Remember is a most important word indeed. Helaman’s wonderful manner of counseling as recalled by his sons, Nephi and Lehi, teaches us the power of the doctrine of remembering—a key to righteous living. In the contrasting portraits of pride and humility, iniquity and righteousness, rebellion and alignment with God’s will in these pages, we see clearly the lessons we are to remember. It is instructive that Helaman names his sons after two of their stalwart ancestors, the prophets Nephi and Lehi, both exemplary servants of the Lord—a further confirmation of his commitment to pass on to his posterity the hope of an inheritance in the kingdom of God. Nephi and Lehi are to remember the source of their names so that they will emulate the good works of their forebears.
From the start, the Book of Mormon presents itself as a guidebook for the process of remembering. Moroni, through whose hands the plates last pass, imbues his summary title page with the spirit of remembering: “Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.” Alma teaches his son Helaman the doctrine of remembering when he commissions him to take over the responsibility to keep the plates: “And now, it has hitherto been wisdom in God that these things should be preserved; for behold, they have enlarged the memory of this people, yea, and convinced many of the error of their ways, and brought them to the knowledge of their God unto the salvation of their souls” (Alma 37:8). It is through remembering the mercy of the Lord and honoring our covenants with Him that we realize all spiritual blessings.