We all have had a rich heritage of life experiences, whether good or bad, that we can share with our posterity. Our posterity will better understand that the personal experiences of their ancestors, parents included, may not be unlike their own.
Stories (also called "memories") are not long histories. They can be just a paragraph or two. Here are some basic tips to think about as you create a story:
AND/OR
Personal StoriesWithout preserving our ancestor’s stories, we will lose 90% of that heritage after 3 generations. The same can be said about OUR own personal stories.
“Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can’t remember who we are or why we’re here.”
Sue Monk Kidd
Book - “Secret Life of Bees"
"Record keeping, including personal and family histories, is extremely vital for all of us. People who care nothing for the past usually have no thought for the future and are selfish in the way they use the present. When there is proper regard for the past and its people, we enrich the present as well as the future."
Spencer W. Kimball
Family - Our Refuge from the Storm - Our Link to the Past - Our Bridge to the Future
"Evidence suggests that the more children know about their family history, the less anxiety, less depression and higher self-esteem they exhibit.”
Natalie Merrill PhD
“The work of gathering and sharing eternal family keepsakes is a personal responsibility. It cannot be passed off or given to another. A life that is not documented is a life that within a generation or two will largely be lost to memory. What a tragedy this can be in the history of a family. Knowledge of our ancestors shapes us and instills within us values that give direction and meaning to our lives.”
Dennis B. Neuenschwander
General Conference, April 1999
