by Mary G. Wockenfuss

Created on: January 04, 2010   Last Updated: January 05, 2010

Holy Scripture itself is a written record of man’s experiences with God.  Why would God not want us to do so?  Such records can be shared with others – friends, present and future family.  The recorder can also look back on the accounts and see how his or her relationship with God has changed over time.  Has it grown stronger?  Weaker?  Is it about the same as it was near the beginning?  Has that person’s testimony and faith in God been strengthened by writing down the experiences to remember them?

After the battle of Israel against the Amalekites, Moses was commanded to “write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” (Exodus 17:14)

Job wished his words were written and printed in a book. “Oh, that my words were now written!  Oh that they were printed in a book!  That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he stall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” (Job 19:23-25)

The Psalms are songs and prayers to God, many of which speak of experiences with God.

John the Baptist bore record that he had seen and had baptized the Son of God (John 1:34).

John the Beloved, or the Revelator, was commanded to “write the things which thou hast seen and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.” (Rev. 1:19, KJV)

 In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Nephi is commanded to “make a record of [his] proceedings in [his] days.” (1 Nephi 1:1) “Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the Lord that I should make these plates, for the special purpose that there should be an account engraven of the ministry of my people.” (1 Nephi 9:3)

 The book of Acts records Peter’s revelation that it was now time to take the gospel to the Gentiles.  In fact, the four Gospels are written records of man’s experiences with the Savior.

 “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written everyone, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21:25)

 My memory is notoriously poor, and I know that if I do not write an experience down as soon as possible, I will forget.  I may remember in the future the feeling I had during the experience, but I may not recall the circumstances that brought the feeling into reality.  Writing such things down may even open my eyes to a better understanding of what I have just received.

 When we write down the impressions or experience received, ask God if it what was written was recorded correctly – and editing if necessary – and then inquiring if there were perhaps more to receive, we can receive more and greater instruction than that first impression.  But if that first impression is ignored, we won’t receive the greater.

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