In a Book of Mormon passage familiar to virtually everyone who has ever been an LDS missionary, Moroni says, "Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, ... that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts" (Moroni 10:3).

Moroni, of course, goes on to exhort the reader to ask God if the gospel teachings contained in the Nephite record are true and to promise that if one does so sincerely, God will manifest their truthfulness by the power of the Holy Ghost (see verses 4 and 5).

By enjoining the reader to remember God's mercy, Moroni is saying that if God has been merciful to His children from the time of Adam forward, then one has reason to hope that God will also be merciful to the reader of the Book of Mormon and will answer a sincere prayer for a spiritual witness.

Remembering God's mercy, as manifested in the distant past as well as in more recent times, can be a powerful motivator. It can see us through times of darkness and difficulty. It can buoy us up, strengthen our faith, overcome discouragement, give us courage, spur us on in righteousness and valiance.

This, no doubt, is the reason that the command to "remember" occurs so frequently in the scriptures.

In the 81st Psalm, for example, the Israelites are commanded to "make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob" and to celebrate with musical instruments on a solemn feast day. This they are to do in remembrance of the Lord's goodness to Israel, how He delivered them from the burden of their captivity and enslavement in Egypt, how He quenched their thirst at Horeb by commanding Moses to smite the rock with a rod, bringing forth water.

Conversely, the Lord reminds His covenant people that their troubles in times past have come as a consequence of their turning to the idolatrous practices of the heathen nations, thus forgetting the covenant He has made with them, as expressed in these verses:

"Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

"I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.

"The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.

"He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee" (Psalm 81:13-16).

In a grand, parting message to the Israelites before they were to cross over the river Jordan into the promised land, Moses reminded them of all the Lord had done for them and of the laws and statutes they had been given.

"Keep therefore and do them;" he admonished, "for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

"Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee" (Deuteronomy 4:6, 23).

Today, as anciently, we enter into covenants with God as a pledge to obey His word in all things. In so doing, we open the way for Him to send His mercy and blessings to us.

When we make such covenants, we take part in associated ordinances, which impress upon our minds the importance of the covenants we make and, in ensuing days and years, can be powerful reminders of what we have pledged to do.

For example, a Latter-day Saint typically will remember his baptism clearly, even if he was only 8 years old at the time. Thus recalling that momentous occasion, the Church member recognizes the covenants associated with that particular ordinance and remembers what he has pledged to do and what the Lord has promised in return.

Partaking of the sacrament weekly is often spoken of as "renewing" one's covenants. It also renews within the mind the memory of past ordinances one has received, ordinances that have certified one's willingness to enter into the covenant, just as surely as a signature on a document.

Like ancient Israel, we have our observances and celebrations to remind us of God's mercy. This month, Latter-day Saints in Utah and in other areas of the Church will observe Pioneer Day, recalling God's mercy in preserving His latter-day covenant people, strengthening them through trial and establishing His kingdom in the tops of the mountains.

As Moses enjoined ancient Israel, may we "take heed unto" ourselves and remember the covenants we have made and His mercy.