O, Remember, Remember

Section: Alma 62-Helaman 5

Helaman 2:8 servant of Helaman speaks to Kishkumen

Helaman 5:6 Lehi & Nephi recall the words which their father spake

Helaman 5:9, 10 Flashback to King Benjamin’s sermon and to Amulek’s speaking to Zeezrom

Helaman 5:26 Nephi and Lehi speak to the crowd while encircled by fire

Helaman 5:29, 32, 33 Voice of an angel crying repentence 3X

Helaman 5: 38-42 Dialogue between crowd and Aminidab

Helaman 5: 47 Voice from heaven declaring peace

Specific section analyzed: Helaman 5: 6,9-10

“Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good

O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world. And remember also the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah; for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins.”

In this passage, Helaman begins by clearly stating that his purpose for addressing his audience (his sons, Nephi & Lehi) is for them to keep the commandments and declare the gospel.  He then establishes his credibility by alluding to earlier prophets and their words, beginning with a reference to Nephi & Lehi’s namesakes, and then continuing by paraphrasing King Benjamin and Amulek. Helaman focuses on the word “remember”, at one point repeating it, clearly pointing to the teachings of those who went before him. The focal point of what he asks his sons to look back and recall is the atonement of Jesus Christ, which was at this point still in the future.

Remember...

As a vital part of life for a person growing up in the LDS culture, I have heard innumerable speeches; most of which, I have no remembrance.  It is really difficult for me to recall spoken information, seeing that I am mostly a visual learner.  But occasionally, one spoken gem will shine like a lighthouse into the mysterious, foggy depths of my memory. My mission president delivered one such speech to me.

He first called my attention by referring to ancient hieroglyphs, which had to be deciphered and analyzed in order to be completely understood.  As the son of an archaeologist, I had a vivid mental image of this concept in my mind. As he explained that the scriptures also have these hidden meanings and messages inside of them, he analyzed those meanings by asking us about each key word in one verse of scripture; D&C 18:10. 

He asked us what “worth” was, and what things were precious to us in our lives.  I learned about the importance of a “soul,” or a child of God.  I was brought to ponder the things that are “great” to me. Everything important, special, large, or extensive to me was pulled into my memory.  A large turning point for me was when his delivery method of effective questions brought me to realize that the scripture does not ask what is great to us, but what is great to God. In my mind’s eye I was whisked away from the earth, out through the solar system, to the edges of the galaxy. But when I came to a halt, and beheld the greatness of the universe, I realized that to Him, that was not something extensive, or great; but I was. 

That was something that Heavenly Father wanted me to “remember.”

I have read or heard this verse of scripture hundreds of times, but when the speaker used such an effective topical structure, and delivered the message in a way that I had time in between questions to decipher and imagine the messages, it became a lesson, that I will never forget.