Thankfully, unlike Alzheimer’s, spiritual apostacy is completely reversible. The life changing power of spiritual events in our lives can be reborn, rejuvenated, restored through the power of remembrance. While those who suffer from physical dementia, long to remember but simply cannot, those with spiritual dementia can remember though the power and influence of the Holy Ghost which Christ taught will; “bring all things to remembrance.” John 14:26.
A loving Father in Heaven teaches us, through many scriptural pleadings, to find the power in remembrance. i.e. God pleads with Adam to remember his commands, (Moses 3:17), encouraged the children of Israel to avoid apostasy and by remembering all he had done for them, (Deuteronomy 15:15) inspired Paul to encourage Timothy to be strong through remembrance of Christ’s resurrection, (2 Timothy 2:8), lead a prophet/king to plead with his people to “remember and perish not,” ( Mosiah 4:30), and instructed His church that the way out of condemnation was for them to remember the Book of Mormon, (D & C 84:54-57). Most importantly, weekly in our Sacrament services we learn that it is in the act of remembrance that we have the saving promise of the constant companionship of His spirit.
Write Them Down-Satan knows the power that comes to us in remembrance and so will seek to cloud those memories with doubts and distractions. I love the scene in one of the Christmas Carol movies where Scrooge, whose spiritual dementia had lead him into deep narcissism, is (courtesy of the Ghost of Christmas Past), seeing and feeling the power of Christmas from his past. In a moment of self-justification, he remarks how memories are flawed and embellished over time. To which the spirit asks, “This was all a lie then?” but on reflection a humbler scrooge admits: “No, it was just like that.”
One way we can resist satan’s temptations to forget and to doubt memories of the past is for us to write down our experiences as we have them, remembering that the palest ink is better that the finest memory. President Eyring learned that lesson when, after pondering a sweet experience, the spirit told him; “I’m not giving you these experiences for yourself. Write them down.” His obedience to that directive has blessed his family for years. (Oh Remember, Remember OCT 2007). President Wilford Woodruff recorded; “I have been inspired and moved upon to keep a journal and write the affairs of this Church as far as I can. I did not understand why my feelings were exercised so much in the early age of this Church, but I understand it now. I seldom ever heard Brother Joseph or the Twelve preach or teach any principle but what I felt as uneasy as a fish out of water until I had written it.” (Chapter 13: Teachings of President Woodruff)
Review them Often- A doubting and fearful Oliver Cowdery was instructed by God to think back on his conversion experience. (D & C 6:22-23). I have on occasion found great peace and sweet comfort in reviewing journals and notes made about spiritual experiences of the past. At times, I have discovered deeply buried, even momentarily forgotten experiences, the discovery of which has brought back the same spirit and power I felt when the events happened. As I have been writing my book about our experiences in the chaplaincy, my pondering, looking over military records, reviewing photographs, etc. have brought me peace, love and the spirit as I remember the many miraculous and uplifting experiences that God blessed us with during those times.
If we find ourselves in the mists of doubting darkness, we can find light, by going to our records of the past, and remembering God, his witness, his love, his power. In that way, remembering can truly save us from perishing. It is just one powerful form of another remedy to personal apostasy, which is choosing to focus on that which is truly needful......