Week 15: "Filled with Love towards God and All Men"
From Come, Follow Me :
King Benjamin gave one reason for recording our spiritual impressions: "It were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates" (Mosiah 1:4).
When King Benjamin sent word that he wanted to speak to his people, so many people came "that they did not number them" (Mosiah 2:2). They came, in part, because of their gratitude and love for their leader. But more important, they came to be taught the word of God.
As you read Mosiah 2:1–9, look for what the people did to show that they valued God's word. What did King Benjamin ask them to do to prepare to hear God's word? (see verse 9). How can you better prepare yourself to receive the word of God in your personal and family study and during Church meetings?
How have you felt the love of God in your life? How have you seen His hand in your life today? As King Benjamin pointed out, you cannot remember everything that happens to you in your life or even in your day. To truly remember things, you must make a conscientious effort to bring those things to mind and then write them down.
Dennis B. Neuenschwander states, "A life that is not documented is a life that within a generation or two will largely be lost to memory. What a tragedy this can be in the history of a family. Knowledge of our ancestors shapes us and instills within us values that give direction and meaning to our lives." (Bridges and Eternal Keepsakes," General Conference, April 1999)
Henry B. Eyring in his October 2007 general conference address O Remember, Remember relates why he began writing things down.
"I came home late from a Church assignment. It was after dark. My father-in-law, who lived near us, surprised me as I walked toward the front door of my house. He was carrying a load of pipes over his shoulder, walking very fast and dressed in his work clothes. I knew that he had been building a system to pump water from a stream below us up to our property. He smiled, spoke softly, and then rushed past me into the darkness to go on with his work. I took a few steps toward the house, thinking of what he was doing for us, and just as I got to the door, I heard in my mind—not in my own voice—these words: "I'm not giving you these experiences for yourself. Write them down."
Elder Eyring concludes his address;
"Tonight, and tomorrow night, you might pray and ponder, asking the questions: Did God send a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life or the lives of my children? I will do that. And then I will find a way to preserve that memory ..." (O Remember, Remember)
Keeping a journal can be fun and exciting. Memories and thoughts may be preserved in any number of ways. In order to be consistent, you should select a method that matches your personality and style. You may choose one or several methods. Tara Walker in her July 2014 Ensign article Keeping a Journal Your Way identified several options for maintaining a journal, such as written, online, photo, audio, video, blog or scrapbooks.
The most important thing is just start. You can begin or restart at any age. Keep your journal in any format you decide. Parents can help children begin their own journals. Even young children can journal their experiences with drawings or audio recordings, or by having a parent or older sibling write down their words. You are helping to instill in them an invaluable habit.
If you think of your life experiences as "nothing much to write about," consider the words of President Spencer W. Kimball who cautioned us about discounting our uneventful lives: "People often use the excuse that their lives are uneventful and nobody would be interested in what they have done. But I promise you that if you will keep your journals and records, they will indeed be a source of great inspiration to your families, to your children, your grandchildren, and others, on through the generations" (President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals, New Era, Dec. 1980, 27).
Keep a Personal Journal
Set a goal to begin or resume writing your personal journal.
Obtain a journal. Another idea is to keep an online journal such as this one provided on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Write! Need some ideas of what to write about? Write about the funniest thing that ever happened to you, the saddest, the happiest, and the scariest, and document your amazing life.
If keeping a journal seems a little overwhelming to you, you may decide to Keep a 30 Day Journal to start out. It may be easier to begin if you think about writing for just 30 days. At the end of the 30 days, read through your entries. What have you learned about yourself? How exciting is it to remember things you may have forgotten? Then, keep writing!
What do you think King Benjamin would say if you asked him why he served with all his "might, mind and strength"? (Mosiah 2:11). As you read Mosiah 2:10–26, identify the truths that King Benjamin taught about service and ponder how you can use them in your life.
You provide a service to your family and descendants as you record your personal thoughts and experiences. A journal is sometimes the best record for understanding someone who has passed away. You also provide a service to your family as you help them understand the value of recording memories and help them accomplish this themselves.
Spencer W. Kimball gave us this insight: "Each of us is important to those who are near and dear to us—and as our posterity read of our life's experiences, they, too, will come to know and love us. And in that glorious day when our families are together in the eternities, we will already be acquainted" (President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals, New Era, Dec. 1980, 26).
Make a Family Video
Use your video camera, phone, iPad or another recording device to record your life events, daily routines, family members,and stories. For how-tos, motivation, and ideas, see makefamilyhistory.org. (The video above is from their website.) Note: This activity (I3-05) is just one of the many activities found in The Family History Guide's Individual Activities section. See also this blog post about making family history with home videos.
Keep a Family Journal
One idea is to obtain a "journal" (a notebook, a hardcover book with lines, or 3-ring binder to which pages can be added).
Discuss as a family what you would like to include in your journal. Your journal could create a lasting record of your comings and goings, the guests who visit your home, your events and holiday celebrations, or whatever you decide.
Take turns writing a little about what you have learned or what has happened to you and your family. Share the scribe role among the whole family. Let the younger children "write" with their artwork. Be sure to write about your feelings, too. Learn more In Trina Holden's article 24 Ways and Reasons to Keep a Family Journal and in this blog post.
Remember that what you write can also be uploaded to FamilySearch Memories. The Memories Gallery is a place where all of the photos, stories, documents, and audio recordings that you add to FamilySearch are collected. With the FamilySearch Family Tree app and FamilySearch Memories app, gathering, recording, sharing, and preserving oral histories has never been easier. Read more here and in The Family History Guide here. Also watch Uploading to FamilySearch Memories.
For more journal ideas, see previous Come, Follow Me Companion lessons:
Write one story about your life as you study each Come, Follow Me lesson. By the end of the year, you will have 50 stories to add to your personal history (also consider audio-recording it) and add it to your FamilySearch Memories to preserve it. Use your own questions, those from (or inspired by) Come,Follow Me, or the #52 Stories Project. For example:
What message did you receive from God today that was just for you?
How did I see God's hand in my life or in the lives of my family today?
What service did you provide for someone today? How did they respond? How did it impact your life?
