Question

Dear Gramps,

We all know that sentinels guard the way to the gates of heaven. As members of the Mormon Church we are given certain information that must be passed on prior to entering into the presence of the Lord. My question is: What about those who for reasons of health or just inactivity, cannot remember the required information? Will they be given help to remember the information necessary to pass by the sentinels?

Bill

Answer

Dear Bill,

Our minds are marvelous machines. Every event of our lifetimes is permanently recorded on our mental “hard drive.” While in mortality we often forget either the password or the name of the file where it is stored, and so we sometimes think that it has been erased–not so. And when we are freed from the viruses of mortality we will have instant access to the hard drive, and all will be clear.

It is possible, however, to actually erase things from the mental hard drive so that they exist there no more. When we thoroughly and completely repent of a wrong doing, although we will still be able to access the data, the connection of that data through our CPU to the responsibility and liability section of our mental microcircuitry will be severed, and we will feel no responsibility or sense of ownership for those inappropriate actions. Alma expressed it well when he said,

And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more (Alma 36:19).

Although Alma could remember his sins, he couldn’t remember the pains associated with them.

On the other hand, if after having repented, we turn again to our evil ways, all those unseemly connections will be reestablished, and the good connections will be terminated. (As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he).

So, not to worry, when you get to the other side any signs, tokens or key words that may be required will be as near as your mental keyboard.

Gramps