Sunday, January 31, 2010

Thoughts on Journals and Blogs

I was reading Alma 37 today, and was thinking about the faith it took for the prophets to keep and make the Book of Mormon. Many of them had some hint of what the Lord would do with it, but I'm not sure if any of them knew what part of their own record would become what it is today, with the exception of Mormon and Moroni.

Whenever there's a talk on journal writing I always end up thinking "what's the point it's not like mine will ever be needed like that." But I had a bit of a realization today, in the Book of Mormon we have an edited and assembled account of many people's journals and records. The record we keep is something that we can someday show others, 100% unabridged. It won't be as powerful or potent as the Book of Mormon, but it may be as important to one of descendants. It may be that important to us. To remember a strong feeling or spiritual moment. It can help us remember when things were so dark we didn't think we could find a way out, but we managed to. It keeps us in touch with the rhythm of our own lives, and can pass that information on. Things aren't always sweet, if they were we'd probably get tired of it anyway.

I'm still awful at journal writing, and for most of the last year it's all been in a once a month blog form. I figure I'm trying and that counts for something, right?


On a personal note, I've applied to three Universities for Grad school. All in North Carolina, WNC, Appalachian, and Central. I appreciate the thought and concern behind questions about the status, but when you ask it just dials up the worry and frustration on my part for not having heard yet. I will do a post once I know, but I won't know for a while. And the question of "Which are you really hoping to go to?" is the same as last time, I really hope to go to all of them. I'd be delighted if I had to choose, but I'm not going to cross that bridge unless I need to.

I'm going to be spending the next several months trying very hard not to think about it, while hoping and praying that I get in.