Elder Gerrit W. Gong on remembering the Savior

Elder Gerrit W. Gong (born December 23, 1953) was called as a Seventy in April 2010, then to the Presidency of the Seventy in October 2015. He was sustained to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in April 2018.

"Each week, in partaking of the sacrament, we covenant to always remember Him. Drawing on the nearly 400 scripture references to the word remember, here are six ways we can always remember Him.

"First, we can always remember Him by having confidence in His covenants, promises, and assurances....

"Second, we can always remember Him by gratefully acknowledging His hand throughout our lives....

"Third, we can always remember Him by trusting when the Lord assures us, 'He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.' (D&C 58:42) ...

"Fourth, He invites us to remember that He is always welcoming us home....

"Fifth, we can always remember Him on the Sabbath through the sacrament....

"Finally, sixth, our Savior invites us to always remember Him as He always remembers us."

- Gerrit W. Gong, "Always Remember Him," General Conference April 2016
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

When Sunday is done and we return to our "normal" daily lives, how much are we impacted? How do we keep the spirit of the Sabbath alive? Specifically, how do we maintain awareness of the covenants and promises of the sacrament through the coming days?

Elder Gong offered these suggestions when he was serving as a member of the Seventy, before his call as an apostle. Only a brief summary is presented here; it's very worthwhile to review the entire talk by clicking on the link above, and read the further details he offers for each of the six suggestions.

The challenge to "always remember Him" is perhaps one of the most important ones we are given. Elder Gong's suggestions are very valuable in providing ideas on how we can do that more effectively.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2022)
May 21, 2018

Elder Richard L. Evans on clinging to eternal truths

Elder Richard L. Evans (1906-1971) served as a Seventy from 1938-1953, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  He died in 1971 at age 65.  He was known as "the voice of the Tabernacle Choir" from the beginning of its broadcasts in 1929 until his passing.

"I would say today to those who are in the classroom, to farmers in the field, to the laborers in factories, to men pursuing professions, to young men in military service, to all of us in life, whatever the discouragements, whatever the seeming areas of conflict and confusion, whatever the infinite area of things we don't understand, cling to these eternal verities always: that God lives, that men were made in his image, that life is purposeful, that men are immortal. Cling to the commandments and give observance to them and to the knowledge that it is our Father's plan and purpose to bring immortality and eternal life to man (Moses 1:39). If we will cling to these eternal verities in simplicity and truth and keep our lives well balanced in all our pursuits, we shall reach a glorious end....

"Now as to this discouragement and confusion: I think the enemy of men's souls wouldn't care too much what means he used to render our lives ineffective, just so long as he did render them ineffective. I don't think he would care too much whether it was by indolence or indifference or by withholding willing work, or by doubt, or by discouragement, or by uncertainty—so long as he could render us ineffective, it would please him. And it must be our purpose to see that we pursue our purposes regardless of the things we don't know which we hope sometime to know. It must be our purpose to pursue with all earnestness every righteous purpose.

"No matter how much we may be discouraged or how often we are set back, we must begin again and again, if necessary, and earnestly pursue the purposes of life, full of faith for the future. Enduring to the end is exceedingly important. Pursuing the opportunities and the duties of every day is exceedingly important, and repenting while there is still time to repent is also exceedingly important."

- Richard L. Evans, "With Faith for the Future," Conference Report, October 1950, pp. 138-142
Click here to read the full talk

It was 65 years ago when Elder Evans noted the complexities of life, the challenges and discouragements, the confusions, the conflicts. How those problems have intensified since then, both in society and in our individual lives! But he reminds us of the perspective of eternity that enables us to survive, if we "cling" to the "eternal verities" that are revealed in the gospel. The real challenge is to keep those things alive in our minds and hearts. The word "cling" is very descriptive.

The second point he makes is to explain how "the enemy of men's souls" makes every effort to "render our lives ineffective" through a variety of methods. We must be aware and vigilant, even in the midst of "things we don't know which we hope sometime to know."

