A case for journals

Our computer reached its memory limit recently, so I've been going through files and deleting with wild abandon. (The unnecessary ones, of course.)

I came across this file titled James' talk 5.doc, and had no idea what it was.

James’ talk 5/25/09

My family is blessed when we follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

My mom teaches piano lessons after school. One day before lessons she put my baby brother Samuel down for his nap. My older brother and sisters were supposed to listen for him if he woke up.

During one of her lessons my mom had a feeling she should go outside. She excused herself from her student and went out the front door. There all by himself on the sidewalk was my baby brother Samuel.

Samuel could have been hurt very badly. Instead he was safe. My mom is so grateful that the Holy Ghost prompted her that day. She is also very grateful that she listened and acted on this prompting.

The Holy Ghost will guide us. The real blessings come when he follow those promptings.


This obviously was a talk I helped James write for Primary. I'm glad I included the date, for that establishes his age as 5. Yet if you had asked me yesterday to share this specific experience, I wouldn't have been able to. I didn't remember it! On my own, that is ...

These written words bring the memory back, with all the force of the gratitude I felt then that my 1-year-old escape artist did not get hurt by passing cars.

So make the effort to record special experiences. We often think we keep journals for our descendants' sakes, but be selfish and do it for yourself.