For the Strength of Youth
You Are Making History—Here's How to Record It!
For the Strength of Youth August 2025

Digital Only: Come, Follow Me

Doctrine and Covenants 85

You Are Making History—Here’s How to Record It!

By Madelyn Maxfield

Church Magazines

Not sure how to follow the commandment to keep a history? Here’s how to get started.

young woman writing in a journal

Imagine if Nephi hadn’t obeyed the commandment to keep a record. What would the Book of Mormon look like without 1 Nephi? How many valuable truths and inspiring stories would we be missing?

Heavenly Father commands His people “to keep a history” (Doctrine and Covenants 85:1) because He knows the blessings that come from recording our life stories and spiritual insights. Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that our spiritual experiences are like “luminous stones” that can guide us back to the path when we’ve lost our way.

In other words, when your testimony is weak, thinking back on your most spiritual experiences can help you stay strong. But if you never record those experiences, you risk forgetting them—and not having those luminous stones when you need them.

Still, starting (or restarting) a good habit can be challenging. Here are four tips to help you build the habit of keeping a journal.

1. Find a technique that works for you.

If you don’t like writing, don’t worry! Writing long entries isn’t the only way to keep a journal. Experiment with different styles to find what works best for you. Here are some ideas:

  • Sketch or draw comics to illustrate your day.

  • Make audio recordings.

  • Create a scrapbook of physical mementos, like photos or ticket stubs.

  • Type your journal entries.

  • Make lists, such as your daily goals or things you’re grateful for.

2. Write judgment-free.

Your journal is first and foremost for you! Don’t stress about making it perfect.

Part of judgment-free journaling is writing whatever comes to mind. If you feel like writing something but worry that it’s too boring or random, record it anyway! You never know what might be valuable to you later. As President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) said, “You are unique, and there may be incidents in your experience that are more noble and praiseworthy in their way than those recorded in any other life.”

Don’t judge yourself if you miss a day—or more! Just start again where you are now and fill in what you missed when you can. It’s OK to write about events out of order.

3. Use journal prompts.

If you’re not sure what to write about, start with a prompt. President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency used a prompt to keep his daily journal:

“Before I would write, I would ponder this question: ‘Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?’… As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us. … I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.”

Starting with a question can help you focus and give you a new perspective, like it did for President Eyring. Here are some journal prompts to try:

  • Write about a quote or scripture that inspires you.

  • Write a letter to someone in your life (you don’t have to send it).

  • Answer questions like, “If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?” or “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

  • Describe a spiritual experience that strengthened your testimony.

  • Write about something that brought you joy today.

4. Look forward to the benefits.

Did you know that journaling can help you improve your memory, relieve stress, and regulate your emotions? These are great reasons to start a journal!

But the benefits go even deeper. Keeping a journal helped President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) reflect on his life in a different way. He said:

“If we will take a step back and consider the blessings in our lives, including seemingly small, sometimes overlooked blessings, we can find greater happiness. …

“… Countless experiences I have had were not necessarily those one would consider extraordinary. … And yet, in retrospect, they enriched and blessed lives—not the least of which was my own.”

As you keep a journal, you’ll develop a new perspective on your life. Looking back with the purpose of seeing how the Lord has led you will allow you to recognize blessings and even miracles that you might’ve missed before. You’ll have better access to powerful spiritual memories that will strengthen you during hard times. That’s a blessing that you won’t want to pass up!