Create your own scripture

I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.
Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians.
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 Nephi 1:1-3

The above, of course, is the beginning of the Book of Mormon. Nephi, now living in the Promised Land of the Americas, is remembering and recording “[his] proceedings in [his] days.” He is writing his memoir. He starts his story back in Jerusalem around 600 BC just before the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem. Nephi’s father, Lehi was a prophet contemporaneous with Jeremiah.

Nephi tells the story of how his father was warned by the Lord that Jerusalem was going to be destroyed and that he should pack up his family and leave for the wilderness. Nephi’s history is essentially the story of his quarrelsome family and how they were led by God to a Promised Land across the sea.

Much of the New Testament consists of letters written by the Apostle Paul. He didn’t know, when he was writing to the various branches of the Church, that his letters would some day be canonized into a book of scripture. In his day, the word “scripture” referred to the writings that we now call the Old Testament.

Scripture begins as righteous people keep a written record of events, spiritual experiences, and religious teachings. Later generations, seeing the value of these records, collect them, canonize them, and publish them as scripture for the edification of believers.

We should all be keeping a journal

If you have not already commenced this important duty in your lives, get a good notebook, a good book that will last through time and into eternity for the angels to look upon. Begin today and write in it your goings and your comings, your deeper thoughts, your achievements, and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. We hope you will do this, our brothers and sisters, for this is what the Lord has commanded, and those who keep a personal journal are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives.

Spencer W. Kimball

Our memories will eventually fail us. If not now, certainly in our later years. A well-kept journal will not only become a blessing to you, but, perhaps more importantly, it will be a blessing to your posterity.

What could you do better for your children and your children’s children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved? Some of what you write may be humdrum dates and places, but there will also be rich passages that will be quoted by your posterity.

Spencer W. Kimball

There are many formats to chose from

The easiest way to get started, of course, is with paper and pen. A hardbound journal is better than loose pages. The thing that separates a journal from other types of personal writing is simply that the entries are dated. You may want to leave the first page or two blank so you can come back later and create a title page. It is also a good idea to number the pages. Even if your journal is bound, pages may come loose over time.

A journal does not have to consist entirely of written words. A traditional journal can be enhanced with drawings and photos. One may even decide to create a dedicated art journal or photo journal.

One fun type of journaling is scrapbooking. Photos, old ticket stubs, and event programs can be creatively arranged as a record of memories and events in one’s life.

Digital technology provides us with additional creative ways to journal. One’s journal can be kept digitally on your computer or online. A personal blog is a form of journaling that can be collaborative and interactive. One can also journal in video or audio formats.

Remember to record your sacred memories

Your journal will be a place to record your activities, your thoughts, and your achievements. It will especially be a place to record the milestones of your family’s life: births, baptisms, missions, graduations, marriages, funerals.

But of greatest worth to your descendants, the thing that could cause your journal to become “scripture” some day, is if you record the sacred events of your life. What have you learned from the scriptures? What answers have you received from earnest prayer? What sacred insights have you gained in the temple? or on a mountain top?

Embrace your sacred memories. Believe them. Write them down. Share them with your family. Trust that they come to you from your Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son. Let them bring patience to your doubts and understanding to your difficulties. I promise you that as you willingly acknowledge and carefully treasure the spiritually defining events in your life, more and more will come to you.

Neil L. Andersen

Nephi kept a special, smaller set of plates on which to record “The more part of the ministry.” On the larger set of plates he recorded “the more part of the reign of the kings and the wars and contentions of my people.” (1 Nephi 9:4)

You may or may not choose to keep a separate record of your spiritual experiences from your other experiences, but writing them down is important. Besides making your sacred experiences available to your posterity, keeping a record of them shows the Lord that you treasure such experiences and increases the likelihood that you will receive more.

Get started today

Now is a good time to get started. Pick up a pen (or select your preferred software platform), put down today’s date and start writing. Do not worry about whether what you are writing is profound or important. Just record the day’s events, and your thoughts and feelings about them, on a regular basis.

Over time your journal will take on characteristics that are unique and personal to you. It will become a valuable part of your life and a treasure to your posterity. It may even become scripture someday!

Get a notebook, my young folks, a journal that will last through all time, and maybe the angels may quote from it for eternity.

Spencer W. Kimball

Sources: “Keeping a Journal,” Mormon Wiki.
“Journals,” Family Home Evening Resource Book.
Dean Jessee, The Power of Personal Journals is Enduring,” Church News, January 21, 2015.
Tara Walker, “Keeping a Journal Your Way,” Ensign, July 2014.
Spencer W. Kimball, “President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals,” The New Era, December 1980.
Spencer W. Kimball, “The Angels May Quote From It,” The New Era, October 1975.
Neil L. Andersen, “Spiritually Defining Memories,” Saturday morning session, General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, April 4, 2020.
Max Lukominskyi, “Eight Reasons Why You Should Keep a Journal,” Evopaper, September 15,2016.
Michael J. Kruger, “Did Paul Himself Create the Very First New Testament Canon?” Canon Fodder, May 16, 2012.
James F. McGrath, “Don’t Let the Fact That Paul’s Letters are Now Christian Scripture Undermine Their Message and Authority!,” Patheos, July 18, 2012.