From Larry W. Tippetts and his book ‘Receiving Personal Revelation’ . . . .
“Every person should keep a journal and every person can keep a journal. . . . If there is anyone here who isn’t doing so, will you repent today and change—-change your life? —President Spencer W. Kimball
I have a cartoon I enjoyed with classes I taught. Above the caption, “Why most people don’t keep a diary”: is the drawing of a page of a diary with a hand holding a pen writing the following: “Tuesday, 6th, Dear diary, Got up. Ate breakfast. Worked. Had lunch. Came home. Had dinner. Went to bed. . .”
All who have tried their hand at keeping a journal have probably written a few entries about as exciting to read as this one. I have many pages in my missionary journal with similar entries. . . . I hope to expand your vision of the purpose of a journal by helping you to see that writing under the influence of the Holy Ghost will, with practice, enable you to produce a record that will be worthy of continual study—a source of lifelong strength to you and a blessing to your posterity. Writing is a celestial practice. . . .
For many years I encouraged students to use various kinds of classrooms journals to help them recognize thoughts and feelings that come to them during a typical lesson. On the first day of each course, I would remind students that seminary and institute classes are very “inspirational friendly” places. I suggested that the students should anticipate experiencing impressions and ideas from the Holy Ghost every time they came. I gave each student a sheet of paper entitled ‘Thoughts and Impressions’ to record what they felt the Lord wanted them to remember most from each lesson or perhaps to write down something they thought strongly the Lord would have them do. The Thoughts and Impressions sheet was not for taking regular notes but was to be used exclusively to write spiritual impressions. At the end of each class students would leave their sheets with me, and I would distribute them again at the next class. Throughout the semester I began each class by sharing (with their permission) a few thoughts written during the previous class. It helped me to review the preceding discussion, clarify misunderstandings, and most of all, explain the process of personal inspiration at work in the lives of the students. They learned from each other how to record spiritual impressions in their own words. As weeks passed, I saw significant growth in the ability of the students to distinguish between their own thoughts and feelings and those that seemed to come from God. Gradually the students began to see how to use their personal journals for the same purpose, either in class or at home.
From a Student Journal—The Value of Writing Thoughts and Impressions
“I have liked using the ‘Thoughts and Impressions’ in institute classes. I’ve normally written my own thoughts on this sheet, but lately I have written inspired impressions. I truly believe that these thoughts/impressions are from the Holy Ghost. I believe this because never in my life (including while on my mission) have I received as much consistent revelation throughout the day. It makes life so, so great. I am honestly happier than I’ve ever been in my life” (Blake).
~Larry W. Tippetts, Receiving Personal Revelation (American Fork, Utah: Covenant Communications, 2017), 31-32
