2 Nephi 9:51 - What does "hearken" mean?

The Lord says to "Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken." What does hearken mean?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines hearken as "listen" or "give respectful attention." The archaic definition is "give heed to" or "hear."

We are to listen / give respectful attention / give heed to / hear the words of the Lord with diligence. This means that we must apply the words of the Lord into our lives with perseverance. We must constantly be listening to Him, and this requires consistent, individual effort. We need to be looking for His words and acting upon those words so that we can remember them. It is easier to remember something with which we have a personal connection.