[The following is an excerpt from the conversations we have in the Spiritual Psychology Masterclass. I invite you to join us each week.]
I found another teaching point at the end of the first verse in 1 Nephi. “I make a record of my proceedings”.
He repeats the phrase two more times. In verse two, “Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians.” and then again in verse three, which is the one I really want to emphasize, And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge.
You’re going to see this concept a lot in the Gospel library app, which we will be referring to often throughout this book. Right below each session of General Conference, it says “Record Your Impressions.” If you go to Come Follow Me, and you go to the beginning of any lesson, it says, “Record Your Impressions.” Let’s talk, from the perspective of psychology, about why this is so important.
One of the most common flaws in the psychology process that I experience as a counselor, is when the clients we work with have an insight, a revelation, or have new further light and knowledge and then between sessions, it slips through their fingers like water; it falls on the floor and rolls under the couch. It evaporates.
If you pay close attention to the first few chapters of 1 Nephi, one of the most common principles is the anchoring of true principles onto paper. Disciples of Christ who have the ambition to be like Nephi must also “make a record” of “the goodness and mysteries of God” “according to my knowledge“. I invite you to do the same.
And I invite you to share what you have written with others, thus adding another witness of true principles to the truth seekers out there. I was nervous about doing so, initially, as well. If you don’t feel good at it, then you have something in common with Nepali: “neither am I mighty in writing” and “the words which I have written in weakness.”
You are going to want to read 2 Nephi 33 if you want to see the full impact as to why Nephi was confident to share his writings, notwithstanding his weakness.
Sheralyn on 1 Ne 1:1-3:
I remember hearing President Eyring speak in the October 2007 General Conference about keeping a journal. He would write down how he saw the Lord’s hand in his life and in his family’s life that day. This idea was buried in my mind until twelve years later as I was making great efforts to improve my awareness of personal revelation. I had a burning desire to see how the Lord worked personally for me in my life. President Eyring’s talk emerged from my memory (through the workings of the Spirit) and I knew immediately that I needed to start journaling.
As I have made these efforts the last couple years, the Lord’s hand in my life has been made obvious. Nephi makes clear in the beginning verses of the Book of Mormon of his intent. I believe Nephi also desired to write how he and his family had seen the Lord’s hand in their lives as well. If we take a step back, how many of the prophets that have contributed to scripture felt this desire?
We all receive blessings from reading the standard works and modern prophet’s words today. Do you keep a journal now? Do you keep this record to show future generations how the Lord worked personally for you in your life?
I believe the stories (no matter how big or small) and records we each keep are just as important and can be just as impactful to others as biblical stories we heard growing up. If this seems too ambitious for you, then maybe start with one sentence written per day. One sentence that shows evidence of God working in your life. From this small beginning point, you will grow and see how great God’s hand is in every minute of your life!
We walk through “DPAR”s more in other posts, but I want to mention here that one of the greatest gifts we can give the next generation is a written version of our Discover, Plan, Act, Reflect cycle. Can you imagine finding a journal of one of your predecessors, whether it be a family or professional predecessor, and find within its pages a long series of their efforts to use this inspired Pattern for Growth!?
My 3 hero/role models are Martin Luther King, Jr., Abraham Lincoln, and Ghandi. Imagine discovering journals of DPARs written by any one of the three, let alone the whole list! I, we, could have all benefited so much from such a resource.
After reading closely about their lives, it is likely that as they did their work, they did not feel important enough to think that future generations would want to study a written version of their patterns for growth.
Please ignore the Satanic attack that hints that your life doesn’t matter enough. For the sake of your own personal development, for the sake of the relationships that are important to you (few things improve a marriage better or faster than both partners writing and sharing their daily DPARs – check out the Marriage Repair Workshops for more details on that), and for all who come after you.
