Dictating the outcome of your life through journaling

I have to admit that I get in great resistance to journaling.   I love having my thoughts saved, but dread taking the time to do it.   A few years ago, I started a “Webster Weekly” where I wrote down what was going on in the family.  I liked it.   I like it even more now when I go back and read all the funny things my kids did.   So I suppose that I am not in too much resistance to it, but really struggle to sit down and write.   Probably because I want to write a lot and don’t feel I have much time.

When blogs came out, it made it an easier transition for me to take my Webster Weekly to my blog AND I could add pictures.  Still I struggle/d with consistency.

When I was taking Leslie’s home study course, part of each lesson was to write in your journal, but you have to document a certain way.  Meaning, you cannot just write about your misery. If you have troubles, you can mention them, but you always have to end on a positive note or express what good is coming from your situation.   Mostly, you are supposed to write about all the good that is happening to you and what good things you are learning.  There are specific reasons for this.   What you write down, you bring about, so it is important to attract the positive into your life and write those things that will bring the greatest amount of good to you.

Having said that, I’ve wanted to have a blog specifically for my thoughts and insights, but dreaded the “sitting down and writing” part of it.   Yet, I have been documenting in notebooks and journals and on the computer some of my real highlights.  So when the girls talked to me about blogging my insights,  I was grateful for the push in the right direction.
Well, on Sunday came the real clincher. Paul was reading his scriptures during the sacrament and reached over and had me read D&C 128:6-7, 9

6 And further, I want you to remember that John the Revelator was contemplating this very subject in relation to the dead, when he declared, as you will find recorded in Revelation 20:12—And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were awritten in the books, according to their works.
7 You will discover in this quotation that the books were opened; and another book was opened, which was the book of life; but the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works; consequently, the books spoken of must be the books which contained the record of their works, and refer to the records which are kept on the earth. And the book which was the book of life is the record which is kept in heaven; the principle agreeing precisely with the doctrine which is commanded you in the revelation contained in the letter which I wrote to you previous to my leaving my place—that in all your recordings it may be recorded in heaven.
9 It may seem to some to be a very bold doctrine that we talk of—a power which records or binds on earth and binds in heaven. Nevertheless, in all ages of the world, whenever the Lord has given a adispensation of the priesthood to any man by actual revelation, or any set of men, this power has always been given. Hence, whatsoever those men did in bauthority, in the name of the Lord, and did it truly and faithfully, and kept a proper and faithful record of the same, it became a law on earth and in heaven, and could not be annulled, according to the decrees of the great Jehovah. (Bold added by author since I can’t highlight).

What Paul and I thought was so interesting is that is says we will be judged by two books, the one we write and the one written in Heaven, but that what we document here on earth becomes Law. Doesn’t that give so much more power to your journal—especially journaling CORRECTLY??!! Now think about all the times you have heard from religious leaders and professional teachers the power of WRITING down your goals? Are you making the connection here? Isn’t this so much more powerful of a reason to WRITE in your journal and to write down your goals? Not only will we manifest to us the things we write about, but it will also become law and we will be judged by it. Think about this. You can literally write down exactly the way you want your life to be—regardless of what it is now—and as you work toward that and fulfill that which is written, you will be judged accordingly. You can almost write your own exaltation and plan on it and live for it. WOW oh WOW, did this one hit hard!! Thus the reason I am changing my mindset about writing. I will not look at it as a drudgery anymore, but as a way to literally “write my life story” (before it happens). There is a lot of power in this. I can feel it!

In April 2009 General Conference, Pres. Henry B. Eyring talked about how he documents God’s hand in his life and the miracles that he sees. Is this not the same concept? Pres. Eyring said that the more he wrote, the more miracles and blessings he noticed. This is a true principle.  Expressing gratitude and documenting the Lord’s hand in our life are things that we should also be writing about and when we do, we bring about more miracles in our life.

Now, lest I offend anyone with this, I understand that this scripture is written particularly for the recording of ordinances under priesthood authority.   So some may feel I am stretching things a little bit.   I guess I am just recording to you what came into both of our minds (mine & Paul’s) about us personally documenting our life so that we may be judged correctly. And for those thinking about the concept of it becoming “law.” I don’t think this means that we are rewriting God’s laws, but just as a document carries proof in a court of law, so the things we document become “law” in our life as to how we lived.

Hope this helps some of you as much as it has me!