By Lin V. Floyd
Whether you are a school-age child or a grandparent, we all have memories that can be written down and saved to enjoy at some future time or compiled for our descendants.

I have a red diary from my junior high days that I treasure. During 7th and 8th grades I remember writing in this little book daily then locking it and hiding the key to keep it private. Full of teenage crushes and insecurities, it reveals a youthful me that I hardly remember now. I wonder if Tommy likes me? We had fun at the skating rink. Terry Ann is my best girl friend. Years later I can chuckle at my memories of this time of my life, but it’s only possible because I wrote in my diary then and saved that little book all these years.

Don’t you wish your parents, grandparents or other ancestors had taken the time to write something of their feelings and experiences that you could read now and feel closer to them? We all have a lifetime of memories but few of them ever get written down to pass on to our families.

Our church leaders have counseled us to write journals for years. Why?

Spencer W. Kimball taught: “On a number of occasions I have encouraged the Saints to keep personal journals and family records. I renew that admonition.
We may think there is little of interest or importance in what we personally say or do—but it is remarkable how many of our families, as we pass on down the line, are interested in all that we do and all that we say” (New Era, Dec 1980, 26).

Speaking from personal experience, I’ve often wished my father, who died when I was only five years old, had kept a journal. My only memories of him are dim recollections as a young child. Old family photos helped me recall what he looked like, but I craved to know more. One day while talking with my widowed mother, she remembered some old love letters from him in storage.
What a find that was.

I held in my hands letters written in my dad’s handwriting while they were courting and newlyweds. From those carefully preserved letters, I learned more about my father: his interests, hobbies, aspirations and a little of his personality. With this as a basis and a tape my grandparents had made of their memories of him growing up, I was able to put together his life story complete with photos.

It’s not too late to start writing a personal journal. Using a computer can greatly simplify this task. (Check out www.ldsjournal.com to start a free private online journal.) Just a few comments written about the day or even a weekly or monthly summary of our lives will be greatly enjoyed one day after we are gone. It can be used to compile our life story.

Memories we don’t want to forget include significant family activities or events. We will want to remember how we felt when our children were young, or our daily interactions with them, plus spiritual experiences we want to share. We will forget if we don’t record our experiences now in a journal or on audio or video tape.

While we were living in Brazil in 1971, I wrote a letter to my mom that brings back fun memories long forgotten of raising three rambunctious boys in a small apartment in a foreign country. I treasure reading it now that they are grown men with families of their own:

Danny is losing his pot belly and slimming down. Brook is as fat and cute as ever. They both talk a lot. Danny repeats everything Frankie says and Brook repeats Dan. Brook says ‘book, food, milk, go, shoes’ etc. All the necessary words. Dan says sentences ‘me go with you, Brook broke bed, Brook bit me,
Brook push me, read book, food, mommy, go park.’

Make a commitment to start today, recording some of your special memories: including how you were converted to the Church or gained your testimony.
You can make it a family project at family home evenings or during the Sabbath to take some time to record your memories in some format-on the computer or in a notebook, audio or video tape.

Young men and young women are encouraged in their church youth programs to keep a journal. If you live alone, take the challenge to compile your personal history or life story. You’re never too young or old to start capturing and preserving your lifetime of memories as long as you’re still breathing. Start today.