Music & the Spoken Word: Remembering the day

Editor’s note: “The Spoken Word” is shared by Lloyd Newell each Sunday through the weekly Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square broadcast. This might be given Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024.

For so long as people have put pen to paper, they’ve found satisfaction in keeping journals. So many individuals of all ages record special moments of their lives, expressing their inmost feelings and thoughts. Some do it to depart a record for his or her posterity; others write just for themselves. There’s just something about putting our life into words that helps us see it clearly, understand it and, over time, make it higher.

Very often, probably the most difficult step in journaling is just getting began. Experienced journal keepers have found that it helps to ascertain a rhythm for writing. It could be different for everybody; some journal every Sunday afternoon, before breakfast on weekdays, on the train through the day by day commute or simply before bed. Journaling, they discover, invites order, awareness and peace into their lives.

During the onset of the pandemic, a girl began keeping a journal — just a fast entry each morning to reflect on her many blessings. Sometimes she repeated what she wrote the day before. Some days she wrote with more enthusiasm than others. But now, years later, she looks forward to her day by day ritual, and he or she enjoys reading past entries. Recording her gratitude in a journal has deepened her joy and softened her sorrow.

Scientific research confirms what journal keepers have learned for themselves: Journaling has all types of mental, emotional and spiritual advantages. Besides the plain ones, “like a lift in mindfulness, memory and communication skills, … studies have also found that writing in a journal can lead to higher sleep, a stronger immune system, more self-confidence and a better IQ” (see “What’s All This About Journaling?” by Hayley Phelan, New York Times, Oct. 25, 2018, nytimes.com).

Some find healing and peace within the pages of their journals. Others find deeper understanding of their very own emotions, which helps them connect higher with others. By remembering and reflecting, by writing things down, we will see how we’ve grown through the years. And seeing how we faced challenges previously might give us courage to face what lies ahead.

Even if we write just one line every few days, journaling will help us “ponder the trail of [our] feet” (see Proverbs 4:26). while also turning our thoughts heavenward, opening our hearts to gratitude for the Lord, His grace and His goodness in our lives.

Tuning in …

The “Music & the Spoken Word” broadcast is obtainable on KSL-TV, KSL NewsRadio 1160AM/102.7FM, KSL.com, BYUtv, BYUradio, Dish and DirecTV, SiriusXM Radio (Ch. 143), the tabernaclechoir.org, youtube.com/TheTabernacleChoir and Amazon Alexa (must enable skill). The program is aired survive Sundays at 9:30 a.m. on lots of these outlets. Look up broadcast information by state and city at musicandthespokenword.com/viewers-listeners/airing-schedules.