3 Nephi 2 - Remember

It’s disturbing to me how fast the people have forgotten the miracle of one day, one night and a day of light that signified the coming of Christ.  Why is that so hard for them to wrap their brains around?  What happened that caused them to forget?  How can I avoid such a fate?  I know I’ve seen miracles and felt the Lord’s presence in my life.  Could I possibly explain it away as my own frenzied mind?  Never!

They “forgot the signs and wonders. . . and began to less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven. . .”  Their hearts became hard and they were blind in their minds and began to disbelieve the things they had heard and seen (v1).  They somehow imagined in their minds that men of the devil had created these things to deceive them.  Really?  That man could keep the sun from giving its light - even in the night?  The key word here is “forget”.  The signs and wonders they experienced became commonplace to them – somehow.  Is this one reason the brethren remind us over and over again that “remember” is the most important word in the scriptures?  Is this one reason we have been given the commandment to renew our baptismal covenants weekly by partaking of the sacrament? 

It grieves me to see people I love take casually their Sabbath worship.  Church seems to be optional, or they have stopped going completely.  That is definitely the beginning of a fast spiral down into the depths of despair and disbelief.  Why do I put those two words together in this context?  I put these words together because for myself, when I got to the point of no activity at all, my life was in a state of hopelessness – aka despair.  There really wasn’t much that brought joy into my life.  It is the participation I have each Sabbath day in partaking the sacrament, remembering my Savior and the price He paid for the blessings I enjoy, that help me remember that it isn’t a hoax.  The miracles I’ve experienced are real.  The Lord is mindful of me and rescued me from a state of unhappiness for which I will ever be grateful.  I will never forget the joy I felt as I came out of that darkness and into the light. 

Is it my Sunday worship that helps me remember?  It is the promises I make weekly that help me remember.  I want to always be worthy of those blessings and protections that come from serving the Lord.  In so doing, I remember to serve and help others, read my scriptures and pray, thus joy is brought into my life.  It is a perfect plan.  It is the Lord’s plan to keep us safe so we can return to Him.  Oh, how I love my Sundays!!!