Thinking About Whole Foods

I have been reading a lot of books about food.  I’ve read books about what hunter-gathers ate, books about people sneaking into poultry farms in the middle of the night and the horrors they saw, books trying to prove how dogs would really rather eat a vegan lifestyle (okay that was just a chapter in a book about raw foods), I also read a clever recipe for how to make raw pancakes (it was actually very good)….The range of books on the topic of food in my public library is quite extensive.  A lot of it is a little nutty.  I have studied in the scriptures extensively on the subject as well-that’s where I started-and I have found some really interesting things.

The most important message I have gotten in all my reading is to eat WHOLE foods.  Not parts of food, but real, whole foods.  An apple is a real food.  We found some salsa that only has whole foods in it.  It’s yummy. 

I have found one book amongst the masses of dwaddle on the subject that has some good ideas.  It’s called, “In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto” by Michael Pollan.  He makes some interesting points about how we are more concerned with nutrients (or parts of food) instead of in the food itself.  Here is his succinct, sage advice: “Eat food.  Not too much. Mostly plants.”  That pretty much sums it up right?

Mr. Pollan had some good advice about his first point: “Eat food.”  (Pointing out he means real food, not parts of food or synthetic food).  Here are his points to finding and eating (whole, real) food. 

1. Don’t eat anything your grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food. He says Go-Gurt is not food and your grandma wouldn’t recognize it. (She would recognize yogurt though).  By the way we all know where our red food coloring comes from that is in all our food right? Red bugs, crushed up from South America. Yummy.  Think red M&M’s, grapefruit juice, strawberry yogurt….
2. Don’t eat anything incapable of rotting. (like Twinkies)
3. Avoid food products containing ingredients that are:
1. Unfamiliar
2. Unpronounceable
3. More than five in number
4. Contain high-fructose corn syrup

He listed “Sara Lee’s Soft & Smooth Whole Grain White Bread” as an example of a food that breaks all of these rules. He listed all 41 ingredients but I’m not going to type them here. It would take up a lot of space. He pointed out unfamiliar ingredients like ethoxylated monoglycerides and unpronounceable ones like azodicarbonamide.  Sounds yummy doesn’t it!  And of course it has high-fructose corn syrup.  Do you know how many food items contain high-fructose corn syrup?  Try checking out your refrigerator and you shall be surprised. (Unless your name is Lara or Misty, you threw those foods away along time ago).

4. Avoid products that make health claims.
5. Shop the peripheries of the supermarket and stay out of the middle.  (We’ve all heard that one).
6. Get out of the supermarket whenever possible. Meaning go to a farmer’s market or grow your own food.

I thought those were some very basic ideas to get our family started on a whole foods way of life.  I’ve been thinking a lot about what Leah Widtsoe said.  I quoted her in my last post.  Summarizing her thoughts she said we should spend as much thought into what we feed our children as we do our prize winning livestock. Coming from the area of the world I live in and the passion around us for 4-H that is a very interesting thought.

The Word of Wisdom

My early morning study as led me to ponder seriously “The Word of Wisdom.”  Since it is “that time of year” when the world thinks about diets and dieting I’ll share a recent resource that I have discovered.

As I have been restudying the Word of Wisdom I remembered that in John A. Widtsoe’s biography, written by Alan K. Parrish, which I had read several years ago, there was a lot of dialogue about The Word of Wisdom.  So I pulled it out.  I learned from the biography that Elder Widtsoe and his wife Leah wrote a book called, “The Word of Wisdom-A Modern Interpretation.”  Their book was approved by President Grant and in a later edition by President McKay.  The book later served as a manual for the Priesthood. 

Joseph Fielding Smith said of their book, “This work is needed immediately and should be published as soon as possible.”

President McKay wrote, “Elders Joseph F. Merrill, Charles A. Callis, and Albert E. Bowen, acting under appointment, report that they have read your manuscript entitled THE WORD OF WISDOM-A MODERN INTERPRETATION, with very great interest and found it to be an ably written exposition of the Word of Wisdom as seen in light of a multitude of confirmatory evidence furnished by modern science….We are therefore pleased to give our consent to the publication of this book.”

