 |
| Logan Temple - © Stuart Gardner |
– Elder David B. Haight, “Personal Temple Worship,” Ensign, May 1993, p. 25.
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Go Often and Regularly
Monday, May 25, 2015
Memory Jogger Monday - May 25
 |
| Carol, Janice - 1949 |
Some of my favorite memories:
My mother seemed to always have patience with her children; all five of us. I don't remember her raising her voice very often. I don't know how she did it; I hope I can still learn this from her and I hope I can be more like her in this way.
I remember one time that she went on strike! Myself and my siblings were not being very appreciative or cooperative and she had had enough. My dad had to do everything: cooking, laundry, school lunches, etc. It didn't last too long; at least I don't remember it lasting very long. I do remember it happening though and the lesson I learned was to be more appreciative.
She always taught us to "Clean As You Go". I try to do this mostly when I am cooking and it drives my husband nuts. He would rather fill the sink with dishes and then clean up afterward. I love it when I clean as I go and there are minimal dishes to do at the end of a meal.
The times I remember most are just the normal ordinary days when I would lay on her bed with her and we would talk about whatever topic we wanted to. Those are my best memories!
 |
| Carol and granddaughter Emma - 2008 |
There are many more memories; I will keep writing them down.
See this post for more information about "Memory Jogger Monday":
Sunday, May 24, 2015
We Shall Be Given The Rest
“Revelation comes to individual members as they are led to discover
their family records in ways that are miraculous indeed. And there is a feeling of inspiration
attending this work that can be found in no other. When we have done all that we can do, we
shall be given the rest. The way will be
opened up.”
- Boyd K. Packer, “The
Redemption of the Dead,” Ensign, November 1975.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Digital Journaling Solutions
 |
| Photo from LDS Media Library |
Earlier this month I wrote a post about writing a personal history or keeping a journal. I mentioned that instead of using a notebook I was going to use the computer to document my life. Shortly after my post I had a family friend ask me what kind of digital journaling options were now available. I wasn't aware of the options myself, so I quickly polled a few of my Facebook friends to find out what they use and I did a Google search as well.
By no means is my list comprehensive; nor do I necessarily recommend any of these products. This is a simple list of what I was able to find online. If you use any of these products or know of other products, please share your thoughts in the comments at the end of this post.
http://www.ldsjournal.com/
Specifically for members of the LDS Church.
Free
Online
Free and paid options
Online
Mobile
Custom email reminders
Free and paid options
Online
Attach photos, imbed YouTube videos
Paid: import from Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
Paid: download backup
Free for first 30
days, then $5/month
Online
Free
Online
Private or public journal
Private or public journal
Free
Online
69 digital journal apps for IOS, Android, and Windows mobile devices
This site ranks top apps/software and has many other journaling articles.
Free and paid
options
Online and download
Mobile option (IOS,
Android)
Free and paid
options
Online and Download
Mobile options (IOS,
Android)
Free and Paid
Personal history
30 day free, monthly
or yearly subscription
Emailed questions -
respond by phone or email
Other options:
Facebook - private posts, print to book
Private Blog, print to book
Google Docs/Drive
Word processing software
Some other resources:
AND ... check out this technology ... it is something I am excited for and can't wait for it to be affordable to everyone:
Remember to share in the comments what you use for journaling or personal history keeping. I would like to learn more about this topic.
***Updated 6 hours later ***
More questions to think about:
* What happens if the digital solution provider goes out of business; how will I access my content?
* Can I access my content outside of the solution (ie: .txt,.pdf, etc) as a backup?
* How will my posterity know about my online journal/history?
* Do I designate a beneficiary for my digital journal? Does the solution provide for beneficiary access?
***Updated 6 hours later ***
More questions to think about:
* What happens if the digital solution provider goes out of business; how will I access my content?
* Can I access my content outside of the solution (ie: .txt,.pdf, etc) as a backup?
* How will my posterity know about my online journal/history?
* Do I designate a beneficiary for my digital journal? Does the solution provide for beneficiary access?
Monday, May 18, 2015
Memory Jogger Monday - May 18
 |
| Donald, Darlene, Dennis - 1950 |
Dennis Ray Ohms was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on December 22, 1945 to Raymond Henry Ohms and Helen Arlene Barr Ohms. He was the 4th child and 3rd son. His oldest brother Ronald was stillborn in 1936. The second child, a daughter Darlene was born in 1938; then brother Donald in 1940 and Dennis in 1945.
