Presentation given in November 2015 at the Las Vegas Stake Family History Jamboree. Topics discussed include why, how, when and what to document/preserve when writing a personal history.

1. Leave a legacy of faith through
personal history.
Hilarie H. Robison, M.A.
Don’t leave your
tale untold…

2. • Why
“What could you do more for your children and
your children’s children than to record the story
of your life?”
-Spencer W. Kimball
Tell your tale: capture your own story

3. • When
Holy Ghost is key to recognize and remember
“The Holy Ghost will often preach sermons to us
from the pulpit of memory.”
Neal A. Maxwell
Tell your tale: capture your own story

4. • When
– HABIT is critical
– Use holidays and milestones as prompts
– Any time of change will facilitate recognition of the
Lord’s hand
– RECORD while fresh
– Bring journal when traveling
Tell your tale: capture your own story

5. • How
– Traditional
– Digital
– Blog/online
– Audio
– Video
– Scrapbook/photo album
Tell your tale: capture your own story

6. What- Nephi:
“The things which are pleasing unto the
world I do not write, but the things which
are pleasing unto God and unto those who
are not of the world.”
Tell your tale: capture your own story

7. What- Spencer W. Kimball:
• Goings and comings, deepest thoughts, achievements and
failures, associations and triumphs, impressions and
testimonies
• Your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your
progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you
had finally achieved
• The truth should be told, but do not emphasize the negative
• The story of your life
Tell your tale: capture your own story

8. What- Spencer W. Kimball:
“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.”
Tell your tale: capture your own story

9. What- Henry B. Eyring:
• Find ways to recognize and remember God’s
kindness
• Did I see God’s hand in my life or the lives of my
children?
• Did God send a message that was just for me?
Tell your tale: capture your own story

10. What- Benjamin Franklin:
“Either write something worth reading or do
something worth writing.”
Tell your tale: capture your own story

11. What:
• Available writing prompts/resources
• Consider what will be of worth to your posterity
Tell your tale: capture your own story

12. • Interview questions
• Interview technique
• Transcription
• Organization of manuscript
Tell another’s tale: interviewing others

13. • Selection
• Scanning
• Documents too
• Take additional pictures
• Search online for specific historic photos
• Captions
Legacy photos

14. • Plan ahead!
• Editing options (organization, content, flow, photos,
copyediting)
• Special features
• Layout and design
• Printing considerations
Preparing for publication

15. Leave a legacy of faith that will have eternal
value.
Hilarie H. Robison, M.A.
Don’t leave your tale untold…