I have always written things down as I study the scriptures. Not because I felt like I was getting any deep spiritual inspiration, but primarily because I would forget what I would learn from week to week. There was nothing special about where I would write, and quite frankly it would be a mess of little notepads here and there. Meeting notes were always included in these books, and of course I would always doodle something as I was listening or thinking (prime example here). Then about a year ago I came across this image
from the blog: redheadedhostess.com and everything came together. It was so simple I don't know why I hadn't recognized it before. So I started anew.
Over the last few months I learned some very important truths about who I am and what is expected of me. I have gained insight that has changed my life. I am listening more intently, I have greater focus and not because I'm following someone's elses' study tool. My learning has increased because I remember the things which I have written down. Of course it can also be that the place I am at in my life right now and nothing to do with the scripture journal. However, I have loved this exercise in study so here are a few things I've learned.
1. Creating a designated scripture journal and it's important to write things down.
"The prompting that goes unresponded to may not be repeated. Writing down what we have been prompted with is vital. A special thought can be lost later in the day through the rough and tumble of life. God should not and may not choose to repeat the promptings if we assign what is give such a low priority as to put it aside." (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Wherefore, Ye Must Press Forward, p. 122.)
2. Creating art within my journals enhances my learning.
I am such a visual person (which is probably no surprise to anyone) and I openly acknowledge that any talent is a gift from our merciful Father in Heaven. For me it's perfectly natural and absolutely beautiful to add art into something that has become sacred in my life.
My scriptures are and have always been filled will color as part of my study. I have learned that I am able to remember what and where I have learned based on the colors and doodles that are found in the verses.
3. Variety keeps things interesting and adds enlightenment.
Perhaps it's becasue I have such a short attention span, but I need variety (as you have found from my various hobbies). So moving from lists to diagrams and everything in between enriches my study.
Shannon over at Redheadedhostess.com (I don't know Shannon at all other than what I have read on her blog and she seems like a very lovely person) has some great ideas on adding variety to your scripture journal. She has really taken scripture journals to another level. scripture journal part 2 Of course doing a quick internet search will bring up countless examples of what people are doing in their study so there are countless examples for every learning style.
If you are like me and think that you have nothing to record or nothing of value here is a quote to help motivate you to get started or at least combine all the various efforts:
“Start recording, and spiritual things will happen. They are there all the time, but we become more sensitive to them as we write” (John H. Groberg, “Writing Your Personal and Family History,” Ensign, May 1980, 48).
I am including a pdf of the quotes and art that I have printed off and included in my journal this week. I don't have any illusions that it will have any effect on anyone like it has for me, but I hate to waste a perfectly good file. I am less concerned with presentation and placement of the images within the file as I just cut the page up and add it to the different sections in my journal, so my apologies in advance.
Inspiring. I love Shannon's journals, but I am like you, I need to write it down or it is just not going to stick with me.
My journal is not pretty like yours, but it is there. :) I am working on my scriptures looking like yours. I got a new set and am busy working on it. It is amazing to me how my perspective changed as soon as my markings were gone.
Posted by: JRoberts | February 25, 2012 at 03:21 PM
Allison, I love the quote about heeding promptings right away. Just this week I decided that as I had a thought come to my head about any of the sisters in my RS I would act on it right away ( I'm the RS Pres.) I'm trying to recognize these thoughts as promptings and not my crazy imaginations and thoughts. Writing them down has been difficult too because even when I have, I forget to look at them later.
Posted by: Lisa S | February 26, 2012 at 10:03 AM
where did you find the quote from Elder Maxwell? Is it from a book? a talk?
Posted by: Lisa S | February 26, 2012 at 05:30 PM