Mosiah 29; Alma 1-4: pt 1

I love the example of Mosiah's sons refusing to become king because they were preaching the gospel and had no desire to be king. It didn't matter that the kingdom rightly belonged to Aaron; his heart was in preaching the gospel, and I assume he knew there was a better way than to have a king. Recently I have seen some examples of adult siblings contending somewhat over the inheritance of their parents. This type of contention would not exist if they would follow the example of Mosiah's sons. I am going to use this part of the Book of Mormon as I counsel clients or others who may have lost sight of what really matters.

Mosiah 25-28; Alma 36: pt 3

The Lord saw fit in his infinite mercy to spare Alma and the sons of Mosiah. Likewise, he has seen fit to spare each of us. Every one of us must be born of the Spirit. The Lord knows whether we need to see an angel and be struck lame and dumb or if there is some other way for him to call us to repentance. He deals with each of us in the way that will make it most likely, short of taking away our agency, for us to obey and follow him. It's good for me to remember and feel this.

Mosiah 25-28; Alma 36: pt 2

Chapter 26, verses 13 & 33: When Alma was confronted with a new situation, he asked the Lord for guidance because he was afraid of doing wrong in the sight of God. It might have been easy for him to rely on past prayers or to have a casual attitude about it, thinking he was in tune with the Spirit so he'd be fine. Instead, he sought the Lord diligently in prayer. He did not have a casual attitude toward the new problem he faced. He was rewarded with a direct and specific revelation. Further evidence that he did not take it lightly is that he wrote the words of the revelation down, "that he might have them."

I am faced with a new and difficult question. So far I have taken a casual approach to it, but reading this tonight tells me I need to follow Alma's example. I need to be afraid to do wrong in the sight of God and pray earnestly to know his will.

Mosiah 25-28; Alma 36: pt 1

Chapter 25, verses 8-11: Things that should cause us sorrow: loss of our loved ones, people killing other people, the sinful and polluted state of others. Things that should cause us joy: deliverance from bondage, the immediate goodness of God and his power.

One of the purposes of this lesson is to inspire class members to continually apply the principles of repentance. As we do so, our hearts, and thereby our emotions, will be more aligned to God's heart and emotions. We will be more like him in sorrowing for the sin we see around us (instead of ignoring, being entertained by, or glorifying and promoting it like so much of the world does). Likewise, we will be more like him in feeling joy at the blessings received by others, especially the blessing of being delivered from every type of bondage.

Mosiah 18-24: pt 2

Chapter 20 verse 22: And now let us pacify the king, and we fulfil the oath which we have made unto him; for it is better that we should be in bondage than that we should lose our lives; therefore, let us put a stop to the shedding of so much blood.

Three good points here from Gideon:

1. Just because the Lamanites broke their oath doesn't mean it's ok for the Nephites to break theirs.

2. It was better for them to be in bondage than to lose their lives. I suppose it's better for us to live through a difficult situation than to stop living, mainly because we don't know when God will deliver us. We usually don't know how good our life is going to get, and it may be sooner than we think.

3. This one goes without saying.

Mosiah 18-24: pt 1

Chapter 18 verse 10: Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

Sometimes it's helpful to me to apply this verse by putting blanks to be filled in, like this. Now I say unto you, if _____ be the desire of your hearts, what have you against _____, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

If a strong family unit be the desire of my heart, what have I against family scripture study, that the Lord may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon us? If charity for my fellow man be the desire of my heart, what have I against serving others, that the Lord may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon me?

The lesson I learn from this is that there is always a way for the righteous desires of our heart to be fulfilled; we just have to be willing to do what is required. What do we have against it?

Mosiah 12-17: pt 2

Chapter 13 verse 11. Somehow I've never read this verse and thought about the danger of studying iniquity. I've just always glossed over that part and only thought about King Noah and his priests teaching iniquity. Often people think there's no danger in studying things that are contrary to gospel truths. There are all sorts of ways to rationalize it, and all sorts of iniquity to study. We would do better to study righteousness.

Mosiah 12-17: pt 1

If you teach the law of Moses, why do you not keep it?

Sometimes a few days after giving a talk or teaching a lesson I'll catch myself not doing some of the things I taught that we should do. It's disappointing.

Mosiah 7-11: pt 3

The children of men flee from the Shepherd, and scatter, and are driven; and their understanding is blind and impenetrable. I was just thinking that it's funny how every time a group goes out to the wilderness, they get lost. It seems like the Nephites and Lamanites are always getting lost, and they have to wander around for days. I suppose we're all like that. Thank goodness for prophets and seers, watchmen on the tower.

Mosiah 7-11: pt 2

I like that Limhi recognizes that the suffering of his people is due to the wicked things they did, in particular the killing of Abinadi.

Mosiah 7-11: pt 1

Sorry about the past week.

A couple of things from chapter 7. First, I am impressed with the concern Mosiah and his people had for their brethren. Zeniff and his people left 3 generations earlier, yet Mosiah cared enough about them (who knows if he remembered when they left or knew any of them personally) to go find them. We have ancestors we should be willing to search for and reclaim through family history and temple work.

Second, I am impressed with Ammon. He was a strong and mighty man, and a leader, yet when he was captured, he did not get angry. He recognized that it was simply a misunderstanding. He was humble.

Third, I am impressed by Limhi's faith that sixteen men could rescue them from the Lamanites. I am also impressed by his recognition that despite the promise of rescue, there remained an effectual struggle to be made. Just because we've repented and been forgiven, or just because we've been on a mission, or just because we finally got married and had kids, or just because we finally got a good job--it doesn't mean we are done with struggling. Like Limhi, we can trust that there remain struggles, but also like Limhi, our faith should not be undaunted because of it. Like Limhi, we should lift up our heads and rejoice and put our trust in God.

Mosiah 4-6: pt 2

I know that my heart has been changed, but it doesn't make me impervious to temptation.

Mosiah 4-6: pt 1

Chapter 4 verse 2: And they had ^aviewed themselves in their own ^bcarnal state, even ^cless than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the ^datoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be ^epurified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who ^fcreated heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.

Occasionally I see myself in that state, and it can be discouraging. I take comfort in knowing that others have felt that way, and especially in knowing that when I cry out to Heavenly Father to have mercy on me and to apply the atoning blood of Christ so I can receive forgiveness of my sins, that it will be done. I have often felt forgiveness for sin. I know of God's goodness and mercy, and I know of the power of the atonement.

Mosiah 1-3: pt 3

This time I really did miss a day. My life lost a little of its structure after finishing the semester Friday. I am repenting for having missed a day, and I will strive to not make it a habit.

