Remembering

I am reading in Ether these days.  (I had better hurry up if I am going to finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year!)

One thing that has stuck out to me in the last few chapters is remembering.  In Ether 6:12, it talks about the Brother of Jared and his family landing in the Promised Land, after traveling for nearly a year on the ocean.  They immediately drop to their knees in thanks to their God for bringing them safely there.  They "did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because the multitude of his tender mercies over them."

When you look at the footnote for 12c, "tender mercies", it references two other scriptures, Ether 7:27 and Ether 10:2.

In Ether 7:27 it says:  "And there were no more wars in the days of Shule; and he remembered the great things that the Lord had done for his fathers in bringing them across the great deep into the promised land; wherefore he did execute judgment in righteousness all his days."  (emphasis added)

Ether 10:2 says: "And it came to pass that Shez did remember the destruction of his fathers, and he did build up a righteous kingdom; for he remembered what the Lord had done in bringing Jared and his brother across the deep; and he did walk in the ways of the Lord; and he begat sons and daughters."  (emphasis added)

It would seem that the tender mercies that they were referring to came because they remembered.  They remembered that the Lord had done great and marvelous things for them and for those who had come before them.

tender mercies = remembering blessings

good judgement = remembering blessings

righteous living = remembering blessings

I am seeing a pattern here!

Even the promise of the Book of Mormon found in Moroni 10:3-5 says:

"Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

acquiring truth = remembering blessings

(If you would like a free copy of the Book of Mormon to learn more about this amazing promise, click HERE)

The scriptures are so vital to us that Heavenly Father has gone to great lengths throughout history to make them available to us.  He inspired prophets and faithful saints through countless generations to preserve their history and experiences.  He sent Nephi back to get the plates to preserve the record of their fathers.  He made sure that faithful men kept the records of the Nephites safe so that they would not be destroyed.  He blessed Joseph Smith on numerous occasions to avoid men who were intent on destroying the gold plates.  The scriptures are a record of those who have gone before us that help us to remember the blessings that have come before us, AND the blessings that we might have for ourselves!  We should spend valuable time to search the scriptures to find these marvelous insights that inspire us to do better, to become closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ.  To remember.

remembering blessings = scripture study