When their book was up for another printing Leah would not proceed without the approval from the first Presidency.  Parrish writes, “Each of the presidency wrote a strong letter of endorsement urging that the book be updated and reprinted.”

Their book is available through Amazon and a free copy is available on line here to print.  It is not the best layout however.

 In Widtsoe’s biography the author compiled several quotes.  Here are some:

Elder Widtsoe wrote: “To many of our members feel that if they refrain from taking liquor, tobacco, tea and coffee, they are keeping the Word of Wisdom.  They are doing so only in part.  If the law be understood and lived, people would not be ill and the blessings promised may be fulfilled….The Church of Christ must ever try to care for the whole man.”

He also said, “The Gospel of Jesus Christ is designed to give man health and happiness. Health is concerned with the spirit and mind as well as with the body of man.  The Gospel is mistakenly supposed to concern only man’s spiritual health. Mental and physical health forms the only assurance of spiritual progress.  A man who is physically or mentally ill is not truly happy, though he may approach spiritual peace.  The three parts of man’s nature are interrelated and depend upon one another’s welfare.”

Elder Widtsoe wrote, “In the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, the sanctity of the body is second only to that of the spirit.  It is the duty, as well as the desire, of every person to preserve his physical health, so that he may live out most completely the destiny of his existence.”

The author summarized some of Leah’s writings by saying, “That teaching children about [physical health] exceeds the importance of teaching them reading, writing, or arithmetic.”

And later he summarized her again by saying, “Leah explained that mortal bodies are composed of dust of the earth, which chemists had divided into fifteen elements that could be found only in the Lord’s foods, the plants and fruits of the ground.  Children should be fed with at least as much thought as farmers put into feeding their prizewinning livestock…a person’s health is largely a function of the food consumed.”

As some of you may be pondering health at this time I invite you to read the Widtsoe’s book as I think it will add value to your studies.

Brigham Young’s Teaching on Health

As I have mentioned I have spent some time reading and studying The Discourses of Brigham Young compiled by John A. Widtsoe. I have been asked several times about my stance on health and eating. What does eating looking like Zion's way versus Babylon's way? I have a long way to go in this area. I have some opinions, but they are that, simply opinions. I believe that there is more to the Word of Wisdom than eat this or don't eat that.  I think an overall view should be looked at.  How do we view food?  What are our eating patterns? 

Since some of you do not have this book I will share various quotes from President Young on the Word of Wisdom. These are powerful quotes that have deep meanings and application in a profoud way.  Perhaps it will spark some discussion and/or lead you to your own ponderings to apply in your own life. I have omitted the extensive quotes about tobacco, tea and coffee, because I hope this is not a problem and thereby focusing on his other thoughts. The quotes are taken from chapter 16 of this book.

"Excessive eating, drinking, or exercise all tend to the grave."

"Rule your own passions, and exercise faith until you can govern and control your appetites…Permit your bodies to have natural forms; also take pains to have the bodies of your daughters grow naturally, and teach them what they are made for, and that they through faith, must overcome every besetting sin and every unholy passion and appetite."

"The strength, power, beauty and glory that once adorned that form and constitution of man have vanished away before the blighting influences of inordinate appetite and love of this world. The health and power and beauty that once adorned the noble form of man must again be restored to our race; and God designs that we shall engage in this great work of restoration."

"Then let us seek to extend the present life to the uttermost, by observing every law of health, and by properly balancing labor, study, rest, and recreation, and thus prepare for a better life. Let us teach these principles to our children, that, in the morning of their days, they may be taught to lay the foundation of health and strength and constitution and power of life in their bodies."

"By and by, according to the Scriptures, the days of a man shall be like the days of a tree. But in those days people will not eat and drink as they do now; if they do their days will not be like a tree unless it be a very short-lived tree."

"We are trying to become natural in our habits, and are striving to fulfill the end and design of our creation."

