From his book ‘Receiving Personal Revelation’, Larry W. Tippetts shared:
In recent years an increased emphasis has been given to the importance of journals as a means of recognizing, remembering and applying inspiration. If we don’t consider inspiration important enough to write it down, not only will we likely forget it but the Lord may be grieved so that the flow of inspiration diminishes. Henry B. Eyring (of the First Presidency) offered the following counsel: “Let me pass on a little advice the Prophet Joseph Smith gave to leaders of the Church: ‘[By] neglecting to write these things when God had revealed them, not esteeming them of sufficient worth, the Spirit may withdraw’ (Spiritual Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith [Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1993], 88). That means that in your heart, at least, the attitude of writing down even the simplest things that may come from the Spirit would invite the Spirit back again” (Henry B. Eyring, To Draw Closer to God [Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 2004], 124).
In a conference address a few years later, President Eyring shared an experience in his life that resulted in a personal revelation expressed in these words: “I’m not giving you these experiences for yourself. Write them down.” That experience led him to begin a journal; “I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. 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 kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As it happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.(“O Remember, Remember,” Ensign November 2007, 66-67)
Elder Richard G. Scott suggested we keep a private journal to record the impressions that we treasure the most. “Knowledge carefully recorded is knowledge available in time of need. Spiritually sensitive information should be kept in a sacred place that communicates to the Lord how you treasure it. That practice enhances the likelihood of your receiving further light” (“Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge,” Ensign, November 1993, 86). I am convinced that all of us have spiritual promptings and whisperings. Many are not even recognized. Some may be acknowledged and even treasured for the moment but later forgotten. Elder Neal A. Maxwell reminded us of this all-too-human tendency. “The prompting that goes un-responded to may not be repeated. Writing down what we have been prompted with is vital. A special thought can also be lost later in the day in the rough and tumble of life. God should not, and may not, choose to repeat the prompting if we assign what was given such a low priority as to put it aside: (Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book, ed. Cory H. Maxwell (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1997)
Larry W. Tippetts (Receiving Personal Revelation 34-36).