Chapter 2 verse 21 tells us we are unprofitable servants. I am about to start an internship that will last almost 4 months. I don't know how to do the things I will be asked to do this summer, and it will take more work for my employer to train me than to simply do the things himself. This summer I will not be an asset to the company that employs me. I will make no profit. I will spend the summer learning how to do things on my own so that hopefully in the future I will be profitable. Likewise, here on earth none of us has achieved godhood. We are still being trained, and any good thing we do is creditable to the Lord, not to ourselves. But the Lord knows our potential, and if we continue to be teachable and bend our wills to his, some day we will achieve godhood. Some day we will be profitable.

Mosiah 1-3: pt 2

I read but have no comments today.

Mosiah 1-3: pt 1

This lesson is called "Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father." The purpose is to increase our understanding of that indebtedness and encourage us to put off the natural man through the atonement of Christ.

In chapter 1, verse 2, we're told that one of the reasons King Benjamin had his sons taught in the language of his fathers was so they would know the prophecies spoken by their fathers. In verse 4 we read that Lehi learned the language so he could teach his children, and they could in turn teach their children, and thus fulfill the commandments of God. Being taught in the language is specifically mentioned in both verses, as though it is more than just learning to talk as all babies and children do. I think that just like Lehi and Benjamin's sons were taught in the language of their fathers, we need to be taught in the language of the scriptures so we can in turn teach it to our children. It includes not just the mechanics of scriptural writing, but also how to feel the Spirit while we read, how to understand the Lord's dealings with his children, and how to find answers to our own questions.

Words of Mormon

It appears I have missed a day. That's only partially true. It is currently a little after midnight, so Wednesday has only been over for a few minutes. I have my reasons. Still, I will do better.

As for the Words of Mormon, I know they are true. The Sunday school lesson manual for these chapters says in its conclusion to "Remind class members that the writers of the Book of Mormon kept and preserved the records of their people so that future generations would know the dealings of the Lord with these people." As I read the Words of Mormon, I feel and know that the various sets of plates Mormon speaks of really exist, that the small plates of Nephi really were added for a wise purpose, that the translation of the 116 pages was not repeated because the Lord had prepared for it and commanded Joseph Smith to simply continue. I am filled with gratitude for the Lord's wisdom. I am also filled with a desire to keep my own record so that my descendants will "know the dealings of the Lord" with me and my wife and children.

Omni

Since I had so little time to prepare last week's lesson, I didn't make it through the whole thing. Today I read Omni. I really like the way it bridges two "larger" portions of the Book of Mormon. Here are a couple of observations/questions:

• I used to wonder why everyone in the book of Omni wrote so little, but then in the last verse Amaleki tells us the plates are full. I guess Omni, Amaron, Chemish, and Abinadom were probably all afraid to be the one to fill the plates and leave no more room for the next guy. Maybe they didn't know how to make more, or maybe the plates were constructed in such a way that more couldn't be added to this set.
  
• Another reason they didn't write much might be because they weren't filled with the Spirit. Omni claims to have been a wicked man, and maybe the others weren't entirely faithful either and didn't have much preaching to do. But the line didn't fall completely away as Amaleki tells us to come unto Christ.
  
• Abinadom tells us in verse 11 that the record of the people is kept upon plates that are had by the kings. I assume (but I don't know) that the record he is referring to, or the plates he is referring to, are the large plates of Nephi. If so, I wonder at what point the large plates were separated from the small plates, and why.
  
• I used to read of Mosiah and the discovery of Zarahemla as though it happened in the space of one or two days, but reading it just now I realized that probably wasn't the case. First of all, Mosiah and those who went with him were led through the wilderness by preachings and prophesyings and continual admonishment by the Lord. When they found the people of Zarahemla, they couldn't communicate. I think, even if the language hadn't strayed too far, that it would have taken more than just a few days for the people of Zarahemla to learn a new language. It makes a lot more sense to me this way, realizing that the peoples were simply united and years likely went by before they were homogenized with a single language and Mosiah was made king. As a kid I always imagined Mosiah and his people marching up over a hill, seeing the city of Zarahemla, marching in, and the people putting a crown on Mosiah's head and making him king right there on the spot.
  

Well, ok, so most of my observations are more narrative than anything. I guess some days are just like that. I'm glad, though, because sometimes connecting the dots like this helps my understanding of how the Lord works among his children.

A Look Ahead

I'm running out of things to say about remembering. My three original questions have been answered. Looking at the Book of Mormon verses coming up, I'm not sure they'll add anything to the answers I've already found. Here's what's coming just in Mosiah:

• Mosiah 5:11-12 The name of Christ
• Mosiah 9:3 The Lord your God
• Mosiah 13:16 The sabbath day
• Mosiah 16:5 Carnal man is an enemy to God
• Mosiah 16:13 Only through Christ can you be saved
• Mosiah 23:27 The Lord your God
• Mosiah 25:16 It was the Lord that delivered you
• Mosiah 27:16 How great things the Lord has done for your fathers
• Mosiah 29:18 The destruction of the wicked

There are another 20 or so relevant verses in the book of Alma. (Interestingly, the word remember does not appear in the Book of Mormon after Alma 55:31.) Each of these verses teaches an important principle, but since I feel I've found what I was looking for as far as the time I take in keeping journals and working on family history projects, I think I'll move on to something different. I feel peace with the way I've decided to keep journals and do family history, and I've even understood a little better what I might focus on in the records I keep for my children. This experience has been a clear example of how I found answers in the scriptures. I look forward to having many more such experiences.

For now, I'll turn my attention away from these verses on remembering, and I'll start studying the Sunday school lessons. I will continue to jot a few notes in this blog because the principle of accountability described in the very first post still holds true, and it has helped me put a little more effort into studying.

Enos, Jarom, Omni, Words of Mormon

I was asked this morning to fill in for one of the Sunday school teachers. It was the 15 year-old class, and they were great. So today instead of continuing with my string of verses containing the word remember, I read Enos, Jarom, Omni, (and skimmed the Words of Mormon).

The substantive, spiritual part of the lesson came from Enos as he wrestled before the Lord for a remission of his sins and then turned his prayer toward the needs of the Nephites and Lamanites. The rest of the lesson was structural as we made a timeline and discovered that the 200 years between Jarom and King Benjamin are covered in only about 30 verses. Even though the writers in Omni don't appear to have written more than a handful of verses, nevertheless they obeyed the commandment to keep a record. Each of us should be keeping a record. Our records help us remember.

Mosiah 4:30--And Perish Not

29. And finally, I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them.
30. But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not.

This is a pretty daunting assignment. Right after telling us there are more ways to sin than Benjamin can number, we are told to remember or perish. If he can't even count them all, how are we supposed to remember them all? I think the answer is in verse 30. Here's how we do it. It's a list of three.