"The people have laid the foundation of short life through their diet, their rest, their labor, and their doing this, that, and the other in a wrong manner with improper motives, and at improper times."

"…good cold water…this is the beverage we should drink. It should be our drink at all times."

"As we got richer and built warm houses, and have lived more richly, indulging in sweet cake, plum pudding, roast beef and so on, we have had more or less disease among us."

"If the people were willing to receive the true knowledge from heaven in regard to their diet they would cease eating swine's flesh. I know this as well as Moses knew it, and without putting it in a code of commandments. The beef fed upon our mountain grasses is as healthy food as we need at present….Fish is as healthy a food as we can eat, if we except vegetables and fruit, and with them will become a very wholesome diet."

"The Americans, as a nation, are killing themselves with their vices and high living. As much as a man ought to eat in half an hour they swallow in three minutes, gulping down their food like the canine quadruped under the table…If you want a reform, carry out the advice I have just given you."

"When men live to the age of a tree, their food will be fruit….If every woman in this Church will now cease drinking tea, (etc.) and live upon vegetables, etc., not many generations will pass away before the days of man will again return. But it will take generations to eradicate entirely the influences of deleterious substances."

"{We should have} well ventilated dwelling-houses, especially the rooms occupied for sleeping."

"Study to preserve your bodies in life and health, and you will be able to control your minds."

"My mind becomes tired, and perhaps some of yours do. If so, go and exercise your bodies."

"Doctors make experiments, and if they find a medicine that will have the desired effect on one person, they find a medicine that will have the desired effect on one person, they set it down that it is good for everybody, but it is not so, for upon the second person that medicine is administered to seemingly with the same disease, it might produce death…I say that unless a man or woman who administers medicine to assist the human system to overcome disease, understands, and has that intuitive knowledge, by the Spirit, that such an article is good to that individual at that very time, they had better let him alone. Let the sick do without eating, take a little of something to cleanse the stomach, bowels and blood, and wait patiently, and let nature have time to gain the advantage over the disease."

"Sisters, you will take notice, … to adopt this rule-stop your child from eating meat, and especially fat meat;…let them eat a little more porridge; let them eat sparingly."

"Children should have milk, bread, water, and potatoes, and everything that would lay the foundation for disease should be strenuously kept from their stomachs, that no appetites may be formed for pernicious substance."

A Whirl of a Catch Up

 I had all of these amazing posts started about all the changes we have made and loved.  I'll just have to bullet list them here for you because it doesn't look like they are going to be written or finished. (I'll post later on today about why).

