“CTR—Choose to Remember,” New Era, Mar. 2004, 47

CTR—Choose to Remember

Recently, my study of the Book of Mormon impressed me with the great number of times prophets counseled the people to “remember.”

There are dozens of references where prophets counsel the people to “remember” or “bring to their remembrance” the covenants they had made and God’s love for them. Alma encouraged his son: “Remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth” (Alma 37:35). Helaman counseled, “Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation” (Hel. 5:12).

I am convinced that the problems we face today and the reason that we make bad choices is because we forget who we are. We are children of our Heavenly Father. We accepted His plan for our happiness and eternal progression, or we would not have been given the privilege of coming to earth in the first place! The problem is that too often we forget who we really are and make bad choices. We just don’t remember!

While thinking about this the other day, I glanced down at my CTR ring and thought, “If only we would remember to choose the right.” Then it dawned on me that CTR could also stand for “choose to remember.” If we remembered our true identities and divine potential, we would make better choices!

Then it hit me that CTR might also represent “Christ the Redeemer.” What power and strength would come when we were challenged with evil or temptation if we were reminded to choose to remember Christ the Redeemer.

My CTR ring took on new meaning that day. Now when I think about what these three letters can represent, I am reminded that I am not left alone to face my challenges if I choose to remember Christ the Redeemer.