5. Record thoughts, impressions, and ideas

I wrote this blog post about writing two years ago.  But this is a slightly different topic.  Sis. Beck counsels us to record our thoughts impressions and ideas to better receive personal revelation.  Here are the reasons I can see for why this is helpful:

1.   When we take the initiative to have a journal set aside and prepared for us to record our revelations, it is a symbol to God of our being open and ready for whatever He would have us know.

2.   Writing helps us to think clearly and concisely about the things on our mind.  It forces us to organize and reason through our ideas.  Too often--when we receive input after input in the form of reading, watching, listening, and observing--but fail to create a channel for healthy output (writing or expressing) our precious thoughts can become muddled, jumbled together, and confused.  It is difficult for me to describe in words, but have you ever felt that heavy-in-the-head feeling that comes from too much input and not enough output?  The sad thing is, I believe we turn ourselves to vegging or brain-dead activities to sooth our minds, instead of doing the work that will allow our minds true peace.

3.   Recording our thoughts, impressions, and ideas will enlarge our memories.  (Alma 37:8)  We forget things so quickly with our mortal minds.  But when we record things, we have something to come back to which will remind us of our previous feelings.  Moreover, just the simple act of writing down a thought will make it stand out in your mind.