1. Watch ourselves, our thoughts, our words, and our deeds
   
2. Observe the commandments of God
3. Continue in the faith of the Lord

We're not required to count all the ways we could sin, and we're not required to remember all the ways either. What we are required to remember are these three things. Then we'll be fine.

Mosiah 4:28--Return What You Borrow

And I would that ye should remember, that whosoever among you borroweth of his neighbor should return the thing that he borroweth, according as he doth agree, or else thou shalt commit sin; and perhaps thou shalt cause thy neighbor to commit sin also.

One time when I was at Ricks my roommate Dave borrowed some money from me to pay a rental deposit, or something like that. For a few months he kept forgetting to pay me back. Finally I started bugging him incessantly until he did. Within a few days I was reminded that previous to Dave's borrowing money from me, I had borrowed almost the same amount from another friend. I had completely forgotten about it, but she never bugged me about the money. I felt very small and disappointed in myself.

I don't know what we can do to improve our ability to remember to return what we borrow, but King Benjamin tells us we should. To remember on our own means we shouldn't have to be reminded. I don't want to sin, nor do I want to cause my neighbor to sin.

Mosiah 4:11--The Greatness of God and Your Own Nothingness

And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

King Benjamin paused in his speaking, and the crowd had a powerful experience with the Spirit where they proclaimed their belief in Jesus Christ and cried out for forgiveness of their sins through the atonement. The Lord responded by letting his Spirit descend upon them so that they received a remission of their sins and were filled with joy.

King Benjamin recognized the experience and knew the people were in a humble state. I think he wanted them to remember how they felt in that moment. He told them to remember the greatness of God, which is what they had just experienced along with their own nothingness. In the verses that follow they are given promises of such things as joy, remission of sins, peace, and knowledge.

I have had experiences where I felt the greatness of God and my own nothingness. I will write about those experiences to my children so that they will know. Writing will help me remember.

One thing I'm curious about is why King Benjamin says "I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance..." What is the difference between remembering and retaining in remembrance? Maybe remembering is a single action that can happen over and over, like you might remember something or call it to mind a dozen times in a day, but retaining in remembrance is a state of mind, so that you don't have to call the thing to your mind a dozen times in the day because it's always on your mind. I don't know.

Mosiah 2:41--The Blessed and Happy State of Those Who Keep the Commandments

40. O, all ye old men, and also ye young men, and you little children who can understand my words, for I have spoken plainly unto you that ye might understand, I pray that ye should awake to a remembrance of the awful situation of those that have fallen into transgression.
41. And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

King Benjamin has just warned his people against contention. They have all been taught the ways of God, and those who openly rebel against him are in an awful state. Conversely, those who keep the commandments are blessed and happy. The world often portrays sin as leading to happiness. This is not correct. We can keep from being deceived if we will remember.

Moshia 1:3-7--Records

3. And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, saying: My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God.

4. For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates; for he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to this present time.

5. I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct.

6. O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true. And behold, also the plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the sayings of our fathers from the time they left Jerusalem until now, and they are true; and we can know of their surety because we have them before our eyes.

7. And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers.

King Benjamin is speaking to his three sons here. His words apply to us with respect to the scriptures and also (I believe) with respect to our personal journals and family histories.

First, no one can expect to remember all the gospel teachings without constant reference to the scriptures. Not even Lehi, a prophet who had seen visions, could do it. We need to refer often to the scriptures and the principles we've learned from their study.

Second, we need to pass on to the next generations the things we've learned. I don't want to be a missing link between my ancestors and my descendants. I want to build upon what has been learned by my fathers and pass it on to my children. It might not be as important as the brass plates were in preserving language and civilization, but it is important nonetheless.

Jacob 5-1--To Have Read the Words of the Prophet

Behold, my brethren, do ye not remember to have read the words of the prophet Zenos, which he spake unto the house of Israel, saying . . . .

Specifically, this verse is an introduction to the allegory of the olive tree and is asking whether we remember to have read the words of Zenos. The allegory of the olive tree is an important message and one we must read again and again, but also important here is the implication that not only are we are to read the words of the prophets and remember them, but we're also to remember to have read the words, which I think is the experience of reading those words. Often while reading the words of a prophet (and I would include hearing, such as in a general conference address), we are touched by the Holy Ghost to the increasing of our understanding. It’s important in these cases to write both the new understanding as well as the feeling, the experience of receiving revelation. To “remember to have read the words of the prophet” is to remember the experience of receiving revelation. Write about those experiences. If we write about the setting and circumstances wherein we received revelation or gained greater understanding of a gospel principle, we will be more prone to put ourselves in a similar setting and similar circumstances in the future, and thereby make ourselves more likely to receive revelation again and again.

Jacob 3:9-10--Your Own Filthiness

9. Wherefore, a commandment I give unto you, which is the word of God, that ye revile no more against them because of the darkness of their skins; neither shall ye revile against them because of their filthiness; but ye shall remember your own filthiness, and remember that their filthiness came because of their fathers.

10. Wherefore, ye shall remember your children, how that ye have grieved their hearts because of the example that ye have set before them; and also, remember that ye may, because of your filthiness, bring your children unto destruction, and their sins be heaped upon your heads at the last day.

Whereas in 2 Nephi we had many of the words of Jacob as recorded by Nephi, here we have Jacob's word as recorded by himself. In chapter 2 he chastises the men for breaking the hearts of their wives and children, and he praises the chastity of women. Some of that is carrying over into chapter 3. It's interesting to me that after about 50 or 60 years, already there has been not only the division of Nephites from Lamanites, but that the Nephites themselves appear to be divided, at least by Jacob, into those who are pure in heart and those who are not. The first two verses of chapter 3 are directed towards the pure in heart, and the rest is directed to those who are filthy.

That filthy portion of the Nephites is worse off than the Lamanites. One thing that is clear from verse 9 is that the dark skin of the Lamanites was not itself filthiness. The Nephites are told not to revile against them for their dark skins or for their filthiness--two separate reasons. The Nephites are then told to remember their own filthiness.

So often I find myself inwardly accusing others with an air of self-righteousness. I’ve got to stop. I may not be filthy in the way these Nephites were, but I do have filthiness of my own. When I remember it, I am more humble and kind towards others. When I remember my own filthiness, I give others the benefit of the doubt. It’s easier to assume that any faults they may have probably came because of their parents (or lack thereof). I, on the other hand, do not have the excuse of bad parenting. My parents brought me up in righteousness. I have been taught. I have felt. And yet I sin. Occasionally I am filthy. I must not forget my own filthiness.