And this final encouragement is inspiring:

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2022)
September 15, 2015

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland on living with faith in God

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (born December 3, 1940 - 76 years ago today!) served as Church Commissioner of Education from 1976-1980, as the president of BYU from 1980-1989, as a Seventy from 1989-1994, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1994.

"I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone, nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead, we remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives. So a more theological way to talk about Lot's wife is to say that she did not have faith. She doubted the Lord's ability to give her something better than she already had. Apparently she thought—fatally, as it turned out—that nothing that lay ahead could possibly be as good as those moments she was leaving behind....

"To yearn to go back to a world that cannot be lived in now; to be perennially dissatisfied with present circumstances and have only dismal views of the future; to miss the here-and-now-and-tomorrow because we are so trapped in the there-and-then-and-yesterday—these are some of the sins, if we may call them that, of ... Lot's wife."

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "Remember Lot's Wife," BYU Devotional, 13 January 2009
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

This is, for me, one of the most memorable of Elder Holland's many remarkable speeches. In addressing an assembly of BYU students, he spoke about what he identified as the second shortest verse in all the scriptures: "Remember Lot's wife" (Luke 17:32). He explained that in the original story in Genesis 19, when Lot's family is fleeing God's destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, his wife disobeyed the Lord's instruction to "look not behind thee;" but her greater problem was that in her heart, she wanted to be back in Sodom enjoying the pleasures of the city. At least one aspect of the sin she committed was to doubt that God could give her something better than what she had already experienced. A parallel danger is to focus too much on the trials and hardships, forgetting the promises of "good things to come."

Faith in God reminds us to look forward, not backward. It is anticipation and expectation of the good to come, trusting in God's promises and the ultimate deliverance He will provide. We must remember, as Elder Holland emphasized on another occasion, that He truly is the “high priest of good things to come” (Hebrews 9:11).

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2022)
December 3, 2016

Elder Dallin H. Oaks on always remembering the Savior

President Dallin H. Oaks (born August 12, 1932) served as president of BYU from 1971-1980.  He was then appointed as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and resigned when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and also 1st Counselor in the First Presidency in January 2018.

"When we partake of the sacrament, we witness unto God the Eternal Father that we 'do always remember' his Son (see D&C 20:77, 79; 3 Ne. 18:7, 11). Each Sabbath day millions of Latter-day Saints make this promise. What does it mean to 'always remember' our Savior?

"To remember means to keep in memory. In the scriptures, it often means to keep a person in memory, together with associated emotions like love, loyalty, or gratitude. The stronger the emotion, the more vivid and influential the memory....

"He whom we should always remember is He who gave us mortal life, He who showed us the way to a happy life, and He who redeems us so we can have immortality and eternal life.

"If we keep our covenant that we will always remember him, we can always have his Spirit to be with us (see D&C 20:77, 79). That Spirit will testify of him, and it will guide us into truth.

"His teachings and his example will guide and strengthen us in the way we should live. The effect was described in the words of the once popular song, 'Try to remember, and if you remember, then follow' ('Try to Remember,' words by Tom Jones)."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Always Remember Him," General Conference April 1988
Click here to read the full talk

The power and importance of remembering is that it influences our decisions and actions. When we remember someone or something that is very important to us, we make future choices in that context; we evaluate the options and consequences of new situations based on what we recall and know about the important previous person or principle.

It is a sacred privilege to recommit each week in our sacramental covenants to "always remember Him." As Elder Oaks teaches, our memories of the Savior are associated with emotions including love, loyalty, and gratitude. When those emotions are strong, then remembering Him becomes "vivid and influential" in our lives. As we learn about the Savior and understand both his Gospel message and his mission on our behalf, we are constantly influenced in all other events during the encounters and circumstances of our lives.

And always, the promised blessings of "always remember" are there.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2022)
June 28, 2015

Elder D. Todd Christofferson on the Christmas spirit of sacrifice and service

Elder Gary E. Stevenson (b. 1955) was called as a Seventy in 2008, then as Presiding Bishop in 2012. He was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2015.

"This Christmas, as the spirit of the season permeates our hearts, let us do something that expresses our feelings in an outward way, showing that we understand that the babe born in Bethlehem is the real Redeemer....

