"And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole. And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren..." (Alma 46:12-13)
God's prescription for doubt is found in the Hebrew word zachor (remember). It is in remembrance that we find our connection to the faith and experiences of the ancients. In remembering Captain Moroni and his Title of Liberty we remember that the foundation of our liberty is found in memory of our God, our religion, our freedom, our peace, our wives and our children. It is when these things come to danger that our faith is revealed. In these times, there stirs in the heart of every man and woman-father and mother- son and daughter- an intrinsic force that awakens deep within the confines of our soul. This force of love and life is the light of faith that awakens the defender within each of us to protect those things we hold most precious.
It is in remembrance of the captivity of our Fathers in Egypt that we find deliverance and that road out of our trials and tribulations. It is in remembrance of The Passover that we embrace our identity and salvation as the Children of Israel:
"And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten." (Exodus 13:3)
It is remembrance of Shavuot that we receive the blessings of God's covenant. It is remembrance of Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) that we receive and embrace the presence and name of God (YHVH). It is in remembering Sukkot that we remember the Joy of Israel at Sinai and the promise of the restoration of all Israel and the presence of God through all generations of time.
The gift and power of remembrance is designed to unveil the faith that is already available in its fullness in our very soul. It is in the principle of remembrance that we awaken to our true identity amidst the clouds or darkness that rise up to steer us down forbidden paths.
"Remembrance" is an ancient key to unleash the power of God in our lives in everything we do. We unleash its power on a weekly basis as we remember the sabbath day:
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." (Exodus 20:8)
We unleash the power of remembrance as we partake of bread and wine:
"O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen." (Moroni 4:3)
and
" O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen." ( Moroni 5:2)
Whether it be the Appointed times of Israel, the Weekly Sabbath, or the partaking of Sacramental bread and wine these days and tokens of remembrance are designed to unveil our faith and to release the light that the world so desperately seeks to extinguish. Is it any wonder right now that there are forces that seek to destroy the remembrance of God's holy days and tokens of remembrance? Is it any wonder right now in the United States of America that there are forces seeking to destroy the historical memorials to the faith and freedom upon which this nation was founded?
Our Adversary is here stirring up the hearts of many in our nation to anger and forgetfulness regarding those things which are sacred. We see it in the removal of the 10 Commandments from our State Buildings and Courtrooms. We see it in the revisionist history of the founding of America and the labeling of the Founding Fathers as evil. We see it in the removal of God and his word from our homes and schools. And when there is nothing left to remember, the veil of darkness is upon us and we will find ourselves in the strong chains of the Evil One:
"And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.
For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness.
He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw call men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.
Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.
Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.
Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden... for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them ball to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile." (2 Nephi 26)
Let us never forget this Legacy of Faith!
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