Elder Henry B. Eyring helps us to understand how remembering the goodness of God can effect a change in our natures:
I bear you my testimony that Jesus is the Christ, that he atoned for our sins, and that the keys which unlock the doors of eternal life were restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith and are on the earth today.
Not long ago a man asked me, “Does your church still believe that when Christ comes you will be living as one, the way they did in the city of Enoch?” He put a spin on the word still, as if we might not believe such a thing anymore. I said, “Yes, we do.” And then he said, “You are the people who could do it.”
I do not know why he thought that, but I know why he was right. He was right because this is the kingdom of God. Your baptism for the remission of sins and your receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost were offered by priesthood servants recognized by God.
And so the remembrance King Benjamin urged upon us can be ours. Remembrance is the seed of gratitude, which is the seed of generosity. Gratitude for the remission of sins is the seed of charity, the pure love of Christ. And so God has made possible for you and me this blessing, a change in our very natures: “And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.” (Moroni 8:26.)
I pray that we may make the simple choices which will lead us there to dwell with Him. And I pray that we will remember and be grateful for the gift of the Atonement and the gift of the Holy Ghost, which make that journey possible. (To Draw Closer to God: A Collection of Discourses [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1997], 79–81)
“They Did Remember His Words”
Helaman reminds his sons to keep the commandments, to remember their names and to emulate the good works of their forefathers, to remember the words of King Benjamin that the only means whereby they can be saved is through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, to remember that we are redeemed from our sins as we repent and not in our sins, and to remember to build upon the rock of our Redeemer, even the Lord Jesus Christ, which is a sure foundation upon which we will be able to withstand the devil and all his temptations.
The question then arises: How can we always remember Him and keep His commandments? As we ponder the things of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we recognize and remember His goodness and we increase our desire to live righteously. We forsake our sins only if we remember to do so; this is why we are ever working for, studying, and searching out the things of God. The sacramental prayers command us to remember His sacrifice, His body, and His blood, and to remember Him always and keep His commandments. If we do, we are rewarded with the blessing of always having His Spirit to be with us. Elder Henry B. Eyring has taught, “How can you and I remember, always, the goodness of God, that we can retain a remission of our sins? The Apostle John recorded what the Savior taught us of a gift of remembrance which comes through the gift of the Holy Ghost: ‘But 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.’ (John 14:26.)” (To Draw Closer to God: A Collection of Discourses [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1997], 77–78).
When we remember the goodness of God, we are humbled and our love of God increases, resulting in our ability to keep the commandments with more devotion and exactness (see John 14:15). Remembering becomes the key to righteousness. Let us search the scriptures, ponder and meditate, fast and pray, seek the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us, count our blessings, attend the temple, and use simple daily reminders in the form of memos posted in places we will often see. Simple acts of remembering, when accomplished, will turn us to our Heavenly Father and remind us who we are and what we need to do to return to His presence.