Retain in Remembrance

Happy Sunday!! Today I would like to continue a thought from last week regarding having a "broken heart and a contrite spirit." More specifically, how do we know when we are broken and contrite? What does this feel like?

First off, why is it even important to know when we are "becom[ing] as a little child"? (Mosiah 3:19) I personally believe this is because empowerment happens through repentance and application of the Atonement, which is first put into motion by a broken heart and contrite spirit. In Doctrine and Covenants 136: 32-33 we read:

Let him that is ignorant learn wisdom by humbling himself and calling upon the Lord his God, that his eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that he may hear;

For my Spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite, and to the condemnation of the ungodly.

As we see here, the Spirit will enlighten our minds if we are humble, contrite, and teachable. And I think we can tell if we are "there" if we are constantly striving to improve our spiritual well-being. Going against the grain becomes ever more salient, and it must become a lifestyle. In its nature, however, there is no sensitization that exists that causes one to experience less opposition as he or she consciously and sincerely tries to improve. It will be a constant fight, but it is one that I am confident we can win, as long as we stay by the Master's side. King Benjamin elucidated this fact quite poignantly:

And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.

And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true. (Mosiah 4:10-12)

I really like how King Benjamin explains that we will inevitable find joy if we retain in remembrance our own nothingness. It almost seems counter-intuitive, but luckily Heavenly Father's intuition transcends our own! I like how he also promises here that we will grow in knowledge of the glory of Jesus Christ, the source of all truth and goodness.

It is my hope that this week we can remember God's greatness, and remember our nothingness before him. Let us not wait until the last moment to let him sit at our side; let us develop a relationship with divinity here and now, that we may be filled with the joy and love of which Benjamin speaks.

Have a Great Week!!