Remember. 3/18/13

Dear Friends and Family, Not much to write about this week, we are still working hard. Today we played capture the flag against another zone. We won. I am sunburnt. Story of my life. More important than this, I was asked to give a spiritual thought in our weekly zone meeting Thursday, and I feel that you all should hear or read it as well. At times we can be overwhelmed with the amount of struggles and trials that we have in this life. One of the most overwhelming is the devious strategy of the enemy to take sacred things and paint them in a way that is no longer sacred. Here in the mission I have seen a lot of this. People do not understand the importance and eternal nature of the family. They interpret the word of God in whichever way is most convenient. Pastors get up on rooftops during my personal scripture study and scream the sacred name of my Savior into a microphone with vicious repetition. Sometimes Satan´s attacks are more subtle. Sometimes we have so much to focus on that we simply forget other things, such as temple covenants, scripture study, etc. Sometimes, in the midst of all of our trials and forgetfulness, the thought comes to our mind that we ourselves are forgotten. Forgotten to family and friends, overlooked and unrecognized professionally, and whatever else. My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify that this is not true. The Lord Himself has said: "But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me—but he will show that he hath not." "For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel." "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." The Lord remembers us every time he looks at His hands. Likewise He invites us to do the same. "Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen." One of the most important, inspiring words is simply ¨remember¨. We are commanded to remember Him by praying, reading, and attending church. We promise to remember Him when we partake of the sacred emblems of the Sacrament. So it is this invitation that submit to all of you whom I love so much. Remember Him. Remember that you have promised to follow Him and be like Him. Remember those sacred covenants made in the waters of baptism and holy temples. Remember that you are children of a Heavenly Father that loves you. Remember that the Savior comes quickly, and the enemy will be bound. Remember this divine hope and promise that He gives us. Elder Nichols