"Without Christ, there would be no Christmas. Without Christ, there can be no fulness of joy. Without His birth and His Atonement, we would have no Intercessor, no Advocate with the Father, and no Mediator who makes it possible for us to return to the presence of our loving Heavenly Father and live together as eternal families.

"I celebrate with you the beautiful and miraculous reality of the birth and mission of the Son of God, and I bear my testimony that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer—the promised Messiah."

- Gary E. Stevenson, "The Reality of Christmas," Ensign, December 2014
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Elder Stevenson encouraged that we actually do something in the Christmas season to show outwardly the feelings of our inward hearts. The Light the World initiative offered by the Church during the Christmas season provides a number of ways to do that, through service, sharing, kindness, and worship.

We must never forget the reason for the Christmas season, as well as the reason for our very existence on earth and the promises that come to us through the Savior:

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
December 15, 2016

Elder D. Todd Christofferson on allowing scriptures to enlarge our memories

Elder D. Todd Christofferson (1945- ) was called to the Seventy in 1993, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2008.

"The scriptures enlarge our memory by helping us always to remember the Lord and our relationship to Him and the Father. They remind us of what we knew in our premortal life. And they expand our memory in another sense by teaching us about epochs, people, and events that we did not experience personally. None of us was present to see the Red Sea part and cross with Moses between walls of water to the other side. We were not there to hear the Sermon on the Mount, to see Lazarus raised from the dead, to see the suffering Savior in Gethsemane and on the cross, and we did not, with Mary, hear the two angels testify at the empty tomb that Jesus was risen from the dead. You and I did not go forward one by one with the multitude in the land Bountiful at the resurrected Savior's invitation to feel the prints of the nails and bathe His feet with our tears. We did not kneel beside Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove and gaze there upon the Father and the Son. Yet we know all these things and much, much more because we have the scriptural record to enlarge our memory, to teach us what we did not know. And as these things penetrate our minds and hearts, our faith in God and His Beloved Son takes root.

"The scriptures also enlarge our memory by helping us not forget what we and earlier generations have learned. Those who either don't have or ignore the recorded word of God eventually cease to believe in Him and forget the purpose of their existence."

- D. Todd Christofferson, "The Blessing of Scripture," General Conference April 2010
Click here to read the full talk

The idea of enlarging memory is a fascinating one to me. We typically think of memory as static and possibly decreasing over time; but Elder Christofferson suggests it can grow and increase. He suggests several ways this happens as we read the scriptures:

1. Helping us always remember the Lord and our relationship to Him
2. Reminding us of things we knew in the premortal life
3. Providing knowledge and understanding of events we didn't personally experience
4. Helping us not forget the lessons learned in the past—both personally, and by our predecessors

And one of the great keys is that the enlarging of memory allows the scriptural record to "penetrate our minds and hearts" so that "our faith in God and His Beloved Son takes root." What a blessing!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
June 6, 2015

President Henry B. Eyring on prayers of gratitude

President Henry B. Eyring (1933- ) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007.

"The Holy Ghost brings back memories of what God has taught us. And one of the ways God teaches us is with his blessings; and so, if we choose to exercise faith, the Holy Ghost will bring God's kindnesses to our remembrance.

"You could test that in prayer today. You could follow the command, 'Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.' (D&C 59:7.) ...

"You could have an experience with the gift of the Holy Ghost today. You could begin a private prayer with thanks. You could start to count your blessings, and then pause for a moment. If you exercise faith, and with the gift of the Holy Ghost, you will find that memories of other blessings will flood into your mind. If you begin to express gratitude for each of them, your prayer may take a little longer than usual. Remembrance will come. And so will gratitude....

"Remembrance is the seed of gratitude which is the seed of generosity. Gratitude for the remission of sins is the seed of charity, the pure love of Christ. And so God has made possible for you and me this blessing, a change in our very natures: 'And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.' (Moro. 8:26.)"

- Henry B. Eyring, "Remembrance and Gratitude," General Conference October 1989
Click here to read the full talk

I find this to be a fascinating concept; how does the Holy Ghost teach us? I think the thing President Eyring is suggesting would not have been something I readily thought of, but it makes perfect sense.

