The Things of Which I Know

Thought from President Hinckley: "The Thing of Which I Know"

In our family scripture time we are reading the book of Mosiah. King Benjamin is on his tower as I write bearing his testimony just before he dies. I couldn’t stop thinking about how many times Pres Hinckley bears his testimony in the general conference sessions. I go back and think of Brother McConkie’s last testimony and powerful that was! WOW what great men of faith and testimony the Lord has chosen for us today—just like years gone by.

This also remind me of a soapbox I’ve been standing on lately, but haven’t taken the courage to say. WRITE IN YOUR JOURNAL!

My sister, who you all know just passed away, seldom wrote in her journal. Her husband pulled out three notebooks that Nadine had started as her journal. I don’t think either notebook was filled beyond the 10th page. BUT, what was there was profound. She shared a few spiritual experiences that will be treasured by her children (and me) forever. She expressed her undying love for each of her children. What a blessing those few pages will be to her children and grand children.

I write in my journal often (usually just clip and paste emails that I have written) and at present count the word document (where my journal is kept) is over 6000 pages! My poor children—they will never get to the good parts and be bogged down with my ramblings. BUT they will know how much I love them and care for them if I should die before I edit it.

Paraphrasing a commercial “what is in your journal today?”
If suddenly you were to pass today would your children know you love the Lord?
If suddenly you were to pass today would your children know you loved the scriptures?
If suddenly you were to pass today would your children know you loved the gospel?
If suddenly you were to pass today would your children know you loved your husband?
If suddenly you were to pass today would your children know you loved them?
If suddenly you were to pass today would your children know that you prayed for them daily?
Or would they know that you complained about them, didn’t like them, didn’t pray for them, didn’t care for them? Would they hear you complain about the church leaders and know of all their faults?
I ask again, “what is in your journal today?”
What thoughts and feelings to you leave behind?
Do you leave them with knowledge that you too, like President Hinckley, know the gospel to be true?
If not, why?
If not, change it!
It will only take an hour of your time, but your children and grandchildren will rise up and call you blessed because you took an hour and told them what you believed in while here on earth and through those words they will be able to recognize you when they next see you!

As my mom once said, you are leaving “love notes hidden for those you love to find when you can’t tell them yourself.”