is especially important for me to remember what God already has done for me. During times when heaven seems far away, when I can’t feel the things I long to feel, I need to remember the times when I have felt those things. I have felt God’s love. I have received answers to prayers. I have experienced miracles. In our most recent General Conference, Elder Neil L. Anderson said, “Along with the peaceful direction we receive from the Holy Ghost, from time to time, God powerfully and very personally assures each of us that He knows us and loves us and that He is blessing us specifically and openly. Then, in our moments of difficulty, the Savior brings these experiences back into our mind. . . . When personal difficulty, doubt, or discouragement darken our path, or when world conditions beyond our control lead us to wonder about the future, the spiritually defining memories from our book of life are like luminous stones that help brighten the road ahead, assuring us that God knows us, loves us, and has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to help us return home.”

Along with remembering what God has done for others and for me, I need to continually remember the nature of God: His greatness, goodness, power, mercy, compassion, longsuffering, grace, and love. Elder Dale G. Renlund recently taught, “The consistency of pleas from prophets to reflect on the goodness of God is striking. Our Heavenly Father wants us to recall His and His Beloved Son’s goodness, not for Their own gratification but for the influence such remembrance has on us. By considering Their kindness, our perspective and understanding are enlarged. By reflecting on Their compassion, we become more humble, prayerful, and steadfast.”

Remembering the goodness of God and His infinite love helps me to more confidently place my trust in Him and guides me as I seek to be more like Him.

I sometimes hear people suggest that we should not look backward but should only look forward. While it certainly is not healthy to remain stuck in the past, I have found that looking back is valuable. Looking back at history gives us important context for the present and gives us the opportunity to learn from the mistakes and successes of others. Looking back at our own personal histories — even the painful parts — allows us to see how far we have come. I can become easily discouraged when I see that I am still fighting some of the same battles and struggling with many of the same things I’ve been grappling with for much of my life. But when I stop to look back and reflect, I can see many things that I have learned and many ways that I have grown. Remembering where I started and what I have experienced along the way helps me see and appreciate the progress I have been making all along.

In our family we have had several conversations about what we want to remember from the unusual and historic time we are experiencing right now. What are we learning? What goodness and miracles can we see even while there is so much suffering and sorrow? What do we want to take away from it all? What do my children hope to be able to tell their own children about this time someday in the future? What do they want to remember? I have encouraged them to reflect and write these things down, as I have found that writing is one of the most valuable tools for remembering. I encourage each of you to reflect and consider what you hope to remember from this unique time. What other experiences from your own life or the lives of others are important for you to remember? How can your remembrances help you through your personal challenges and difficulties?