How do I retain knowledge?

I mentioned in an earlier post that I was starting to memorize things, and as I get older how hard it is.  I wrote down this question down a couple of days ago: "How do I retain what I learn?"  This morning I read in John 14:26 which states:

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

There lies the answer to my question.  As I heed to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, it is by the Holy Ghost who will "bring all things to (my) remembrance."

The Touch of the Masters Hand

Lately I've started this goal of memorizing things.  I can't believe how difficult it is for me to memorize. I remember it being so much easier when I was younger.   I've been studying the Atonement the past month, and lately more specifically the principle of repentance.  Repentance is the second principle of the gospel... "We believe the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are first faith in the Jesus Christ, second repentance..."  When you first hear the word sometimes you can have negative thoughts around it because it can be associated with awful sin.  What a blessing it is!  We are all imperfect and sin, can you imagine if we did not have such a marvelous gift.  This gift is given to us by a loving Savior, our Master.  As I've been studying this topic I remember a poem that touches me deeply.  It is called "The Touch of the Masters Hand" by Myra 'Brooks' Welch.  So, I've decided to commit it to memory.  We are all like the old violin in this poem, and with repentance and the "Touch of the Master's Hand" we are beautiful and perfect.

  Twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer
  thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much timo on the old violin.
  but held it up with a smile:  "What am I bidden, good folks."  he cried.
  "Who'll start the bidding for me?"  "A dollar, a dollar"; then two!"  "Only
  two?  Two dollars, and who'll make it three?  Three dollars, once; three
 dollars twice; going for three.."  But no, from the room, far in the back, a 
  gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow;  Then, wiping the dust
  from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody
  pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.

  The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low,
  said;  "What am I bid for the old violin?"  And he held it up with the bow.
  A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?  Two thousand!  And who'll make
  it three?  Three thousand, once three thousand, twice, and going 
  and gone," said he.  The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not
  quite understand what changed its worth."  Swift came the reply: "The touch
  of the master's hand."

  And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scared with sin.
  Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much link the old violin.  A
  "mess of pottage," a glass of wine; a game - and he travels on.  "He is 
  going" once, and "going twice, He's going and almost gone."  But the Master
  comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand the worth of a soul
  and the change that's wrought be the touch of the Master's hand.

Don't expect to be perfect all at once

Lorenzo Snow made a statement back in 1901 that applies just the same today:

"Do not expect to become perfect at once.  If you do, you will be disappointed.  Be better today than you were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than you are today.  The temptations that perhaps partially overcome us today, let them not overcome us so far tomorrow.  Thus continue to be a little better day by day; and do not let your life wear away without accomplishing good to others as well as to ourselves."