As an added incentive, in verse 10 we are told to remember that our filthiness may be the cause for destruction of our children. I am strengthened by remembering my children, especially since James does everything I do. When I run past the big purple ball in the back yard yelling, he runs past it yelling just like me. When I roll on the ball, he rolls on the ball. When I throw a frisbee, he throws a frisbee. When I read the paper, he reads the paper. One time I used a spoon to stir his apple juice and then tasted the juice using the spoon, and he spent most of dinner drinking his apple juice with his spoon. When I jump, he jumps. When I clap my hands, he does too. Remembering these things is such a strength against temptation. I’ve will write to my kids about the feelings I have for them, especially the happy times we have together. I will also write that to myself so I always remember my kids.

Reverence

I'm bypassing my Book of Mormon study on remembering today because I have to give a talk in church tomorrow on reverence, so that's what I'm going to study. And I'm not going to write about it here. But I don't want any of my imaginary readers to think I didn't study the scriptures today. I think I will base my talk largely on President Packer's talk Reverence Invites Revelation.

2 Nephi 31:4

Wherefore, I would that ye should remember that I have spoken unto you concerning that prophet which the Lord showed unto me, that should baptize the Lamb of God, which should take away the sins of the world.

Nephi is finishing up. He just has a few last important words to leave with us concerning the doctrine of Christ. He begins by reminding us that he has spoken to us previously of John the Baptist. I think Nephi's use of the word remember in this context is an effective teaching method. When we teach, we build on students' prior knowledge and understanding. New information doesn't do us much good unless it is somehow connected to what is already important to us. So Nephi tells us to remember something he has mentioned before, and we know that he is about to expand our knowledge relating to that subject.

In my journal writing, I think I will try to make it more cohesive by reminding the reader of things I mentioned in the past when I want to expand on the subject, for example like when I've learned something new that relates to a past experience. Nephi was a good teacher. President Packer wrote about a similar teaching method called apperception. Maybe these aren't methods. Maybe they're more like skills or nuances. Either way, they make a more effective teacher, which I would like to be.

2 Nephi 29:4-5--The Jews

4. But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles?
5. O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people.

In chapter 28 Nephi is prophesying about the latter days. Towards the end of the chapter he begins writing the words of the Lord, and it is the Lord speaking in chapter 29. He makes it clear that we need to remember the Jews. The chapter ends with reference to the Abrahamic covenant. I think we need to learn about the house of Israel and the Lord's covenants. We need to remember that we also are of the house of Israel, and what the Lord promised to the ancient Jews, he promises to us.

2 Nephi 10:24--We Are Saved by Grace

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved.

I don't know why I didn't include this verse with yesterday's post.

We reconcile ourselves to the will of God by repenting and striving to know and do what he would have us do. Once we do this, and only when we do this, we are saved in and through the grace of God. Remembering this will keep us from being proud and self-righteous. It will keep us from thinking we are better than others. It will keep us humble, and therefore happy.

2 Nephi 10:20, 23--The Lord; Also, You Are Free To Choose

20. And now, my beloved brethren, seeing that our merciful God has given us so great knowledge concerning these things, let us remember him, and lay aside our sins, and not hang down our heads, for we are not cast off; nevertheless, we have been driven out of the land of our inheritance; but we have been led to a better land, for the Lord has made the sea our path, and we are upon an isle of the sea.
. . .
23. Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.

This is the last part of Jacob's sermon that Nephi includes before quoting extensively from Isaiah. Here Jacob speaks to the people about the promises of the Lord to them. He reminds them that they are a branch of the house of Israel. He prophesies of the Savior's crucifixion by the Jews and says their iniquities will bring upon them destruction, but that in the day they choose to believe in Christ and follow him, they will be restored to the land of their inheritance. To fulfill his covenant, the Lord needs to destroy the works of darkness before he can restore to the house of Israel the promises he has made.

The Nephites are a branch of the house of Israel, and the Lord's promises apply to them as well. Their seed will be afflicted by the Gentiles, but in the end they will receive this land as their inheritance. It's important that they remember this, that they see the big picture and recognize what the Lord is doing. Remembering the Lord will ensure that they receive the land of their inheritance rather than the hand of destruction.

How does remembering the Lord help us lay aside our sins and keep our heads from hanging down? Verse 20 uses remembering the Lord in the context of feeling cast off, forgotten, isolated, driven from what you thought was your inheritance. The Nephites have been driven not just from Jerusalem, but also from their first settlement in the Americas. Then they have just heard prophecies about the destruction and scattering of the house of Israel. They may very well feel cast off and forgotten, like the promises will never be fulfilled to them.

I think we all have moments when we feel this way. In these times it's easy to hang our heads, get depressed, and not care if we sin a little here and there. In fact, we might even search out a little sin as we try to satisfy the flesh with immediate gratification in an effort to feel something besides sadness, hopelessness, or just plain numb. But if we will remember the Lord, we will gain strength to lift our heads and look forward to the better land to which he is leading us. We will be cheerful and confident and gladly put our sins aside because we no longer desire them or their effects. We need to always remember that he keeps his promises.

Verse 23 tells us to remember that we are free to act for ourselves, to choose life or death. No matter how strong a temptation, we can overcome it through Christ. Because of the atonement, we can choose. It is always our choice.

2 Nephi 9:44, 51-52--Words

44. O, my beloved brethren, remember my words. Behold, I take off my garments, and I shake them before you; I pray the God of my salvation that he view me with his all-searching eye; wherefore, ye shall know at the last day, when all men shall be judged of their works, that the God of Israel did witness that I shook your iniquities from my soul, and that I stand with brightness before him, and am rid of your blood.
. . .
51. Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.
52. Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.

Jacob is finishing up his sermon for the day. He wants to keep teaching, but apparently it's late and he'll have to wait until tomorrow. He has a strong desire to teach, and I think a result of that desire is the repeated use of the word remember towards the end of this chapter. In verses 44 and 51 he tells us to remember his words, and in 52 he tells us to remember the words of our God. I think it shows how important these words are.

At this point in the Book of Mormon we have quite a few of Jacob's words. It's a lot to remember. But then he tells us to remember the words of the Lord, which would encompass all scripture. So my original quest to find out what exactly it is we are to remember seems to be at an end since the answer appears to be everything. I guess that should have been obvious. It just puts us back to the next question, which is how. How are we supposed to remember all of Jacob's words, let alone all of the Lord's words? It seems the only way is to read them, study them, and think about them every day. Application of the words is also helpful. I think if I write in my journals about experiences I've had where I've applied the words of the Lord, it will help my kids to remember those words.

2 Nephi 9:41--The Lord's Paths are Righteous

O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.