The repeated scriptural injunction to remember the past often includes the urging to remember the goodness of God in times past: "I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God... and his goodness and long-suffering towards you..." (Mosiah 4:11).

President Eyring suggests an experiment. It's a wonderful promise, and a true one:

While President Eyring encourages all to begin to have these experiences, disciples have the blessing of having such interactions with the Holy Ghost regularly!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
May 31, 2015

Elder Neil L. Andersen on the ways we Hear Him

Elder Neil L. Andersen (born August 9, 1951) served as a Seventy beginning in 1993, and was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2009.

"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....

"We have recently heard President Russell M. Nelson say: 'I invite you to think deeply and often about this key question: How do you hear Him? I also invite you to take steps to hear Him better and more often.' He repeated that invitation this morning.

"We hear Him in our prayers, in our homes, in the scriptures, in our hymns, as we worthily partake of the sacrament, as we declare our faith, as we serve others, and as we attend the temple with fellow believers. Spiritually defining moments come as we prayerfully listen to general conference and as we better keep the commandments....

"We can 'hear Him' because of the blessing of the Savior’s incomparable Atonement."

- Neil L. Andersen, "Spiritually Defining Memories," General Conference April 2020, Saturday morning

Click here to read or listen to the full talk

One of the beautiful promises the Savior gave to his ancient disciples related to the blessing of the Comforter in their lives:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)

Elder Andersen discussed that sacred blessing of having things brought to our remembrance by the Savior. He also encouraged us to open our minds to hearing and feeling the power of the Lord in our lives:

How do we "hear Him"? As we seek actively to increase those experiences in our lives, we will recognize and experience a greater measure of His love.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2020)

Elder Ronald A. Rasband on remembering God's love for each of us

Elder Ronald A. Rasband (b. February 6, 1951) served as a Seventy beginning in 2000.  He was the senior president of the Seventy when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2015.

"I begin by reminding you that you are a son or daughter of a loving Father in Heaven and that His love remains constant. I know that such reassuring feelings of love are difficult to recall when you are in the midst of personal struggles or trials, disappointments, or broken dreams.

"Jesus Christ knows about fierce struggles and trials. He gave His life for us. His final hours were brutal, beyond anything we can even comprehend, but His sacrifice for each one of us was the ultimate expression of His pure love.

"No mistake, sin, or choice will change God’s love for us. That does not mean sinful conduct is condoned, nor does it remove our obligation to repent when sins are committed. But do not forget, Heavenly Father knows and loves each of you, and He is always ready to help."

- Ronald A. Rasband, "Lest Thou Forget," General Conference October 2016
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

It's a wonderful thing in this life to occasionally have a powerful experience in which we feel God's love for us, personally and directly. Elder Rasband reminds us that His love is constant and consistent, but acknowledges how difficult it may be to feel that love when one is "in the midst of personal struggles or trials, disappointments, or broken dreams." Learning to draw upon stored memories and resources of light and love is a critical skill to develop during our mortal journey.

This is a powerful testimony of hope and encouragement. As we remember this counsel and draw upon the unending love of God for each of us, personally, we will be blessed in all times of our lives, but particularly in those more difficult ones.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder Gerrit W. Gong on remembering the Savior

Elder Gerrit W. Gong (born December 23, 1953) was called as a Seventy in April 2010, then to the Presidency of the Seventy in October 2015. He was sustained to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in April 2018.

"Each week, in partaking of the sacrament, we covenant to always remember Him. Drawing on the nearly 400 scripture references to the word remember, here are six ways we can always remember Him.

"First, we can always remember Him by having confidence in His covenants, promises, and assurances....

"Second, we can always remember Him by gratefully acknowledging His hand throughout our lives....

"Third, we can always remember Him by trusting when the Lord assures us, 'He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.' (D&C 58:42) ...

"Fourth, He invites us to remember that He is always welcoming us home....

"Fifth, we can always remember Him on the Sabbath through the sacrament....

"Finally, sixth, our Savior invites us to always remember Him as He always remembers us."