Some of my favorite memories:
Papa taught me to work hard. One way that he did this was by teaching me how to pull weeds when I was very young. We had a large garden. I remember packing my grain bag full of weeds, making sure to shake off all the dirt. We would get paid 5 cents per pound. I had my favorite weeds ... those without stickers and thorns.
Also, when I was a young child, my father was Santa! There were occasions where I was able to accompany him on his visits and deliveries as his helper elf. I remember riding in his old brown truck in the dark night as he made surprise visits and I remember hiding with him at the LDS Institute.
 |
| Santa 1980s |
There are so many more memories I have of him. I will continue to write them down.
See this post for more information about "Memory Jogger Monday":
Sunday, May 17, 2015
We Must Keep Our Focus
 |
| Payson Temple - © Stuart Gardner |
“ … and other choice
spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fulness of times to take
part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work, including the
building of the temples and the performance of ordinances therein for the
redemption of the dead, were also in the spirit world.”
– Doctrine and
Covenants 138:53-54
“In order to perform
this great work, we must be worthy. No wonder we are surrounded on every side
with things designed to [disinterest], discourage, distract, or disqualify us.
We must keep our focus, and we must remember that the temple is the reason for
everything we do in the Church.”
– Elaine S. Dalton, “We Did This For You,”
October 2004 General Conference.
Monday, May 11, 2015
Memory Jogger Monday - May 11
I was born in September 2, 1971 at the Valley View Medical Center in Cedar City, Utah. When I was born my parents lived in a small trailer in a trailer park in Cedar City. Not long after I was born my parents moved to a little home in the country on Midvalley Road; actually in Iron County (not within any city limits). In the Google Map image above, it is the little home in the left of the picture. The home was built in the early 1900s and has two bedrooms. We lived in this home until my 3rd sibling was born and then we moved next door to the home on the right side of the above image. My family still own both of these homes and the land and those gardens and orchard you see above.
I lived in the country and would play in the irrigation ditches and pond across the street. We played in the old barns on our property and made them into our "hut" where we would hide out all summer long and have amazing adventures. We had some neighbor friends that we would play with that lived between 1/4 to 1/2 mile away.
The "town" was Cedar City and it was 7 miles away. My father worked at Southern Utah State College (later Southern Utah University) and our playground was also the campus when we would visit him at work. We played in and under the large trees, in the water fountains and throughout the campus buildings. And we spent some of our summer evenings helping him at the Shakespearean Festival Gift Shoppe.
Running through the fields in the daytime and Shakespeare under the stars in the evenings. These are some of my favorite memories.
I lived in the country and would play in the irrigation ditches and pond across the street. We played in the old barns on our property and made them into our "hut" where we would hide out all summer long and have amazing adventures. We had some neighbor friends that we would play with that lived between 1/4 to 1/2 mile away.
The "town" was Cedar City and it was 7 miles away. My father worked at Southern Utah State College (later Southern Utah University) and our playground was also the campus when we would visit him at work. We played in and under the large trees, in the water fountains and throughout the campus buildings. And we spent some of our summer evenings helping him at the Shakespearean Festival Gift Shoppe.
Running through the fields in the daytime and Shakespeare under the stars in the evenings. These are some of my favorite memories.
See this post for more information about "Memory Jogger Monday":
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Mighty Perspective of Eternity is Unraveled
“Temple work … gives
a wonderful opportunity for keeping alive our spiritual knowledge and strength.
… The mighty perspective of eternity is unraveled before us in the holy
temples; we see time from its infinite beginning to its endless end; and the
drama of eternal life is unfolded before us. Then I see more clearly my place
amidst the things of the universe, my place among the purposes of God; I am
better able to place myself where I belong, and I am better able to value and
to weigh, to separate and to organize the common, ordinary duties of my life so
that the little things shall not oppress me or take away my vision of the
greater things that God has given us.”
– Elder John A. Widtsoe, Conference
Report, Apr. 1922, pp. 97–98.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Set Your Kindred Free
Clara Lewis Jennings
Must I, behind locked
doors, forever wait,
While you, who are on
earth, procrastinate
Work which would set
me free?
Must I cry out,
unheard, forevermore,
And wait, in vain,
behind this bleak, barred door
Because you would not
see?
Must I, who once held
loved ones tenderly,
Stretch out my arms
through all eternity
While others move
ahead?
Must I not know the
joy of being sealed,
By this great power God
has now revealed,
Because you failed
your dead?
When I dwelt on the
earth as mortal man,
The Lord had not
revealed his gospel plan,
Which I accept as
true!