I'm not sure why Jacob wants us to remember that the Lord's paths are righteous. It seems obvious, and it also doesn't seem to change anything if you think of the definition of "righteous" as morally upright--a standard set by the Lord himself. I can't really separate righteousness from the Lord, so to say "remember the Lord because he is righteous" feels no different to me than "remember the Lord because he is the Lord," or "remember to be righteous because that's the only way to be righteous." I'm probably missing something.

Maybe what I'm missing has to do with remembering that the Lord's paths are righteous. I don't know why paths is plural when way, it, and gate are all singular. Maybe I'm looking beyond the mark. Maybe it's just a reminder to be righteous and to remember on our own to be righteous. Can't a prophet tell us that without being scrutinized?

2 Nephi 9:40--The Greatness of the Holy One of Israel

O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will revile against the truth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker. I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken.

After recounting their departure from Laman and Lemuel and the establishment of the Nephite people, Nephi then includes in his record some of the words of his brother Jacob, who has been ordained to teach the people. Jacob begins his message by teaching from the words of Isaiah so the people will know the covenants of the Lord and the blessings that await them if they are faithful. He then teaches them the great plan of happiness and the power of the atonement.

The reason the atonement is necessary is because man is fallen and subject to laws he will inevitably break. The atonement will save those who repent, but Jacob gives a long list of wo for those who break the laws. Verse 39, which is what I wrote about yesterday, is the first verse following this list of wo. Jacob naturally urges the people to remember the awfulness of transgressing the law and to remember that to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life eternal.

In verse 40, Jacob encourages the people to remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. After such a long list of things that will thrust them down to hell, it's understandable that the Nephites might need a reminder of the Lord's goodness. But even though his words might seem hard, they are only hard to those who are not righteous. The righteous do not fear the truth; they love it and are not shaken.

We are often reminded of the awful punishment that awaits those who break the commandments. Some of those reminders come when we ourselves give in to temptation and suffer because of it. The sorrow is painful, but we must remember the greatness of the Lord. What we have to remember in those times is not the punishment we are receiving, but that the Savior performed the atonement so we wouldn't have to suffer the full effects of our sins, which culminate in spiritual death. That should always be at the forefront of our minds. The Lord is great because he overcame all things. We are often weak and give in to temptation, but he resisted temptation.

I will make an effort to reveal in my journals the greatness of the Holy One of Israel as I have experienced the power of the atonement lifting me from death and hell and filling me with joy. My children need to know of his greatness, and they need to know that I knew of that greatness.

2 Nephi 9:39--The Awfulness of Transgression

O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.

While I don’t think it’s helpful to remember our specific transgressions or the details thereof, it appears to me to be essential that we remember the awfulness we’ve felt in transgressing. Everyone sins, so everyone has felt and experienced the awfulness that accompanies it. Writing about those feelings is a way to be accountable to ourselves, a way to recognize and remember how often we are transgressing. Hopefully this will help us minimize the transgressions.

President Kimball said, “What could you do better for your children and your children’s children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved?” It seems, then, that not only should we remember and write about the awfulness of transgressing against the Lord, but we should also remember and write about how it feels to overcome transgression.

It is awful to yield to temptation.

I've waited until too late tonight, and I'm too tired to think straight anymore. It's ok because the next few verses in this same chapter encourage us to remember, so I'll be writing more on this in the next few days.

2 Nephi 5:25--The Lord

And the Lord God said unto me: They shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in remembrance of me; and inasmuch as they will not remember me, and hearken unto my words, they shall scourge them even unto destruction.

After Lehi dies (in chapter 4), Nephi continues teaching Laman and Lemuel. However, they are angry with him, and now that Lehi is gone, they try to kill him. Even when Nephi prays specifically for his brothers because of their anger, they only get more angry, so that Nephi and those who will join him are forced to sneak away and travel for days through the wilderness to form a new settlement. The Lamanites (those who stayed with Laman and Lemuel) are cursed with a skin of blackness, and part of that curse is that they become an idle people, full of mischief and subtlety.

This mischief and subtlety causes the Lamanites to be a scourge to the Nephits. A scourge is a whip or some other means of inflicting pain and suffering as a form of punishment, with the intent of correcting or reforming. The Lord uses the Lamanites to punish the Nephites with pain and suffering so that they will remember him. If the scourging doesn't make them remember him, they will keep getting scourged until they are destroyed.

At first it seems really unfair that the Nephites, who were the righteous of the two groups, would be punished like this. They are the ones who loved God and followed Nephi. Why do they get punished? Why are the Lamanites, who are wicked, used by God as instruments to punish the righteous? I think the answer lies in the purpose of the punishment. The Nephites are allowed to suffer at the hands of the Lamanites as a way to remember God. The Lamanites are given no such memory tool. It is far better to remember God than to forget him, even if we have to have our memories jogged by a little pain and suffering.

The times in my life when I've remembered the Lord the most, or when he's been at the forefront of my conscious mind, are usually the times either during or right after some painful experience. Pain has the tendency to turn our thoughts heavenward. I learn from this verse that one of the purposes of pain and suffering is to help us remember the Lord when we start to get a little forgetful. This realization makes the pain more bearable. I also learn from this verse, though, that if we fail to remember the Lord while we're being scourged, we might end up being scourged to death.

As I study the lives of my ancestors, I'll look for times they were scourged and remembered the Lord because of it. And as I write in my own journals, I'll try to explain how scourging has helped me remember the Lord.

2 Nephi 3:25--The Words of Thy Dying Father

And now, blessed art thou, Joseph. Behold, thou art little; wherefore hearken unto the words of thy brother, Nephi, and it shall be done unto thee even according to the words which I have spoken. Remember the words of thy dying father. Amen.

This is the same chapter as yesterday's post, just a few verses further along. Lehi is finishing up his instructions to his son Joseph. Lehi is soon to die. His last recorded words to Joseph are to remember the words of his dying father. This could just be a generic statement to remember everything Lehi has ever taught Joseph, but I think there's more to it.

First I would ask what’s different about the words of a dying person as opposed to the words of a healthy person with long life ahead of him? The answer can be found in a principle from the law of evidence. In general, statements made by someone outside the courtroom and not under oath cannot be admitted as evidence in a trial because they are what's called hearsay. However, there are exceptions to the hearsay rule, and one of those exceptions has to do with the words of a dying person. The law recognizes that a person about to die will likely have no ulterior motive and will most likely tell the truth. Therefore, a person's last words, or dying declaration, is typically admitted into evidence in a trial and assumed to be true.

So, we remember the words of the dying because they are likely the truth. Lehi could have just said "remember the words of thy father," but he purposefully included the word "dying." For me it adds an element of truth and urgency to the request.