• We still have individual scripture study, journal, prayers (and personal prep) time before breakfast.  We now call this "Foundation Study Time."  Referencing we are building our foundation on Christ each morning (Heleman).
• We eat breakfast. Green Smoothies.  Love them.  Even Determination is partaking.  It's been a good 5 months since we started.  He was just having oatmeal or another hot cereal.  Now he has an orange juice, banana and 1 spinach leaf smoothie.  He has requested we had a little more spinach every day along with some flax seed.  He still is not prepared to do the strawberries, blueberries or other mixed fruit.  That's the best part though!  So we are proud of him considering he has an aversion to all things healthy that are not a grain or a legume. (meaning all fruits and veggies) This is an example of teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves.  He understands the why and now after 5 months he has mustered up the courage.
• We still have Family Scripture study after/during breakfast.  We still do our weekly goals and our weekly scripture memorization. We call this "Family Foundation Study Time."
• We have added "Grammar School" to our line up.   We start with song, prayer, more songs, memorizing "Living Christ," everyone sharing a scripture/thought with history from their morning scripture study, then we have another family scripture study (we've been taking our sweet time doing the Creation-a day every day-I am determined to focus exclusively on the Creation, the Fall, The Atonement and Plan of Salvation right now), math (Life of Fred  for the older two, Saxon for the younger two until they are ready for the first Life of Fred book), piano practice rotating, copywork for littles out of the  Book of Mormon, (Dictation when they are a little older), essay assignments for Liberty, and spelling words from the Book of Mormon.  We are exclusively focusing on the 3 R's right now.  Because I jumped off the conveyor belt 8 months ago I have an entirely different mindset.  I am enjoying every second of this time.  We just do whatever we get to.  Sometimes we do all of it and finish at 11.  Sometimes we spend an hour discussing 3 verses in the Bible and we don't get everything "done."  I DON'T CARE THOUGH! Whew! That's an improvement for me and my check off lists.  Liberating you know.  I am finally just BEing with my children.  I am following the spirit to know what we should discuss.  Oh, life is good this way.
• When you graduate from "Grammar School" you get to have your Scholar or whatever you want to call it course written up.  We haven't made it this far yet.  I'm envisioning that we will fast together with the youth and go to the temple with them. (Since they have standing youth recommends).  We will discuss what we think they need to focus on to prepare for their life.  Liberty (12) is really almost there.  She is checked off in spelling and reading.  She needs a little work in composition.  We've decided that passing arithmetic means finishing the first two Life of Fred books.  (Oh, and in the olden days they called it the 3 R's. Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. They didn't call it math.  I'm a slow learner).
• When my children do their spelling and their math they do it all on lap wipe boards.  We are minimizing here by not needing extra paper.  They enjoy the variety of this.  I give them a spelling word and then they write it down and "reveal" their answers.  Sometimes we have guessing game drills.  I know you are surprised.  We thrive on facts in this house.  I'll say what is the date of the dedication of the Kirkland Temple or something and they'll write their answers down and then they reveal and see if they got it right. We use paper for composition and copywork.
• We have a reading hour after lunch.  We usually exceed this.  The older two boys really needed the "forced" time to read.  This sounds horrible I know.  They are loving it now, because they have pushed through their reading levels.  Determination (10) has read Mrs. Frisby and is 1/2 through a Narnia in the last week.  He is reading every spare minute he can now. Imagination (9) has read a Narnia and he is busting through  The Hobbit with ease this past week.  Determination didn't like doing hard things before now he's pushed through that and Imagination doesn't mind doing hard things but he get distracted and starts a new book every day.  That is solving their problems.  Leader (8)-the one that doesn't like being told what to do-is reading with me during this time.  We've had some tears and some sadness but he is fast improving.  He knows I love him though and he is trying hard.  When his time is up he'll say, "Mom I did it! I did a hard thing!" He is gaining a lot of confidence.  Reading for Liberty is a piece of cake.  She asked if her scholar studies could be composed of her just reading literature for all hours of the day. I smiled and said we might need some sewing, canning, childcare, etc skills in there.
• We do our family work in the afternoon.  We were being too lazy in the afternoon.  Breaking it up helps "wake us up."
• Our cleaning is going super.  We are only using baking soda and vinegar to clean.  We still need the castille soap to make laundry detergent so we haven't done that. Liberty loves cleaning this way.  I doubt we will every go back.
• We have changed our eating.  We still have our green smoothies as I mentioned.  We no longer have lunch at noon.  We have dinner at noon.  We have our big meal of the day at mid day.  At 5 or 6 PM we have super.  This is how all the old timers use to eat.  I remember my grandparents eating like this.  We all ready have noticed a huge difference in how we feel!!!!  Since we don't eat 'lunch' gone are the sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, chicken nuggets and all the nasty lunch food.  I mean the mentality to eat lunch food is gone.  We have whatever we were eating in the evening at noon now.  For super we have corn on the cob or bread and milk.  Whatever. Very simple, very light.  It's amazing to me that we really aren't hungry for super anyway.  We go to bed with lighter bellies.  Mr. Patriot is only home in the evening to eat with us about half the time anyway.  He usually eats left overs for noon and 5 anyway.  We will still enjoy great noon time dinners on Saturday and Sunday together though.  Mr. Patriot is the biggest advocate of this change and has noticed the most difference.
• We still do geography and history at every meal.  That is simply a way of life for us.  They also continue to focus on their memorizing lists only because they want to.

