What does it mean to always remember?
How does it relate to being born again and repentance?
What effect does it have?
The Israelites were given daily, weekly, and yearly rituals steeped in symbolic meaning to help them to always remember God and to be pure before him that his presence might dwell in the congregation of Israel. When Moses explains to the children of Israel what these commandments are for he says:
“Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you… That thou mightest fear (reverence) the Lord thy God, to keep all his statues and his commandments… that thy days may be prolonged… that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily… in the land…
Hear, O Israel:
The Lord our God is one Lord:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” — Deuteronomy 6:1-9
This passage in Deuteronomy is known by the Jewish people as Shema, a prayer that serves as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services. It is traditional for Jews to say the Shema as their last words, and for parents to teach their children to say it before they go to sleep at night. The mezuzah, which is a receptacle for a scroll with the Shema prayer, is found on the door posts of Jewish homes and is a daily reminder when they leave or come into their homes that they are to remember the Lord God and love him with all their hearts, souls, and might.
Though Christ’s coming and mission was to fulfill the law of Moses, he did not come to destroy the law or for any of its central purposes to be lost.
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 5:17-19
Christ and his apostles taught that some rituals were no longer necessary because in Christ their purpose had been fulfilled, but Christ did not leave us without ritual and law. In fact, the new sacraments are similar those practiced in the preparatory law of Moses. Most important remains the purpose for which they were given which is that we would always remember him and serve him.
The sacrament that remains at the center of our worship, and is comparable in symbol and purpose to the Passover, is the sacrament of the Lord’s supper.
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Given to the apostles at the Passover meal before his crucifixion, this sacrament is a holy observance that is part of most Christian worship serves on a weekly basis. It is a very important part of how we keep a remembrance of Christ with us. There is another account of this sacrament in the Book of Mormon.
“And he said unto the disciples… this shall ye always observe to do, even as I have done… this shall ye do in remembrance of my body… and… in remembrance of my blood, which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.” — 3 Nephi 18:1-11, Book of Mormon
In this account you see two important ideas emphasized. First, that we observe this sacrament regularly so that we will always remember the saving and redeeming power of God. And secondly, that we may have His Spirit to be with us. As Christian’s we believe that the sacrament of the Lord’s supper is a ritual of renewal and cleansing of sin. When we observe this sacrament in sincerity and with a humble and contrite spirit and penitent heart, we are purified through His Spirit. Purity of spirit is a necessary condition for us to receive and retain the Holy Ghost to be with us. And subsequently the gift of the Holy Ghost acts within us to help us always remember Christ.
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth… for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you… The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” — John 14:16-17, 26-27
The gift of the Holy Ghost and his abiding with us becomes essential to us as we strive to always remember God’s redemption and our duty to God. Without the constant aid of the Holy Ghost we cannot keep the commandments, and we must strive daily to keep the commandments in order to have his Spirit with us. As Peter taught, “The Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.” (Acts 5:32) This relationship between faith and works is reliant upon the power of His Spirit in our lives.
At this point we come full circle, demonstrating the relationship between baptism, daily repentance, weekly remembrance in the sacrament, and the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. This is what Peter taught when he said: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38)
The sacraments, ordinances (rituals), and covenants (promises to act) that we observe to keep are daily, weekly, and yearly reminders of the infinite atonement of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The seeking and receiving of the gift of the Holy Ghost makes it possible for us to keep the third commandant and take upon ourselves the name of Christ with diligence, to experience the transformative powers of his atonement as we become disciples fully converted. In this covenant relationship with Christ our natures are changed and in us his name is not vain.
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