My Grandma Cook is getting old and has been sick for a while. Not long ago she left her testimony written. I should remember those words. When I get close to death, I should bear my testimony to my children and grandchildren, and hopefully my words will be powerful.

2 Nephi 3:18-21--The Abrahamic Covenant

18. And the Lord said unto me also: I will raise up unto the fruit of thy loins; and I will make for him a spokesman. And I, behold, I will give unto him that he shall write the writing of the fruit of thy loins, unto the fruit of thy loins; and the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it.

19. And the words which he shall write shall be the words which are expedient in my wisdom should go forth unto the fruit of thy loins. And it shall be as if the fruit of thy loins had cried unto them from the dust; for I know their faith.

20. And they shall cry from the dust; yea, even repentance unto their brethren, even after many generations have gone by them. And it shall come to pass that their cry shall go, even according to the simpleness of their words.

21. Because of their faith their words shall proceed forth out of my mouth unto their brethren who are the fruit of thy loins; and the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith, unto the remembering of my covenant which I made unto thy fathers.

This is Lehi speaking to his son Joseph. Lehi is quoting the words of his ancestor, Joseph who was sold into Egypt. I know the traditional reading of these verses (and a correct one I might add) is that it is referring to Joseph Smith and the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon. However, I like to also read an earlier fulfillment of the prophecies here, though I'm not exactly sure I've got it all right, especially where I’ve got Moses and Aaron listed. I've listed in brackets after each pronoun who I think the pronoun is referring to. I would like it if one of my imaginary readers would leave a comment clarifying my interpretation of these verses.

18. And the Lord said unto me [Joseph of Egypt]: I will raise up unto the fruit of thy loins [descendants of Joseph of Egypt]; and I will make for him [Moses] a spokesman [Aaron]. And I [the Lord], behold I will give unto him [Moses] that he [Moses] shall write the writing [brass plates] of the fruit of thy loins [early descendants of Joseph of Egypt, like those living in Moses’ day]; and the spokesman of thy loins [Aaron] shall declare it.

19. And the words which he [Moses] shall write shall be the words which are expedient in my [the Lord’s] wisdom should go forth unto the fruit of thy loins [later descendants of Joseph of Egypt, like Lehi and his people]. And it shall be as if the fruit of thy loins [early descendants of Joseph of Egypt] had cried unto them [later descendants of Joseph of Egypt] from the dust; for I [the Lord] know their [early descendants of Joseph of Egypt] faith.

20. And they [early descendants of Joseph of Egypt] shall cry from the dust; yea, even repentance unto their brethren [later descendants of Joseph of Egypt] even after many generations have gone by them [early descendants of Joseph of Egypt]. And it shall come to pass that their [early descendants of Joseph of Egypt] cry shall go, even according to the simpleness of their [early descendants] words.

21. Because of their [early descendants] faith their [early descendants] words shall proceed forth out of my [the Lord’s] mouth unto their [early descendants] brethren who are the fruit of thy loins [later descendants]; and the weakness of their [early descendants] words [brass plates] will I make strong in their [early descendants] faith, unto the remembering of my [the Lord’s] covenant which I made unto thy [Joseph of old] fathers [Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob].

The important thing about these verses, under both readings, is that they explain an extremely important principle which applies to remembering, and that is that the faith of those who write can make weak words strong and bring to the remembrance of those who read, even generations later, the covenants of the Lord. Moses wrote in his day, and his words were made strong for Lehi and Nephi and other righteous people in the Book of Mormon. Likewise, Nephi and others in the Book of Mormon wrote, and their faith made their words strong for those of us in this day and age who read those words.

It must follow, then, that if I write in faith, and if I write the words the Lord would have me write, then my written words will be a tool to help those who read to remember the covenants of the Lord. So one of the things we are supposed to remember is the covenants of the Lord. He has promised us that if we follow him and walk in his ways, all that he has will be given us. I need to write things to my children and in my own journal that will help them remember the covenants of the Lord, and I need to do it with the faith that my words will be made strong in the day my children read them.

2 Nephi 1:16--To Observe the Statutes and the Judgments of the Lord

And I desire that ye should remember to observe the statutes and the judgments of the Lord; behold, this hath been the anxiety of my soul from the beginning.

After Nephi teaches his brothers, their father, Lehi, speaks to them, reminding them of the great things the Lord has done for them and urging them to hearken to his words, to awake from the deep sleep of hell and shake off the chains that bind them. Lehi is old; he is about to die, and he knows it. These are some of the last words he will say to Laman and Lemuel. Twice he tells them to remember here; once in verse 12 and again in verse 16.

This is another instance of the word remember preceding an imperative verb, which I used to think was not much more than a filler that didn't change the meaning. However, as I reasoned on March 29, using the word remember shifts the burden to Laman and Lemuel to remind themselves, to become more independent and accountable for keeping the commandments without having to rely on constant reminders from the Lord and others. Here, Lehi desires that they should remember to observe the statutes and judgments of the Lord, not just that they should observe them. It is their responsibility to keep the statutes and judgments at the forefront of their minds so that all their actions are based on, and in compliance with, God's law.

In the American legal system, law is created in two ways. First, legislatures write laws, called statutes, that citizens are required to observe. Second, courts rule on cases, interpreting the statutes and creating case law. Citizens have just as much responsibility to observe the judgments of the courts as they do the statutes of the legislature. Therefore, judgments and statutes make up the law. So Lehi is telling Laman and Lemuel to remember to observe the law of the Lord, or the rules which define Godhood. If we are to become like God, we must remember (see explanation in March 29 post) to live by the same law. People are free to choose whether they will or not. It has been my experience that when I remember and choose to live by the laws the Lord has set forth, I am happier and more fulfilled. I will continue to remember to observe the statutes and the judgments of the Lord.

1 Nephi 17:45--The Lord Your God

Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder.

Again, Nephi is talking to his brothers. He has been commanded to build a ship, and his Laman and Lemuel refuse to help in the work because they don't believe it's possible. It seems like Nephi is constantly teaching them.
A significant thing to notice about this verse is that remembering the Lord your God is personal. Nephi didn’t just say remember the Lord God, as in a general deity who may or may not be too busy to pay much attention to Laman and Lemuel personally. But by using the word your, Nephi automatically causes them to remember the personal experiences they’ve have with their God. He is their God because he has sent an angel to visit them. He is their God because he has spoken to them in a still small voice. He is their God because he has spoken to them in a voice of thunder when they were past feeling.

