Sufficiently Retaining in Remembrance

 Sometimes I get to the end of a church meeting or a scripture study session and don't feel like I learned anything profound. Even if I felt the Spirit, when I ask myself (or am asked) what I learned, I either can't remember (more likely) or realize that it was something I already knew (for example, "Trust in the Lord" or "Try to be like Jesus"). That often makes me wonder if I really got anything out of the experience.

But today in my scripture study, something clicked for me. I read where Alma talks to a people who are struggling because they've forgotten what they used to feel and know about the gospel of Christ. As I thought about how hard it is to always remember God and what I can do better to "sufficiently retain in remembrance" the Lord and what he has done for me, I realized that much of the purpose of praying, studying the scriptures, actively participating in church meetings, and so forth is exactly this--to remember. While I may not always learn something totally new, these experiences ALWAYS help me to remember what I have already learned, felt, and experienced before. In other words, praying, reading, and worshipping not only SHOW that we always remember God but actually HELP us to always remember him.

To be truthful, this insight is not something that I realized for the first time today. I have learned this lesson many times before and forgotten--but my study today in the Book of Mormon allowed the Spirit to reteach me and to help me remember this truth. Chances are that even after writing up this reflection, I will forget this insight again. But if I keep praying, studying the scriptures, and attending church, I'm sure I will keep getting reminded