That's all I can think of now.  I 'm off to pack.

Kindred Spirits

On Friday my very good friend called and said, "Let's go to the Celestial Education Conference."  We had to spend six hours consulting with our families, switching up schedules and talking ourselves into leaving at 4:30 AM so we could be there in time.  Finally a little before 10 PM we decided that we were going to go.  I was excited.  I think that I was most excited to see my blogging friends.  Since it was so late at night I couldn't call them and tell them we were coming.  We'd just have to surprise them and hope they were there.

They were there! So fun.  While there I had some great thoughts and impressions while I listened to the first speaker.  After our meeting we were able to go out to lunch.  We had some great discussions! I'm so glad I was able to go.

On the front row was  Jennifer and Misty aka Misfit Cygnet.

The back row is Lara aka Lazy Organizer, me, Stephanie aka Joyful Saint, Rachel aka Free N' Equal on Misfit Cygnet and Jennifer from Celestial Education In the Home.

I was disappointed to not be able to spend some more time with Karen from The Tale of Our Quest but I'll catch up with her another time.

It was very nice to meet so many others of you out there who read my blog!  Thank you for your kind words and encouragement.  I am grateful  to know that my blog as been inspirational to you. 

It was soul enriching to be around so many wonderful women.  Thank you all.

The Friend

Isn't there a TJED ingredient that is called, "The Friend?" I should take the time to look it up, but I won't.  It seems like there is an ingredient for every thing.  If there's not (I really am sure there is) I'm going to make it up.

Ingredient #58962: The Friend.  All moms need a buddy.  A friend to sound off ideas with.  A friend who will call you on the carpet when your wrong.  A friend who will tell you "they're going to turn out fine."  A friend who has a great husband too that your husband can hang out with their husband so you can talk even more with your friend.  This friend also has children with compatible ages for your children so they can hang out with good youth and be an influence for good too.  A nice bonus would also be that they walk in parades with you all summer and support your family while they campaign.

Yeah, I have one of those.  She's great.

They're the type of friends that come over at 9:30 at night at stay for 3 hours, or call before normal people are up just because.  They're the type of friends that when you come home they're taking a shower at your house before they rush off to some where else. When you come home their four year old waves to you from your back yard while he's petting your dog and welcomes you home.  You know your friends been there when your library books are spread all over the house too. They feel comfortable doing that.  That's good. Because of course you've been at their house when their not home using their house for other needed purposes too. 

It would be nice if we lived in the same towns I suppose.  But I would think we'd never get anything done though.  We'd never sleep. 

A friend is there to have a great discussion with.  Just the other night we discussed society and it's traps, Fahrenheit 451,  Charlotte Mason, A Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Galaxy, discussing the classes we were each going to teach each other's older kids this fall together, wearing skirts, femininity, Celestial Education video, wondering when Misfit Cygnet was going to inspire us with another great post, habit formation in our children, waking up early, etc. etc.

While your discussing with your friend you know your husband and his friend are talking about campaign strategy, current events, Homer, Shakespeare, their wives getting up early, teaching their sons how to respect women, teaching their sons to work hard, etc. etc.

Of course while you and your husband are discussing things your kids are off playing.  You know the boys are making forts and leading an intelligence mission as English spies.  The girls are discussing femininity, wearings skirts, talking about the skirts that they made, and the books they've read.

It is nice to have a great friend.  I hope you have one too!

My Compass

Here is my compass with some thoughts.  I added a "goals with my stewardships" category to my list.  And if I actually post this I'll have to do them.  You'll hold me accountable now....

Core Goals

1. Get up at 5 AM.  The last two months I stopped getting up that early and my production has definetly been lower since then.
2. Go on a 30 minute walk every day.  Charlotte Mason says in book 5 a young women should go on a  "2-3 hour vigorous walk daily."  Since I'm not young I'll try for 30 minutes.  I'm getting older.  I need to exercise.  I control my weight by not over eating.

