Changes to templates don’t save in config

When I make a change to an Author Box and click Update, the changes take place in the preview, but when the design form reloads, everything that was edited goes right back to the default setting, so if one more change was to be made and Update was clicked, everything else would revert back. How do we keep the edits reflected in the design forms? For example, if I uncheck the box that says “Show Box Title” and update, the template will update, but when the page reloads after saving, the box will be checked again automatically. Same with everything… they go back to the defaults.