We keep four basic genealogical records--journal, personal history, family history and book of remembrance.  Each type contains different valuable information.  In order to keep these records properly, we must understand what each contains.
 

JOURNAL
 

A journal may be a daily, weekly or monthly recording of a person's life.  It may contain any of the following:
 

1.  Goals, hopes, and aspirations.

2.  Work experiences.

3.  Problems and how they were resolved.

4.  Joys and sorrows with family members.

5.  Relationships with others.

6.  Deepest thoughts.

7.  Faith-promoting experiences.

8.  Significant personal and family events.

9.  Triumph over adversity.

10. Special learning experiences.

11. Personal testimony.

12. Counsel for future generations who will read the journal.
 

Elder Theodore M. Burton counseled: "As a people we ought to write of our own lives and our own experiences to form a sacred record for our descendants.  We must provide for them the same uplifting, faith-promoting strength that the ancient scriptures now give us."  ("The Inspiration of a Family Record," Ensign, January 1977, p. 17).
 

PERSONAL HISTORY
 

A personal history, also a recording of one's life, is much shorter than a journal.  A journal may be used as a basis for writing a personal history.  Once a personal history is written, a journal can be used to keep it current. 
 

President Joseph Fielding Smith said, "Every important event in our lives should be placed in a record, by us individually."  (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:204)
 

Following are suggested items to include in a personal history:
 

1. Full name.
 

2.  Birth: When-day, month, and year; Where-house or hospital, town, county, and state or country; Family circumstances at time of birth.
 

3.  Father: Complete name; date and place of his birth; his father's name; his mother's maiden name.
 

4.  Mother: Complete name; date and place of her birth; her father's name; her mother's maiden name.
 

5.  Brother's and Sisters: names; dates and places of birth; names of spouses and children; other information (such as missions, schools, and occupations).
 

6.  Blessing: when-day, month and year, where-ward or branch, stake or mission, town, county, and state or country; by whom; where this record is written or preserved-ward or branch, stake or mission.
 

7.  Baptism-when-day, month and year, where-ward or branch, stake or mission, town, county, and state or country; by whom; where this record is written or preserved-ward or branch, stake or mission.
 

8.  Confirmation: when-day, month, and year; where-ward or branch, stake or mission, town, county, and state or country; by whom; where this record is preserved-ward, stake or mission.
 

9.  Patriarchal Blessing: when-day, month, and year; where-ward or branch, stake or mission, town, country, and state or country; by whom.
 

10. Schooling: date and place of first schooling; schools attended; teachers.
 

11. Marriage: to whom; when-day, month, and year; where-town, country, and state or country; circumstances of courtship.
 

12. Children: names; dates and places of birth; names of spouses and children; other information (such as missions, schools, and occupations).
 

13. Childhood memories: adventures, travels, accidents, thoughts, amusing incidents, friends, etc.
 

14. Faith-promoting experiences: personal; other family member's experiences that affected you; circumstances surrounding your conversion to the Church.
 

15. Health: record, including sicknesses, accidents, and physical conditions.
 

16. Home life: duties in the home; home activities; relationships with brothers and sisters; places lived; family trips and vacations; pets.
 

17. Hobbies and talents: musical, artistic, and creative abilities; lessons and workshops taken; things you like to do.
 

18. Goals and plans: things to accomplish in business (vocation), home life, education, Church service.
 

19. Other incidents: include Church experiences and calls.
 

20. Enhance your story with appropriate pictures.
 

FAMILY HISTORY
 

A family history is the story of one or more people and their families.  It may cover one person and his immediate family, one generation, or several people and generations.  It may include the same kind of information as a personal history.  Family history writing is usually ongoing because families continue to grow.  Also, continuing research often produces information about our ancestors.  In addition to the same information as a personal history, family histories might include:
 

1.  National origin.
 

2.  Places and dates of residence.
 

3.  Occupations.
 

4.  The first family member converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints and the names
of missionaries who taught him or her the gospel.
 

5.  Interesting information about world or local events that affected the family.
 

BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE
 

A book of remembrance is a collection of sacred personal and family records.  It should contain-
 

1.  A pedigree record including as many ancestors as you have been able to trace.
 

2.  Family group sheets for husbands and wives on the pedigree chart, including their children's names
and dates.
 

3.  Personal information about any individual on the family group sheets, such as occupations, schools attended, faith-promoting experiences.
 

4.  Items related to spiritual blessings and heritage.