Elder Maxwell, while he was in South America, asked to visit a young man, Jared Ammon, dying of cancer in a hospital. “Is there anything we can do?” “Will you sing, ‘I am a Child of God?” They did. He died a few hours later. Despite difficult circumstances, when we remember who we are and our covenants, we can still rejoice and be grateful for our blessings. Forgetting frequently occurs and then we make mistakes and bring sorrow to our lives. The Book of Mormon is a story of a people who forgot. . . If you don’t have a perfect memory, then you must establish habits and patterns so we won’t be deceived. We use patterns at work–called procedures. The Lord has given us many patterns so we won’t be deceived. Studying the scriptures, daily and personal family prayer, family councils, home teaching, attending the temple, Sunday meetings, etc.–all to help us remember Him and keep our covenants. The tokens and marks the Savior received in His hands and feet are continual reminders to Him of us. He will not forget.
A couple of days ago, I was in Utah visiting our daughter. I went on a long run one morning. It was sunny, warm. I was having a wonderful time; I reached the turnaround point. I started to realize how warm it was. It was hot; I was thirsty; it was painful. I remembered an obstacle going out–a clear stream. It became a blessing coming back–I was not sure of the purity, but I splashed it all over. I was cooled. The water reminded me of being in the temple the day before in Alberta at my nephew’s marriage. The Alberta Temple is beautiful. By the entrance, just inside, is a small pool of water. Across it, carved in the granite on the wall, is an image of Jesus talking to the woman at the well in Samaria, and the words: “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst” (John 4:14). What a beautiful symbol and sign, and a reminder of the covenants of the temple.