There are nearly 400 scripture references to the word remember. We are commanded to always remember Him, Jesus Christ. As we partake of the sacrament, we promise to “always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them” (D&C 20:77)
But is it possible to actually “always Remember Christ?”
Recently in our family scripture study, this phrase to “always remember” stood out to me. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I felt unsettled. Could I actually say that I do remember Him always? This bothered me some.
Is it possible to always be thinking about Jesus Christ? Experts estimate that the mind thinks between 60,000 – 80,000 thoughts a day. That’s an average of 2500 – 3,300 thoughts per hour. How many of these thoughts are centralized in Jesus Christ? Most of our thoughts- frankly – are useless.
But perhaps remembering and thinking are separate items. So maybe I’m off the hook for my 60,000 thoughts… wrong! “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:36) So I commanded to “always” remember Him AND to look to Him in every thought…how is that possible?
We know that the Lord doesn’t give us commandments save “save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” So there needs to be a way that I could stand before the Lord and confess that I do indeed remember Him.
What does it mean to Always Remember?
Definition of Remember
- have in or be able to bring to one’s mind an awareness of (someone or something that one has seen, known, or experienced in the past).
- Do something that one has undertaken to do or that is necessary or advisable.”did you remember to mail the letters?
- Used to emphasize the importance of what is asserted.”you must remember that this is a secret”
- Bear (someone) in mind by making them a gift or making provision for them.”he has remembered the boy in a codicil to his will
- Pray for the success or well-being of.”the congress should be remembered in our prayers
Origin
Pray always expierence
A memory comes to my mind, when I was on a similair quest to understand how could it be possible to pray always. I was serving a mission in Brazil at the time I wrestled with this question. As I was striving to constantly be praying, I found it difficult to be praying every minute- even by “having a prayer in my heart.”
I was walking down the street when felt impressed to stop and bear testimony to a man on the side of road. As I did so, peaceful feeling came upon me. I was not proactively thinking the words of a prayer in my mind, but I had received an answer to a prayer to be guided and I acted on it. I learned in that moment that to pray always is not merely thinking words associated with prayer, but always being ready to receive communication from heaven. It has more to do with my attitude and spirit, than it did with my actually thoughts. Now as I look over the definition of remembering- I see a similar trend.
So What is it I’m always remembering?
His Premortal Life
We could remember the Savior’s premortal life and all that we know him to have done as the great Jehovah, creator of heaven and earth and all things that in them are. We could remember that even in the Grand Council of Heaven he loved us and was wonderfully strong, that we triumphed even there by the power of Christ and our faith in the blood of the Lamb (see Rev. 12:10–11).
His Birth
We could remember the simple grandeur of his mortal birth to just a young woman, one probably in the age range of those in our Young Women organization, who spoke for every faithful woman in every dispensation of time when she said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).
We could remember his magnificent but virtually unknown foster father, a humble carpenter by trade who taught us, among other things, that quiet, plain, unpretentious people have moved this majestic work forward from the very beginning, and still do so today. If you are serving almost anonymously, please know that so, too, did one of the best men who has ever lived on this earth.
His Teachings
We could remember Christ’s miracles and his teachings, his healings and his help. We could remember that he gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf and motion to the lame and the maimed and the withered. Then, on those days when we feel our progress has halted or our joys and views have grown dim, we can press forward steadfastly in Christ, with unshaken faith in him and a perfect brightness of hope (see 2 Ne. 31:19–20).
We could remember that even with such a solemn mission given to him, the Savior found delight in living; he enjoyed people and told his disciples to be of good cheer. He said we should be as thrilled with the gospel as one who had found a great treasure, a veritable pearl of great price, right on our own doorstep. We could remember that Jesus found special joy and happiness in children and said all of us should be more like them—guileless and pure, quick to laugh and to love and to forgive, slow to remember any offense.
We could remember that Christ called his disciples friends, and that friends are those who stand by us in times of loneliness or potential despair. We could remember a friend we need to contact or, better yet, a friend we need to make. In doing so we could remember that God often provides his blessings through the compassionate and timely response of another. For someone nearby we may be the means of heaven’s answer to a very urgent prayer.
What we have because of Him
We could—and should—remember the wonderful things that have come to us in our lives and that “all things which are good cometh of Christ” (Moro. 7:24). Those of us who are so blessed could remember the courage of those around us who face more difficulty than we, but who remain cheerful, who do the best they can, and trust that the Bright and Morning Star will rise again for them—as surely he will do (see Rev. 22:16).
The injustice
On some days we will have cause to remember the unkind treatment he received, the rejection he experienced, and the injustice—oh, the injustice—he endured. When we, too, then face some of that in life, we can remember that Christ was also troubled on every side, but not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed (see 2 Cor. 4:8–9).
When those difficult times come to us, we can remember that Jesus had to descend below all things before he could ascend above them, and that he suffered pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind that he might be filled with mercy and know how to succor his people in their infirmities (see D&C 88:6; Alma 7:11–12).
That He’s with us
To those who stagger or stumble, he is there to steady and strengthen us. In the end he is there to save us, and for all this he gave his life. However dim our days may seem they have been darker for the Savior of the world.
That He remembers us
“Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.”
1 Nephi 21:15-16
Conclusion
We best “remember” the Savior Jesus Christ by the way we live. Yes it shows in our thoughts- but not necessarily if they are always thinking about him. Rather if they are clean and pure’s like Him. It shows in our words, not necessarily that we only talk about Him, but rather do we speak like Him? Are we kind? Do we stand up for truth? Do we forgive? It shows in our actions. Do our actions “always remember Him?”
It is possible to always remember Him and to achieve that supernal blessing to “always have his spirit to be with us.” I can’t think of anything of greater worth than that presence.
