Mosiah - Chapter 5

I know from experience that this mighty change of heart is available to be had by all.  I also know from experience that such a change is not necessarily permanent.

12 I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you.

Retaining Christ's name written upon our hearts is a deliberate act.  As di said yesterday, remember, remember, remember.  Later we will read of Nephites who dwindle in unbelief.  The reason?  They forgot.  They didn't remember to fuel the fires of faith, fires that once burned bright and so those fires dwindled and many cases died.

I don't thing the change of heart these people experienced was of such a permanent nature that they were free from the obligation to endure to the end.  The admonition in verse 12 makes that plain.  I have have often been in meeting or situation that equally inspired me, changed me, and motivated me.  But then I relaxed and resting upon my laurels so to speak, lost what I had been given.  This has probably happened to most of us.  That word remember is so critical to our happiness and progress.  It is mentioned in the Sacrament prayer and in myriad scriptures.  Remembering takes effort, always remembering takes diligent effort.  Whether it be sticky notes on a bathroom mirror, rocks under our pillows, bowls of water on our book shelves, whatever it takes we need to constantly remind ourselves to remember.  Of course daily scripture study is helpful, so in regular, even constant prayer.  Even those things can become so routine and mundane that they don't work for keeping my memory fresh on such important matters.  I still haven't mastered a keen, constant sense of remembrance.  I sure hope to.