Journal Keeping

2 …Whatsoever things we write upon anything save it be upon plates must perish and vanish away; but we can write a few words upon plates, which will give our children, and also our beloved brethren, a small degree of knowledge concerning us, or concerning their fathers—

3 Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor diligently to engraven these words upon plates, hoping that our beloved brethren and our children will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not with sorrow, neither with contempt, concerning their first parents.

4 For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us. (Jacob 4:2-4)

As I read these verses this morning, it occurred to me that they speak to us about the importance of keeping a personal journal. Writing our experiences on paper will keep them from vanishing away. As we do so, we can help our posterity to learn some important lessons from our experiences that will help them to avoid some painful experiences that they might otherwise have. We also have the opportunity, through the testimonies of the Savior in our journals to help build and strengthen their testimonies.

With few exceptions, I have made daily entries in my personal journal for 30 years. It has been a blessing in my life. I hope it will bless my children and their children.