This past Wednesday I attended Institute at the Multi-Stake Building near my apartment. It'd been a few weeks since I had the chance to go, so it was nice to be back in the Book of Mormon class I regularly attend. We had a really nice, well thought-out lesson from the teacher, a girl in my stake I've never met. The lesson was on chapters 20-24 of 3 Nephi and we talked about the idea of a "Book of Remembrance" and what exactly that means.
Our teacher related the part of history we were discussing, when Jesus Christ visited the people of the Americas at the temple following His death and resurrection. As he visits with them, blesses and heals their sick, and ministers to them, he asks Nephi, the prophet in that area, if they had record of an account of a visit by Samuel the Lamanite 30+ years prior. Christ then has the people record the event and proceeds to expound the scriptures and the words of Malachi.
We then discussed what a Book of Remembrance is and what role God intends for it to play in our lives. We talked about how Adam kept a record of the doings of the people: not just for themselves, but for their future progeny as well. We talked about journals and what they're supposed to be and why we are commanded to keep them. I thought it was important to understand that we keep these records, not just for ourselves, but for others to read in the future, to strengthen and help them. Accounts of our daily lives are important, but the records of our testimony, trials, and acknowledgements of the hand of the Lord seen in our lives are all excellent material to be treasured up and saved for future generations to draw upon. Sometimes we are even given experiences that are not necessarily just for our benefit and growth, but for the additional growth and testimony of others who will read it.
Going back to read our own experiences can help us to remember our own lives and where we've been, where we've come from. I have a pretty poor short-term memory when it comes to events in my life, sometimes it can be frustrating to not be able to remember what I've done the past few days without having to stop and think about it. On my mission, I had a very up-to-date daily planner and a well-kept journal that never failed me there. Nowadays, my journal keeping is poor and needs work. In the business of life, journal-keeping has become a lower priority.
From what we discussed in Institute, I realize I REALLY need to have a solid journal so that I won't forget all the experiences I have now and be able to share them to future generations.
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