- Gerrit W. Gong, "Always Remember Him," General Conference April 2016
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

When Sunday is done and we return to our "normal" daily lives, how much are we impacted? How do we keep the spirit of the Sabbath alive? Specifically, how do we maintain awareness of the covenants and promises of the sacrament through the coming days?

Elder Gong offered these suggestions when he was serving as a member of the Seventy, before his call as an apostle. Only a brief summary is presented here; it's very worthwhile to review the entire talk by clicking on the link above, and read the further details he offers for each of the six suggestions.

The challenge to "always remember Him" is perhaps one of the most important ones we are given. Elder Gong's suggestions are very valuable in providing ideas on how we can do that more effectively.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder D. Todd Christofferson on always remembering the Savior

Elder D. Todd Christofferson (b. January 24, 1945) was called to the Seventy in 1993, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2008.

"The sacramental prayers confirm that one of the central purposes of that ordinance as instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ is that we might 'always remember him.' Remembering the Savior obviously includes remembering His Atonement which is symbolically represented by the bread and water as emblems of His suffering and death. We must never forget what He did for us, for without His Atonement and Resurrection life would have no meaning, whereas, given the reality of both the Atonement and the Resurrection, our lives have eternal, divine possibilities.

"I would like today to elaborate with you what it means to 'always remember him' (D&C 20:77, 79). I will mention three aspects of remembering Him:  first, seeking to know and follow His will; second, recognizing and accepting our obligation to answer to Christ for every thought, word, and action; and third, living with faith and without fear in the realization that we can always look to the Savior for the help we need.

"First, remembering the Lord certainly means doing His will. The sacramental blessing on the bread commits us to be willing to take upon us the name of the Son, 'and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given [us]' (D&C 20:77)....

"You and I can put Christ at the center of our lives and become one with Him as He is one with the Father (see John 17:20-23). We could begin by stripping everything out of our lives and then putting it back together in priority order with the Savior at the center. We would first put in place the things that make it possible always to remember Him—frequent prayer, studying and pondering the scriptures, thoughtful study of apostolic teachings, weekly preparation to partake of the sacrament worthily, Sunday worship, recording and remembering what the Spirit and experience teach us about discipleship. There may be other things that will come to your mind particularly suited to you at this point in your life. Once adequate time and means for these matters, for centering our lives in Christ, have been put in place, we can begin to add other responsibilities and things of value insofar as time and resources will permit, such as education and family responsibilities. In this way the essential will not be crowded out of our lives by the merely good, and things of lesser value will take a lower priority or fall away altogether."

- D. Todd Christofferson, "Always Remember Him," BYU-Idaho devotional, January 27, 2009
Click here to read the full talk

In this address to BYU-Idaho students, Elder Christofferson considers possible meanings of the phrase "always remember Him" and how they might bless our lives. We often think we know what that sacramental instruction is asking us to do, but I was grateful for the three additional suggestions that were offered here. Review the complete talk for details!

To "always remember Him" certainly does begin with holding in our thoughts the unmatched and eternal blessings of His sacrifice and Atonement on our behalf. But it's the additional implications of that remembering that Elder Christofferson expands upon. What will that mean in our lives, what will it lead us to do, how will it change us?

The first important implication is that we will be filled with the desire to be obedient, to "know and follow His will" in all things. Elder Christofferson suggests an interesting application of how we might be led to do that:

What a wonderful, challenging exercise, to mentally "deconstruct" our life and put it back together in order of the things that matter most! If we first make sure the things that focus our lives on Christ are in their proper place and priority in life, then we can "begin to add other responsibilities and things of value" including family duties, work, education, etc. This would ensure that the most important things of life truly do take precedence. But it will likely mean minimizing or eliminating other things that may be taking more time than they deserve.

What a profound challenge, as we strive to "always remember Him"!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President Henry B. Eyring on finding peace and hope in times of challenge

President Henry B. Eyring (born May 31, 1933) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007.

"I was chatting with my wife at the end of a long day. Three of our children were in the room, listening. I turned and noticed that one of them was watching me—and watching my face intently. And then he asked me, softly, 'Why are you unhappy?' I tried to give a reason for my furrowed brow, but I realized later that he could well have been asking this deeper question: 'Can I see in you the hope for peace in this life that Jesus promised?'