Books to Read

1. Finish books 5 and 6 in Charlotte Mason.
2. Finish the Old Testament
3. Finish my rereading of Jesus the Christ
4. Read the Aeneid (I'm skipping Plato and Aristotle in my Great Books list even though I'm reading chornicalogically).
5. Read 5 young adult classics- from DeMille's list, (perhaps Olivier Twist, David Copperfield, Ben Hur...we'll see?)

Piano Goals

1. Do a composer study with piano teacher.
2. Continue piano lessons.
3. Learn the musical movements of history and how how to identify them.

Goals with my Stewardships

1. Continue visiting my newly assigned widowed Visiting Teaching sister several times a week.
2. Continue focusing on teaching my children deep cleaning skills.
3. Go through all clothes to check for modesty.
4. Help children with their goals, especially journal writing.
5. Continue to support husband in his campaign goals.

Memorize

1. Kings and Queens of England (I have 1/2 of them memorized)
2. Declaration of Independece
3. Relearn states and capitals with Determination
4. Perodic Table with Determination

Skills Classes

1. Take Pyramid Project (math and science) with oldest two.
2. Continue piano lessons.

To Learn

1. Anything I can!

Staying Positive

I DO NOT want this post to be about whining or finding fault. What I want to discuss is what I've learned.

Have you ever been placed in a situation that wasn't ideal and at times you even considered "wrong" but felt that you needed to submit to it and trust in the Lord?  I have been going through one of those experiences....

This week my daughter and I head to Stake Girls Camp and this year I been called to serve as the Ward Camp Director.  We have spent the last several months working hard on preparations to have a spiritual and positive experience.  We've had a few bumps in the road though.

Most of the burden for Stake Girls Camp as fallen on the Wards.  We are taking care of 8 1/2 out of 10 meals and all the certification for starters.  The hard part was creating something spiritual from this overwhelming assignment: "Rewrite a Dr. Seuss book with a spiritual theme.  Base all devotionals, camp site decorations, flags, cheers, Secret Ward activities and skit around your Dr. Seuss theme."  Monday night's activity includes watching "Horton Hears a Who" as a stake.

This small calling has proven to be hard for me.  I love the Young Women's program however.  I have served in Young Women's multiple times including serving as President.  I feel there is a great war on in this world and I feel my fighting gloves come on when I get put in the Young Women's program.  Fighting gloves to combat evil and teach the young women about God's love for them and the great evil that prevails and seeks to destroy them and their role as wife and mother.  I tend to want to disregard all the fun activities and want to focus on serving others and spiritual growth.

Anyway....I have had to humble myself exceedingly in order to fulfil assignments that are completely out of my realm of comprehension.  Through this process I have felt the Lord with me.  When I have felt completely overwhelmed with coming up with a cheer for a particular assignment I have felt the Lord whisper words to me.  When I've been given a book that I was told to illustrate and Modge Podge around a Dr. Seuss theme that I needed to create the Lord has helped me.  The Lord has provided inspiration to help me fulfill all my assignments.

I have always known and I continue to know that the Lord really is in control.  He will help me through the ridiculous and provide a way to teach and testify.  I am reminded that all people in all positions in the church (including myself) are mortal and imperfect.  Good intentions can often end up going in the wrong direction.  But the Lord has a higher plan.  He knows what's going on and He will ensure that everyone learns what they need to learn and progress in whatever capacity He wants them too.  One of my lessons is to learn to submit.  I have to learn to submit even when I think something is ridiculous.  If I learn to submit in the ridiculous than I will be that much closer to submitting in the hard and terrible things that will come in the future.

One girl approached me very distraught and said, "I don't know why I even need to go.  This is so stupid.  I won't learn a thing and it will be a waste of my time."  I disagreed and promptly listed the following as reasons to go and participate:

1. Opportunity to enrich current friendships.
2. Opportunity to make new friends.
3. Opportunity to serve others.
4. Opportunity to reach out to those that are unnoticed and down trodden.
5. Opportunity to feel the Spirit as you commune in nature and notice the beauties of the earth.
6. Opportunity to obey even when we would rather not.
7. Opportunity to choose happiness even in the ridiculous.
8. Opportunity to learn from other's good examples.
9. Opportunity to learn new skills.
10. Opportunity to practice all those things we read in the scriptures about being Christ-like.

