The Secret To Happiness: "The Ways Of Remembrance"

The Book of Mormon teaches two important ways that we can improve our worthiness and our spirituality.  The first is to look at how others felt the consequences of bad choices, and how God rescued them. An example is found in these words of Alma:

Yea, I have always remembered the captivity of my fathers; and that same God who delivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians did deliver them out of bondage. (Alma 29:12)

The second is to learn from our own mistakes. We also receive consequences of our bad choices, and when we are sufficiently humble he rescues us as well:

if ye 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... (Mosiah 4:11)

Notice that both of these verses, and virtually every verse like them in the book of Mormon, hinges on our ability to remember.

That's the problem: remembering. "How have ye forgotten?" is the constant lament of Book of Mormon prophets. Memories of consequences are not as severe as consequences themselves. Worse yet, they fade over time. (Note: that's a good thing. If the pain of suffering never abated, we would be unable to function.) Unfortunately it means that with the passage of time we become more susceptible to making the same mistakes again.

Moreover, repentance and forgiveness accelerate the process of forgetting. Look at the words of Alma:

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. (Alma 36:19)

Part of the beauty of becoming clean is being relieved of the burden of sin. Thus, after we suffer the consequences of sin and receive forgiveness, our resolve immediately begins to weaken:

• I'll never do that again.
• I don't want to do that again.
• I shouldn't do that.
• Maybe if I only do this much it will be ok.
• How did I end up here again?

And then we rinse and repeat. The question is, how do we end, or at least minimize this cycle? How do we remember the pain of sin and the joy of forgiveness when our memories naturally fade? Look what God tells Nephi:

And if it so be that they rebel against me, they shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in the ways of remembrance. (1 Nephi 2:24)

The "ways of remembrance?" What are the ways of remembrance? If there is a method to remembering, that would help us solve our problem, wouldn't it? Let's look at a few clues that will help.

Hold to the Iron Rod

And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty...(Alma 4:19)

The first "way of remembrance" is to hold to the rod. Remember that those in Lehi's vision who did not hold firmly to the rod were led astray by the mist of darkness. Our mist of forgetfulness can be abated by our resolve to "feast upon the words of Christ." There is no substitute for daily, prayerful scripture study. We need a firm commitment that no matter what we will study our scriptures every day. This will help us remember.

Priests to Teach

...and also had appointed priests to teach the people, that thereby they might hear and know the commandments of God, and to stir them up in remembrance of the oath which they had made... (Mosiah 6:3)

In addition to scripture study, being continuously taught and partaking of priesthood ordinances will stir us up in remembrance of the covenants that we have made. We are taught and receive ordinances during weekly church attendance and at the temple. Skipping church and procrastinating temple worship will lead us to forget.

Miracles and Marvelous Works

They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey; (Alma 37:41)

As we slip down the slope of forgetfulness we can feel a reduction of the fruits of the Spirit. We can feel our spiritual progress stagnating. If we make a practice of noticing this when it happens, we can know that sin and its consequences are fast approaching. We don't have to wait to hit bottom.

Someday we will have a "bright recollection" of our sins. Better that we should remember now. By following the "ways of remembrance" we can retain a remission of our sins and increase in righteousness before God. The ways of remembrance mentioned here are:

1. Daily, prayerful scripture study.
2. Church and temple attendance.
3. Watching for drops in our spirituality as warning signs.

If we do not do these things, we can be assured that forgetfulness is coming, and that sin is following close behind.

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