I would have done my
own work had I known,
And would not now be
waiting here alone,
Depending so on you!
Please hear my voice
before it is too late,
For you, and yours,
will one day share my fate,
If you heed not my
plea.
For God has spoken in
this latter day,
Commanding you to
open up the way,
To set your kindred
free.
For in your day, the
Lord has plainly said
That no man can be
saved without his dead,
And so, I call once
more;
As I must look to my
posterity,
So must they also
have the need of me.
Monday, May 4, 2015
Writing a Personal History or Keeping a Journal
 |
| Photo from LDS Media Library |
I love reading my ancestor's personal histories, journal entries, and letters they have written to their posterity. It is frustrating when I can't find any of these materials when researching an ancestor. Trying to piece together the story of their lives from documents like birth, marriage, and death certificates as well as census and newspaper stories is gratifying and yet oftentimes frustrating. I so wish I could read of their life in their own voice; I miss the emotion.
And yet I haven't been very good at keeping my own journal or recording my own personal history. If I don't record something about my memories and my experiences, they will be gone at my death. And what will my posterity think of me? I have spent much of my life researching and documenting my ancestor's lives and yet I have not yet documented my own life. Today, that is going to change.
 |
| Spencer W. Kimball Photo from LDS Media Library |
“Your private journal should record the way you face up to
challenges that beset you. Do not suppose life changes so much that your
experiences will not be interesting to your posterity. Experiences of work,
relations with people, and an awareness of the rightness and wrongness of
actions will always be relevant. Your journal, like most others, will tell of
problems as old as the world and how you dealt with them.
“Your journal should contain your true self rather than a
picture of you when you are “made up” for a public performance. There is a
temptation to paint one’s virtues in rich color and whitewash the vices, but
there is also the opposite pitfall of accentuating the negative.
“Your journal is your autobiography, so it should be kept
carefully. You are unique, and there may be incidents in your experience that
are more noble and praiseworthy in their way than those recorded in any other
life.
“What could you do better for your children and your children’s
children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity,
your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing
when you had finally achieved? Some of what you write may be humdrum dates and
places, but there will also be rich passages that will be quoted by your
posterity.
“We hope you will begin as of this date. If you have not
already commenced this important duty in your lives, get a good notebook, a
good book that will last through time and into eternity for the angels to look
upon. Begin today and write in it your goings and your comings, your deeper
thoughts, your achievements, and your failures, your associations and your
triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. We hope you will do this, our
brothers and sisters, for this is what the Lord has commanded, and those who
keep a personal journal are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in
their daily lives.”
- President Spencer W. Kimball, “President Kimball Speaks
Out On Personal Journals,” New Era, December 1980.
Instead of a notebook, I am going to use the computer. Initially, I am going to use this blog and perhaps in the future I will use other software programs (word documents, notebook programs, etc). I encourage you to join me in this process; to start or begin again.
To help me document my life, I am going to share some "memory jogging" questions every Monday on this blog and my answer to their questions. One question/topic once a week. Here is today's topic:
What is your full name?
Why did your parents give you that name?
Why did your parents give you that name?
My full name is Amy Ohms Archibald. My parents named me "Amy" after a song that was written by Bobby Darin and performed by Glenn Yarbrough called "Amy". "Amy, soft as the April snow, Amy, lovely as indigo..." I have indigo colored eyes. They loved Glenn and they still do; they are even his Facebook fans today. Glenn is now 85 years old. My parents did not give any of their daughters middle names because when we got married we could use our maiden name as a middle name. My entire life I wanted a middle name and so did my sisters. Sometimes we would make up our own middle names and write them on our school papers, etc. Because of these feelings I had as a child, I have given my daughter a middle name.
***
Interested in Digital Journal Solutions? Check out this post: http://revealingrootsandbranches.blogspot.com/2015/05/digital-journaling-solutions.html
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Your Personal History Will Turn Hearts
 |
| Photo from LDS Media Library |
“I personally believe
that the writing of personal and family histories will do more to turn the
hearts of the children to the fathers and the fathers to children than almost
anything we can do. I am sure you will never turn your own children’s hearts
more to you than you will by keeping a journal and writing your personal
history. They will ultimately love to find out about your successes and your
failures and your peculiarities. It will tell them a lot about themselves, too.
They will get a great desire to raise a family of their own when they see what
a great blessing they were to you.”
– Hartman Rector, Jr, “Turning the Hearts,”
Ensign, April 1981.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)