Each of us can and must remember the times God has spoken to us, whether in a still small voice or a voice of thunder. Each of us has likely also been visited by angels, whether in simply feeling the presence of one who has passed through the veil, or in receiving specific, powerful help from one on earth following the Spirit to help us, or even an actual visit from a heavenly messenger. I must remember that the Lord is my God, and I do that by remembering the specific times and ways in which he has interacted with me individually, one on one. It would be a good idea to write about each of those experiences. Most are too personal to share in a public forum such as this.

I will remember the Lord my God.

1 Nephi 15:25--To Keep His Commandments

Wherefore, I, Nephi, did exhort them to give heed unto the word of the Lord; yea, I did exhort them with all the energies of my soul, and with all the faculty which I possessed, that they would give heed to the word of God and remember to keep his commandments always in all things.

This is the same setting as yesterday. Nephi is still teaching his brothers. Here he urges them to remember to keep God's commandments. I'm not sure the significance of the word remember in this verse. Why not just exhort them to "give heed to the word of God and keep his commandments always in all things?" If anyone in my imaginary audience has a good idea, please share it in a comment to this post. What is different about remembering to keep God's commandments and simply keeping them? Is it just a filler word that doesn't change the meaning at all? It doesn't seem like Nephi, who elsewhere has commented on the difficulty of writing on plates, would include any word that wasn't necessary to convey the meaning he intended. Then again, maybe the reformed Egyptian characters didn't translate directly word for word, and this is simply the way Joseph Smith received and conveyed the message as he translated. I really don't know.

As I try to figure it out, though, there are a couple of things that come to mind. First, the word remember gives the message a more personal feel and somehow seems to imply, or even require, a more conscious and continued effort on our part. Even though analyzed closely I don't think there's any less volition on the part of one who keeps the commandments versus one who remembers to keep them, inclusion of the word keeps the thing we're to do (in this case keep the commandments, which is essentially all-encompassing) at the forefront of our minds. The same could be said anytime the word remember is used in conjunction with an action verb, and a purely textual analysis obviates the need for it entirely in that context. For example, love your neighbor versus remember to love your neighbor; read the scriptures versus remember to read the scriptures; pray versus remember to pray; give to the poor versus remember to give to the poor; shun pornography versus remember to shun pornography. All these examples give the impression that inclusion of the word remember encourages us to be agents unto ourselves, and forgetfulness is no longer an excuse. A person can be told to give to the poor, and he will likely do it once. He then may get so busy with life that he forgets to keep giving. He can skirt responsibility by claiming he simply forgot, and the excuse is not entirely invalid. All of us forget things, and it sometimes is out of our control. Our minds are not perfect, and we feel less accountable if our excuse is that we forgot. So to eliminate that excuse, Nephi tells us we are to remember to keep the commandments. Now the responsibility is ours to remind ourselves time and again throughout our lives, and we can no longer claim forgetfulness as an excuse because we've been told to remember. We now have to do those things that will help us remember. If that same person who was told to give to the poor is instead told to remember to give to the poor, it is his responsibility not just to give once until he is told or reminded again, but to make sure he remembers to keep giving, to effect some change on his mind so he no longer needs reminding.

As a kid I remember having the bad habit of coming home from school and dropping my coat and backpack on the floor as soon as I got in the house. It seems for years my mom had to tell me every day to carry my things to my bedroom and put them away. I obeyed her every time (though admittedly my obedience was sometimes delayed until after a snack and my favorite TV show), but my ability to put my things away was still dependent on her continued, repeated commands. I had not internalized the importance of putting my things away, and I never thought about it until she told me to do it each day. I'm sure my mother longed for the day that I (and my seven siblings) would remember on our own to put our things away, to think about it and maybe even enjoy it because we had finally come to appreciate the importance of living in an uncluttered house. Likewise, I think the Lord would prefer that we remember on our own to keep the commandments without having to be told every time. Nephi encourages us to remember to keep the commandments. He wants the commandments to be at the forefront of our minds; he wants us to be thinking about them and to understand and appreciate the blessings that come from them so that we enjoy keeping them and choose to do so on our own without having to be reminded.

The difference between Nephi and his brothers in this verse is striking. Not only does he teach them, but he exhorts them with all the energies of his soul and all the faculties he possesses. It's impossible to separate Nephi from his love for the Lord and his intense desire to keep the commandments. It is always on his mind. Laman and Lemuel, on the other hand, seem to never be thinking about the Lord or his commandments. They continually forget the things they've been taught, and they have to be reminded over and over. While Laman and Lemuel may keep some commandments occasionally when they're told, Nephi remembers to keep them always.

I will remember to keep the commandments always in all things.

1 Nephi 15:11--The Things the Lord Has Said

Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.

Nephi has just returned from the wilderness to the tent of his father after seeing in vision the destruction of his people. He finds his brothers Laman and Lemuel arguing over things their father had told them. Their hearts were hard, they had not asked the Lord for understanding, and consequently they were confused and contentious. Nephi, presumably overcome with grief at having just witnessed the destruction of his descendants and the end of his posterity, is now called on to overcome probable exasperation at his brothers to try helping them understand.

He begins by asking the cause of their contention, and on hearing that it is a lack of understanding he asks if they have asked the Lord. They respond in the negative, and Nephi then asks, "How is it that you don't keep the commandments? How is it that you'll perish because your hearts are hard? Don't you remember what the Lord has said?"

First off, I feel like I can identify with Nephi here. Sometimes when I see people who don't understand a principle that seems to make perfect sense to me, or who are unfamiliar with a particular prophet's teaching that holds a prominent place in my world view, I get a little frustrated and impatient, and I want to say "What the heck is your problem? How can you not understand that? How have you not heard what President so and so said?" But my attitude is wrong. I don't mean to accuse Nephi of being impatient (though, can you blame him if he is?), and the situation here is quite different than my own experience. Nephi has been with his brothers day and night for years. I don't know how long since they left Jerusalem, but I know that Nephi has been with his brothers on numerous occasions when they've all been taught together by their father and even by an angel. Nephi, then, is calling to their minds something he knows they've heard and have no excuse to not remember. (I, on the other hand, accuse complete strangers of not understanding something I have no idea they've ever been taught.) Still, Nephi proceeds to teach them what it is their father meant.

The take home message for me, then, as it relates to my inquiry on remembering and what it is we're supposed to remember, is to remember the things the Lord has said. This is essentially the same as yesterday's reading; however, looking at the specifics of this verse, what Nephi is calling on his brothers to remember, the specific message from the Lord, is that if we won't harden our hearts, but instead if we'll ask the Lord in faith, believing that we'll receive what we're asking for, always keeping the commandments, then the things we don't understand will be made known to us. The Lord says this to all of us, and it's imperative that we remember. I have more than once had the experience of asking the Lord for understanding, and understanding has been given. Those are the kinds of things I should write about in my journal and in the journals of my kids so that they never forget that the Lord has invited them to ask him for understanding, and he has promised to give them understanding, conditioned upon their faith and their willingness to ask.

