Keeping a Journal Can Change Your Life

Keeping A Journal Can Change Your Life

For Everyone: 

Spencer W. Kimball admonished us, “So we ask you again to do the things that we have suggested, brothers and sisters, such as keeping up your homes and writing in your journals. Every person should keep a journal and every person can keep a journal. It should be an enlightening one and should bring great blessings and happiness to the families. If there is anyone here who isn’t doing so, will you repent today and change—change your life?”

Keeping a Journal YOUR Way

There are many ways to keep a journal. Here are some ways:

Traditional way with pen/pencil and paper in a bound book.

Written on your computer.

On an app on your tablet.

Creating a blog.

Writing Letters and emails.

Scrapbooking.

Gratitude journal, like Pres. Eyrings.

Digital recording.

Video recordings:

You can keep locally on your computer or put onto YouTube on a private channel. Some of you may have computers, laptops, iPods or phones that record videos.

Study Journal :

Elder Richard G. Scott said, "Knowledge carefully recorded is knowledge available in time of need. Spiritually sensitive information should be kept in a sacred place that communicates to the Lord how you treasure it. This practice enhances the likelihood of your receiving further light." (" Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge ," Ensign, Nov. 1993, 86.) 

An embellished journal. 

What’s that? 

An embellished journal is a journal where you keep your thoughts, collect your favorite moments (or worst moments) and you add doodles or masterpieces to your pages alongside your drawing.

Are you a nature journal kinda person, are you a study journal kinda person? Are you a video recording journaling kinda person?

During Vanguard on Imaginative Arts Tuesday, we will be experimenting with watercolors, pens and pencils. We will be playing around with ways to make our journals our very own. There are some tutorials below to give you a head start.  During this week, if you find a great tutorial website, we would all benefit from it if you share it by putting in a comment below. Thanks!!

Challenge:  For at least the next 2 weeks, keep a journal. It can be YOUR way. Journals are personal and will bless you, your family and future generations. (note: I will not ask you to share them. However, I will be asking about your experience.)

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Do 1 or more INSPIREMENTS:

**Warning: you may not be able to stop yourself from doing all of them!!**

1.  Make a list of Journal or art prompts to include in a journal to share with the class. Share what kind of journal person YOU are.

2.  Check out these famous peoples’ journals. Choose 1 to share with the class and then tell us why you liked this persons journal.  

**note: feel free to investigate a person not listed that you’d like to learn about or an ancestor you’d like to share about their journal.

Here is link to journals: http://www.artofmanliness.com/2010/09/13/the-pocket-notebooks-of-20-famous-men/

Beethoven

Ben Franklin

Lewis and Clark

Pablo Picasso

Thomas Edison

Leonardo DaVinci

Thomas Jefferson

George Lucas

John James Audoubon

Wilford Woodruff - he would illuminate and doodle in his journal. His journal is well known as one of the most helpful and accurate records in the early days of the church. Here are some of his 

3. Check out mind map art. What?? I know! It is a crazy cool way to set goals or clear your brain or brainstorm or even journal. Here is the link: mindmapart.com

Inspirement: make an art mind map and share with us.

4. Try illustrating your scripture study. See this website for an example. http://oneofakindgiftideas.blogspot.com/2012/05/artistic-scripture-journaling-koi.html Share your experience.

5. Watch at least 1 video or all of these tutorials, then play around with some of these techniques, share your results. 

Check out these pinterest boards:
Art Journal examples: http://www.pinterest.com/Muffinsmonstret/art-journals/
And these videos:
How to draw mammals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcd-E2AqA5I
How to sketch birds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jV7TVUJdHw

How to paint a realistic shell in watercolor by Anna Mason: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-9AeKhJUyE

Detailed watercolor tutorials: http://watercolourswithwow.com/free-resources/painting-technique/

6. Find out what a smash book is. Create one and share it with us. Here a link for a quick reference.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmaWY7Wk0qA#t=45