Journals Are Important!

“Having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.

“And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge.” (1 Ne. 1:1, 3.)

Wilford Woodruff—“There is one subject I wish to speak upon and that is the keeping of a journal. … When the Prophet Joseph organized the Quorum of the Twelve, he counseled them to keep a history of their lives. … I have had this spirit and calling upon me since I first entered this Church. I made a record from the first sermon I heard, and from that day until now I have kept a daily journal.” (Wilford Woodruff, pages 476–477.)

Joseph Fielding Smith—“Every important event in our lives should be placed in a record, by us individually. … If you have accomplished something worth while during the day, put it down; it may be of use to posterity.” (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:204.)

Gordon B. Hinckley—“May I suggest that you write, that you keep journals, that you express your thoughts on paper. … You will bless the lives of many—your families and others—now and in the years to come.” (Ensign, November 1984, page 91.)

John H. Groberg—“There is something eternal in the very nature of writing, as is so graphically illustrated by the scriptures themselves. In a very real sense, our properly written histories are a very important part of our family scripture and become a great source of spiritual strength to us and to our posterity” (Ensign, May 1980, page 48).

Hartman Rector, Jr.—“I personally believe that the writing of personal and family histories will do more to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers and the fathers to children than almost anything we can do” (Ensign, May 1981, page 74).

Spencer W. Kimball—“Your story should be written now while it is fresh and while the true details are available. …

“Write [about] your goings and your comings, your deeper thoughts, your achievements and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. …

“Those who keep a personal journal are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives.”

(President Kimball Speaks Out, pages 57, 59.)