1 Nephi 4:14--The Words of the Lord

And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness, saying that: Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise.

Here Nephi is going back into Jerusalem after a couple of failed attempts at getting the brass plates from Laban. He has been commanded to do it, but he doesn't know how, so he goes forth led by the Spirit and not knowing beforehand what he will do. He comes upon Laban and is constrained by the Spirit to kill him so that the entire nation of Nephites and Lamanites doesn't dwindle in unbelief for centuries to come (not to mention the millions of people in modern times who, thanks to the Book of Mormon, have come to know Christ--the very existence of the Book of Mormon hinging on this crucial decision by Nephi). Yet Nephi shrinks at the thought. Never had he shed blood. This was likely the most difficult thing Nephi had ever faced. And just at the moment of decision, when the Spirit was speaking to him, he remembered words the Lord had spoken to him in the wilderness. His ability to remember those words, whether he had to make a conscious effort to remember them or whether they just popped into his head, helped him make the right decision.

It's imperative, then, that anytime the Lord speaks to us, we remember it. The Lord has spoken to me, and I find it helpful to write his words down so I can remember them in the future. I think it's significant that the words Nephi remembered were spoken to him in the wilderness. My wilderness has not been a place without buildings and people, but rather times that I have felt I had either lost or given up those things that made life easy and comfortable, and I was facing a difficult journey ahead. The words of the Lord to me in those times have been especially important to my progress. It’s in our wilderness that we most need guidance and are the most ready to receive it.

So to remember the words of the Lord, I will write them down. Some I will write to myself in my own journal, and some I will write to my kids in their journals, as the Spirit dictates. We are commanded to remember the words of the Lord, and I will do all I can to obey that command and to help my kids obey it.

The Beginning

It is my experience that accountability leads to improvement. This has been true with finances, eating habits, exercise, and even my criminal procedure class. I now therefore begin to be accountable to an imaginary audience for my daily study of the Book of Mormon. Ironically, with all there is to read in the world today, I doubt a single person will ever find, let alone read, this blog; yet that doubt is not overpowered by the mere and remote possibility that someone will, in fact, read it, and it is that mere possibility that creates in me a sense of accountability.

I intend to do a topical study of the Book of Mormon, and I begin with those verses containing the word "remember." I do this because over the past few months I have been caught up in three activities that have consumed a lot of my time, and I wonder at the worth of the activities and the wisdom in spending so much time at them. The first is journal writing. I keep a journal for myself and one for each of my two kids (even though our second will not be born until June). Because I am busy with school, I typically do my journal writing on Sundays, and sometimes I’ll sit and write for an hour just to get an entry in my own journal, and then another hour or two for our son James and for our new baby. If I don't increase my efficiency, by the time we have 5 or 6 kids, that will amount to 6 or 7 hours a week just to keep up with journal writing (once a week per person). The second activity is scanning and organizing photos. My mom and I ransacked my grandmother's house a few weeks ago while she was in the hospital (cruel, I know) and scanned every old photograph we could find. The scanning alone took many full days, and now I have hundreds of photos to identify, label, and organize. The third activity is completing the life stories of my grandparents and other ancestors. This has been ongoing for years, and I imagine it will continue for many more.

I'm realizing these activities take a lot of time, and as time is so scarce, I wonder if it is worth it. Part of my thinking has been that no one will ever take the time to read what I've written in my journals or to look through the photos or read the stories of my ancestors. And even if they do, I imagine it will only be fleeting glimpses that take a tiny fraction of the time it is taking me to do all this work. Under that reasoning, it feels somewhat pointless to continue. The benefit does not seem to be worth the effort. A while back the thought occurred to me that maybe I’m wasting my time. Maybe there’s no real point to all this. But then the Spirit whispered to me a reminder of those Book of Mormon verses admonishing us to remember. I felt a need to search and study to identify what exactly it is we are to remember, and why, and how.

In figuring out how it is we are to remember, I have decided that keeping a journal, being familiar with the life stories of my ancestors, and organizing photos are effective ways to do it, though they are likely not the only ways. (For example, studying the scriptures is an effective way to remember.) Part of understanding how to remember is deciding how much of our time should be spent on those things that help us remember. The key here is that it’s not going to be any set amount. We aren’t told to read the scriptures always, or for 10 hours a day every day. It’s something we’re commanded to do, but it’s not the only thing we’re commanded to do, and if we do nothing but read the scriptures, we'll end up being too busy reading about the gospel to actually live it. Likewise, if we spend all our time on journals and photos, we'll be too busy recording life to live it. So, I think we aren’t told exactly how long or how much to study the scriptures for the simple reason that it varies from day to day and from person to person. The important thing is to do it daily. It's the same with journals and photos: there is no set amount of time to spend on it, and it's unproductive to have it consume all your time, but it is important to do it regularly.

On the other hand, one thing we are commanded to do always is to pray. That doesn’t mean we’re on our knees with our eyes shut, consciously forming words of prayer at every minute of the day. There are express prayers, like that, and there are internal prayers, which are the kind we can always keep in our heart by directing it to Heavenly Father even while we’re driving or reading or working or throwing a frisbee. It must be that journaling and organizing photos are like express prayers—important, but we can’t neglect our other daily activities for them. But by doing the express parts (like kneeling-down prayers or organizing ancestors’ photos) it is easier to do the implicit part (like turning our thoughts to the Lord or having our hearts constantly turned to our fathers). We find it easier to think of them, to remember their lives, to feel connected to them, even as we’re going about our daily tasks. It’s one more thing to help us draw nearer to God and be exalted.

Next, I need to realize it’s ok if some people don’t think journals and family history are important or useful. Lots of people don’t think prayer and scripture study are important or useful, but that doesn't make them unimportant. I guess the thing to realize is that for me, keeping journals and knowing my ancestors is important and fulfilling. I’ll continue doing it to the extent that it remains so. Even if nobody else ever goes back and reads what I write, it is still useful because I have benefited both from the exercise of writing and from times I have gone back and read of my own past experiences. My purpose is not to have thousands of my descendants cherish the history I leave behind, so my work in creating a history is not negated by the probable lack of interest from any other person.

Now that I've understood my purpose and gotten an idea as to how the Book of Mormon verses apply to my questions, I plan to improve my journaling (and photo-ing and family history-ing), by studying a few scriptures on the subject. More than fifty verses in the Book of Mormon contain the word “remember,” and most are applicable to my concerns. This blog will document my attempts at understanding and applying these principles. I will begin by finding out what it is we are to remember.