One Final Quote....Worth Remembering!

Well, it's just past 11:00pm on the final day of our Book of Mormon challenge, and I'm finally finished. What an experience!

I have such a feeling of gratitude for the power of the Book of Mormon, and for all the sacrifices that went into making it available to us in these latter days. I fell behind midway through the challenge and had to spend the last several days reading quite a bit in order to finish on time. I actually enjoyed reading so much in one sitting (or standing as was usually the case in order to keep myself awake), because it really made the highlights stand out:

1. The Lord loves his people and is always there for them and readily willing to forgive them and to deliver them.
2. The people always receive a warning from the Lord through His prophets of their destruction, and they almost always don't change until after the fact.
3. The word "Remember" weaves through this sacred book like a sweet sonata leading its reader to a higher place of peace, happiness, and salvation.

I am convinced that the word Remember is the most important word in the English language. It is the hinge upon which every door swings towards salvation or destruction. When we remember, we humbly repent and merit the mercy of our Savior; when we forget, we lift ourselves up in pride and deserve the destruction of our Adversary.

The word remember appears 161 times in the Book of Mormon. There's a quote I found from then Elder Spencer W. Kimball that's certainly worth remembering:

“When you look in the dictionary for the most important word, do you know what it is? It could be ‘remember.’ Because all of [us] have made covenants … our greatest need is to remember. That is why everyone goes to sacrament meeting every Sabbath day—to take the sacrament and listen to the priests pray that [we] ‘… may always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given [us].’ … ‘Remember’ is the word” (Circles of Exaltation [address to religious educators, Brigham Young University, 28 June 1968], 8).

This was a wonderful challenge for me to exercise my faith for a season and diligently pray for two of my beloved young brethren in the gospel, Cameron Mitchell and Treyson Burke. I don't know that they kept their end of the commitment to read the Book of Mormon in 60 days, but I do know that an experience will come into their lives that will turn their hearts to the Lord and cause them to remember their covenants and have the desire to serve a mission. I spent some time in the temple today and fasted in prayer and faith that the Lord would help these fine young men.

I don't know the time tables of the Lord, but I know He answers and I know He delivers....I can't wait to see those names on the back of that sacrament program!