Denk an Mich Remember Me
Artist: Brent Borup
I’ve been working on learning German this year. In the process, I have gained
more knowledge and understanding of my own language and about the Gospel of
Jesus Christ.
Throughout my life, I’ve heard my father say these words to my mother each time
he was ready to leave the house—“Denk an mich.” He would hug and kiss her
goodbye, and then say, “Denk an mich.”
Some things in German sound so similar to English that I always thought this just meant think about me. It makes sense; and that simple translation that I extracted is not incorrect. But the words “Denk an mich” mean so much more. These words mean, “Remember me.”
I came to this realization while reading Das Buch Mormon – ein weiterer Zeuge für Jesus Christus. I have both the German and the English copies side-by-side when I’m reading, and “denk daran” absolutely means “remember.” Within my mind and heart, this has given rise to many new thoughts, both about my parents’ relationship with each other and my own relationship with Jesus Christ.
I am sure my mother wouldn’t forget my father when he was gone during the daylight hours to work. She’d certainly remember him when he got home. But thinking about someone and his happiness, and serving that person, builds ties and unity, soundness and wholeness and makes us one with that person. That is what makes us remember; not only recalling who that person is, but the deep emotions, loyalty, commitment, and conviction we feel in association with that person. My parents truly grew closer to each other and to God, through conscious thought, planning, serving, and loving. They never forgot how important their spouse was to them, or their God.
Each Sunday I partake of the Sacrament, and I promise to always remember Him (Jesus Christ), so that I can always have His Spirit to be with me (see Moroni 4:3 and Mormon 5:2). Millions of people do this. We cannot fulfill this promise to always remember Him if we don’t think about Him, if we don’t prefer Him, if we don’t consciously plan time to study about Him and serve Him, and honor and love Him. When we prefer to pursue other studies or other entertainment that is not in keeping with the Spirit which He promises we can have with us when we remember Him, then we are actively choosing to not think about Him, His feelings, our covenant relationship with Him and His importance in our lives. We are letting go, and we are forgetting.
The words “Denk daran” and more specifically “Denk an mich”
are much more important to me now. I want to remember those who are most
important to me: my Heavenly Parents, my Savior Jesus Christ, my husband, my
children, my parents, and all my family. Everything hangs on the first two
commandments indeed. We need to love our God with all our heart, mind, might,
and strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves (see Matthew 22:37-39). We
need to remember that.
We especially to need to remember our covenant relationship with Jesus Christ.
If we are not thinking about Him and remembering Him, we will be drifting away and
forgetting. “Denk an Ihn.” Think about Him and remember Him. Serve Him. Worship
Him. Pray to the Father in Jesus’s name. You’ll remember Him, and He’ll
remember you. Your covenant relationship will be blessed with His Spirit.
“For how knoweth a man the Master whom he
has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts
and intents of his heart” (Mosiah 5:13)?
“Denk an Mich.”
