“No need to write that down! I’ll never forget it.”
– one of a million lies I have told myself.
Anyone else relate?!
We think we’ve experienced something unforgettable, or learned an interesting new fact, or felt the Spirit stronger than we’ve ever felt before…
And then memory fades.
I’m not going to lie, the idea of writing down my life experiences in a journal for the benefit of some future great-great-grandchild has always seemed far out of reach to me.
I’m not sure if my posterity will ever really read what I write.
But I do know that writing things down enlarges my memory.
Anytime I write an experience down, it cements my feelings down on paper.
It breaks the memory free from Satan’s grasp.
He can’t convince me that I made it up, or that I really felt that way, or that I over-exaggerated.
I have the truth, straight from my mouth.
I learn to trust my past feelings and experiences.
I grow my collection of “spiritually defining moments”.
When the Brother of Jared left the mountain where he saw the Savior, the Lord commanded him to, “write the things which he had seen.” (Ether 4:1)
The Brother of Jared had just been shown marvelous prophecies and visions.
And the Lord wanted him to write them down right away.
Directly after coming “down out of the mount”.
And that’s great counsel for us, too!
But the coolest part is that writing down powerful or important memories doesn’t have to mean pulling out the old notebook for 20 minutes at the end of the day anymore.
I write things down in the “notes” app on my phone all the time. I post on social media. I type. I do voice-to-text. I record videos of special moments.
We’ve got a whole modern world of “writing things down” available to us!
So how can you improve just a bit more today in the way that is most sustainable to your lifestyle? Share any ideas below!
And as Elder Andersen taught:
“When personal difficulties or world conditions beyond our control darken our path, the spiritually defining memories from our book of life are like luminous stones that help brighten the road ahead.”
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
4 Responses
The palest of ink is worth the best of memory.
Love this!
Your comment on journaling was how I use to feel. But then when my husband died at a young age, I so badly wanted to hear or read my mother’s thoughts and testimony. It was then I realized how important journaling is and how someday my children will want to see or hear my testimony when times are hard. I have tried really hard to keep a journal since then. You never know where life will lead you but with being able to look back and see how the Lord has guided you, gives you the strength to keep going. The Lord is so merciful and always there for you.
Thank you for sharing this perspective! I am so sorry about the loss of your husband.