"To turn my thoughts from what darkened my look to what would brighten it, I went to another letter from Mormon to his son. Both Mormon and Moroni were facing days of difficulty that make my challenges pale. Mormon knew his son might be overcome with gloom and foreboding, so he told him the perfect antidote. He told him that he could choose, by what he put in his mind, to become an example of hope. Here is what he wrote:

"'My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever' (Moro. 9:25).

"What we can do to help—teaching, and doing it with the spirit of righteousness, with love, with tenderness, with example—centers on the Savior and his atonement. That is what we would teach. The Atonement working in our lives will produce in us the love and tenderness we need. And by remembering Him and His gift, which we promise to do as we take the sacrament each week, we can put a light of hope in our faces which those we love need so much to see."

- Henry B. Eyring, "The Spark of Faith," Geneal Conference October 1986
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

I love this talk by President Eyring, given early in his service as a general authority (he was a member of the Presiding Bishopric). We've all had those days when the "weight of the world" seems to be upon our shoulders; President Eyring candidly describes such a time in his own life, and the impression that his expression left on one of his children. While we all have ups and down in our daily challenges, we should never forger, and never stop showing, that we have a vision of something far beyond those temporarily challenges. Parents learn how much their expression and mood can impact children; but the same principle applies to all our interactions with peers and even with strangers. Truly our countenance tells much about what's in our hearts.

In the words of Mormon quoted by President Eyring, there certainly will be things in our lives that threaten "to weigh [us] down unto death." Particularly during those times, we must place greater focus on Christ, who will always "life [us] up" if we accept his offering on our behalf, and allow "the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in [our] mind[s] forever." What a beautiful promise that verse offers us! Truly, it allows us to "put a light of hope in our faces which those we love need so much to see."

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President Russell M. Nelson on making the Sabbath a delight

President Russell M. Nelson (born Sept 9, 1924) was an internationally-renowned heart surgeon when he was called to serve as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He was set apart as president of the Quorum of Twelve on July 15, 2015. With the death of President Monson, at age 93 he currently presides over the Church as senior apostle.

"When Isaiah described the Sabbath as 'a delight,' he also taught us how to make it delightful. He said:

"'If thou turn away... from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, ... and shalt honour [the Lord], not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

"'Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.' (Isaiah 58:13–14; emphasis added.)

"Not pursuing your 'own pleasure' on the Sabbath requires self-discipline. You may have to deny yourself of something you might like. If you choose to delight yourself in the Lord, you will not permit yourself to treat it as any other day. Routine and recreational activities can be done some other time.

"Think of this: In paying tithing, we return one-tenth of our increase to the Lord. In keeping the Sabbath holy, we reserve one day in seven as His. So it is our privilege to consecrate both money and time to Him who lends us life each day. (See Mosiah 2:21.)

"Faith in God engenders a love for the Sabbath; faith in the Sabbath engenders a love for God. A sacred Sabbath truly is a delight.

"Now, as this conference comes to a close, we know that wherever we live we are to be examples of the believers among our families, neighbors, and friends. (See 1 Timothy 4:12.) True believers keep the Sabbath day holy."

- Russell M. Nelson, "The Sabbath Is a Delight," General Conference April 2015
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

As we strive to "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Genesis 20:8) President Nelson's counsel from this wonderful address is helpful. Not only can we remember it, but we can make it "a delight" as we follow the counsel to focus on the things of the Lord. It's one of the small things we can do to express our gratitude to God for the many blessings we receive from Him:

I like the association President Nelson makes between love for God and for the Sabbath. They build and reinforce each other. As "true believers" in Him, we should desire to continue to grow in that association and in those blessings.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President Henry B. Eyring on recognizing God's blessings in our life

President Henry B. Eyring (1933- ) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007.

"You could try the same thing as you write an entry in your book of remembrance. The Holy Ghost has helped with that since the beginning of time. You remember in the record of Moses it says: 'And a book of remembrance was kept, in the which was recorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration.' (Moses 6:5.)