The point for me is that I will I take the opportunity to make the best of every situation in life whether ideal or not?  I ask myself, "Am I going to take this opportunity of personal growth or am I going to point fingers of condemnation (I did do that unfortunately), wonder where God is in all of this (yep) and say I above this activity (guilty as charged)?"  I have had a very large internal battle.  I have recognized my need for repentance and I have chosen to submit and trust in God.  Since I have done this I have found peace.

I hope that I can remember the lessons I am learning through this experience so that I can become the women that God wants me to be.  I hope that these lessons can help you as you sort through situations in your life that may not be ideal.

So now I asked that you pray for me this week so that I can keep my promises to myself and to the Lord! : ) 

Positive Journaling

When I was 12 or 13 years old I remember being taught a lesson in Sunday School about the importance of journal writing. I was told that it was a commandment. I recall the lesson had several quotes by Spencer W. Kimball. Here is a quote that is similar to the thoughts I remember from that Sunday lesson:

"I have encouraged the Saints to keep personal journals and family records. I renew that admonition...From time immemorial the Lord has counseled us to be a record-keeping people...We hope you will begin as of this date. If you have not already commenced this important duty in your lives, get a good notebook, a good book that will last through time and into eternity for the angels to look upon. Begin today and write in it your goings and your comings, your deeper thoughts, your achievements, and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. We hope you will do this, our brothers and sisters, for this is what the Lord has commanded, and those who keep a personal journal are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives." President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals, New Era, December 1980.

Several years ago when I was rereading some of my old journal entries I realized that I always put down how sick and tired I was. I did always feel sick and tired didn't I? I had the thought come to me that maybe I should stop writing about how sick and tired I always felt. So I did. I changed my posts to be more about looking at the positives of the day. It wasn't long before I realized that I wasn't sick and tired any more. I had become grateful and happy. Suddenly I seemed cured of all my fatigue and blazee attitudes.

Another item I have found helpful in my journal writing is not writing about inappropriate or sensitive things. I haven't written things that would shock my children should they find it and read it today. My journal won't incriminate someone else either. If I have a pressing trial that would be unnecessary for my posterity to know I simply relate to it as "a trial." Remember Paul refers to his weakness as a "thorn in his side." Paul does not go into details about his weakness(es). If it is someone else who is struggling I simply say, "someone close to be has been struggling." I then bear my testimony about what I am learning from the experience and look for the blessings and the positive aspects of it. There have always been positives in any negative experience I have had. Really. Sometimes I've had to look super hard though!

When I have passed on I don't want to have my journals edited and destroyed because it contained inappropriate things. I am certain a part of who I was would be edited out. It is enough for them and myself to know that Christ is indeed merciful and forgiving of all our weaknesses. That is who I really am. I daughter of God who believes in Jesus Christ, and hopefully my life, reflected in my journals, is showcased that way. I want my life to be about the faith I had and not about all the trials I had.

Once upon a time in my life of 35 years I was helping a friend with her genealogy work. (I have helped several people through the years).  I stumbled upon some information about my friend's ancestor who had made some bad choices. I didn't know what those choices were, I only knew that I held in my hand a piece of paper for "restoration of blessings" for this person who had been excommunicated. I quickly put it back, never told a soul and reflected. I reviewed what I knew about this man whom I had actually known. He had been a GREAT man. He was honored. If the deeds of this one transgression had been known to the world would he have been remembered for the transgression or the great life he lived? President Kimball said in the above talk,

 "Even a long life full of inspiring experiences can be brought to the dust by one ugly story. Why dwell on that one ugly truth about someone whose life has been largely circumspect?"

I have found that I have received great emotional strength from writing in my journal. In many ways it has been therapeutic in understanding some of my adventures in mortality. Journal writing as also been a way to recognize my blessings and to bear my testimony.