How could such a tragedy happen? I do not know all the reasons, but I believe at least some of it had to do with the danger of forgetting.
Jehovah understood the power of remembrance, and lovingly urged the children of Israel to never forget his marvelous works and power as He commanded; “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy son's sons …." Deuteronomy 4:9
Sadly, history demonstrates that the children of Israel did forget, and it eventually led them to destruction and the diaspora. Rudyard Kipling understood that sentiment and took a lesson from history. He acknowledged the power of remembrance and taught it in his poem "Recessional" ending each stanza with a powerful plea; “Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget, lest we forget.”
Satan is the master of deceit. As part of his tactics to lead us from God and to the accommodations of his Great and Spacious building, he will try to cloud the memory, to force us to focus on the present woes, fears, sorrows, pains and to forget or doubt both the sweet spiritual experiences of the past, and the great hope based in past promises of future joys.
What if those who had partaken of the fruit and fallen, had turned their gaze from the mockers and looked instead back down the path, observing the souls then struggling through the mists of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron. Would that vision have inspired them to remember their own struggles, journey, valiance, and the power of the rod that got them through? Would remembering have provided them with strength to acknowledge God’s goodness and to stand with Nephi and the others, who “heeded not” the mocking, claims, and lies of those in the foundationless ivory tower standing in the air. It seems clear to me that it would, because as the scriptures teach there is great power in remembrance. For example:
--David found sanctuary in remembering God’s works and “wonders of old” Psalm 77:11-13
--It was remembering God and the words of Nephi that lead a starving civilization on the point of destruction to at last repent. Helaman 11:7
--The cure for a doubting Oliver was to remember the previous spiritual experience he had with God. D&C 6:22-23
--It was the remembrance of the faith and teachings of their mothers that lead to the miraculous preservation of the young Ammonite Warriors. Alma 56.
--It was Alma the Younger Remembrance of the teachings of his father that lifted him from the awful doom. Alma 36:17
--It was Remembering the words he had oft heard his father speak, that lead a humble Enos to complete conversion. Enos 1:3
-- It is the power of Remembering that brings efficacy to the Sacrament, and unlocks some of the inestimable gifts of the atonement. D & C 20: 77, 79 Luke 22:18-20.
Oh how powerful are the final words recorded of King Benjamin as spoke to his people from the tower….. ….remember and perish not!