Help Us Remember

In the 1990s, author Wendy Lynn Platt felt a growing desire to write hymns. The words came naturally to her, but she lacked training in music theory and composition. Her ward choir director, composer John G. Riley—a talented organist from England—agreed to help. A recent convert to the Church, Brother Riley was eager to use his musical background to contribute to the hymns of his new faith.

Brother Riley suggested they write a sacrament hymn to submit to the 1997 Church Music Festival. At first Sister Platt was hesitant. The Church had published a hymnal in 1985, and she assumed that a new sacrament hymn would not be needed. But Brother Riley felt otherwise; he believed that another hymnal would eventually come and that the Church would welcome new contributions. That conversation sparked the collaboration that produced “Help Us Remember”—a heartfelt plea for the Savior’s help in lifting burdens, filling souls with hope, and binding hearts to Him.

Almost 30 years after writing the hymn, Sister Platt received word that it was being considered for the new hymnbook. Though Brother Riley had passed away in 2014, his prediction had proved true. Sister Platt reflected, “It brings great joy to imagine that our little sacrament hymn might bless lives and enrich testimonies, as the hymns of the Restoration have done for me.”

Find lyrics, sheet music, and recordings for Help Us Remember

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Scriptures

Principles

The sacrament helps us remember Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice.
We prepare for the ordinance of the sacrament when we strive to repent of our sins.
We make a new covenant with God when we partake of the sacrament.
When we partake of the sacrament, we covenant with Heavenly Father that we are willing to take upon us the name of His Son, to always remember Him, and to keep His commandments.

Questions to Ponder

What can you do to remember Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice when you partake of the sacrament?
How can worthily partaking of the sacrament help you follow Jesus Christ and become more like Him?
How is the sacrament an expression of God’s love and a source of hope?

Related Gospel Study Guides

From Topics and Questions, Gospel Library:

Activities for Families

Teach how the sacrament renews us. Begin by listening to or singing the hymn together as a family. Then read 3 Nephi 18:1–11 or Moroni 4–5, which teach about the sacrament. Share a simple symbol of renewal that is familiar in your culture or tradition. Examples could include rain refreshing dry earth or a broken pot being mended. Discuss how this symbol can apply to how we are spiritually renewed when we partake of the sacrament and remember Jesus Christ. Invite family members to share ways they want to remember the Savior throughout the week.
Keep time to the music. Listen to the hymn together and invite your children to feel its steady, peaceful beat. Divide family members into two groups. One group can pat a slow, steady beat on their laps; they could imagine the beat as a heartbeat or as footsteps walking toward Jesus. The other group can clap or tap out the rhythm that matches the words. Try singing the first verse while keeping the rhythm going. Afterward, talk about how the steady beat is like the repeated pattern of participating in the sacrament each week.

Music Helps

Notice that each line of this hymn starts with a rest (circled in red), a musical symbol that stands for silence. In this hymn, each line will start with a breath on the downbeat, or first beat of the measure.

“Help Us Remember” music explanation
In the second measure of the second line, the soprano part holds the first syllable longer than the other parts do.