"President Spencer W. Kimball described that process of inspired writing: 'Those who keep a book of remembrance are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives. Journals are a way of counting our blessings and of leaving an inventory of these blessings for our posterity.' (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, p. 349.)

"As you start to write, you could ask yourself, 'How did God bless me today?' If you do that long enough and with faith, you will find yourself remembering blessings. And sometimes, you will have gifts brought to your mind which you failed to notice during the day, but which you will then know were a touch of God’s hand in your life.

"You can choose to remember the greatest gift of all. Next week, you can go to a meeting where the sacrament is administered. You will hear the words, 'Always remember him.' You can pledge to do that, and the Holy Ghost will help you."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Remembrance and Gratitude," General Conference, October 1989
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President Eyring's suggestion that we write in our personal "book of remembrance" promises powerful results.

When I was young, commercial LDS channels heavily marketed something called a "book of remembrance" that was a binder for genealogical research, usually printed on legal-sized pages. We became used to using that title only for that kind of collection. While that is a valid application (remembering our ancestors), I think it served to somewhat limit our scope. As President Eyring describes the concept in this excerpt, a book of remembrance can also be any form of personal writing, whether in a hard-printed journal, or in an electronic format such as a document or even a blog.

One important key, he suggests, is that like Adam we learn to "write by the spirit of inspiration." As we allow the Spirit to direct our personal reflections and then record the impressions that follow, great blessings will result.

President Spencer W. Kimball was a big proponent of writing in journals, and he described the blessings of the "book of remembrance" concept in this way:

I love those points and promises! As we reflect and record impressions, counting our blessings, we will be more likely to remember the Lord in our daily living. And we will be leaving an "inventory of those blessings" for our descendants. How I would love to have more of that kind of record from my ancestors.

President Eyring's very practical suggestion on how to "count our blessings" is perhaps the greatest message of the excerpt for me. Examining our daily life and seeking to identify how God blessed us in the day that just passed not only helps document His hand in our life, but also opens the door to inspiration that will help us learn more about how He blesses us. That brings greater humility and gratitude to us, and is a powerful way to help us always remember Him. I know from my own experience that this is a true principle!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

President Henry B. Eyring on remembering God at all times

President Henry B. Eyring (born May 31, 1933) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007.

"Living as we do with a veil over our eyes, we cannot remember what it was like to be with our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in the premortal world; nor can we see with our physical eyes or with reason alone the hand of God in our lives. Seeing such things takes the Holy Ghost. And it is not easy to be worthy of the Holy Ghost's companionship in a wicked world.

"That is why forgetting God has been such a persistent problem among His children since the world began. Think of the times of Moses, when God provided manna and in miraculous and visible ways led and protected His children. Still, the prophet warned the people who had been so blessed, as prophets always have warned and always will: 'Take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life' (Deuteronomy 4:9).

"And the challenge to remember has always been the hardest for those who are blessed abundantly. Those who are faithful to God are protected and prospered. That comes as the result of serving God and keeping His commandments. But with those blessings comes the temptation to forget their source. It is easy to begin to feel the blessings were granted not by a loving God on whom we depend but by our own powers."

- Henry B. Eyring, "O Remember, Remember," General Conference, October 2007; see Ensign, November 2007, pp. 66-69
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

President Eyring suggests that throughout history, mankind has persistently experienced the problem of continually forgetting God. Many have never known Him, or choose to ignore Him as a general pattern of their lives. But in this excerpt, we are warned about a different challenge: when we are blessed by God, but then forget the source of the blessings. Ironically, when blessings come from God as a result of faithfulness and obedience, the temptation can be to forget the influence God has in our lives and instead assume our own efforts have produced the results.

It seems ironic that the recipient of a great gift would forget the Great Giver. President Eyring suggests a key to avoid the problem: safeguard our companionship with the Holy Ghost. He provides our means of contact across the veil of mortality, maintaining touch with the Divine. As we see through inspired eyes, we can maintain the eternal perspective that reminds us of our eternal debts and eternal gratitude. We must strive to always be worthy of that companionship, to help us always remember Him.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)