Below you will find the questions used for the journal jar at the R.S. Birthday dinner. You can copy and paste it into a word document, print it out, then cut up each individual question. You can then choose a question every single day and you have an easy way of beginning your personal history. Get a notebook, glue the question into the notebook, and then answer it. Your family will thank you for it!
MY LIFE STORY
ONE DAY AT A TIME
This little jar celebrates something very important-
YOU!
If you will follow a simple plan,
You will find that before this time next year,
You will have a very special, personal history finished.
All you need to do is draw out one slip of paper each day
(or at least once a week-but it will take longer to finish).
On it you will find questions.
Spend a few minutes and just enjoy remembering.
Then paste the questions at the top of a blank page,
And begin to tell all about it.
Don’t worry about spelling, handwriting, etc,
Just tell your story!
If you could be an animal, which one would you choose and why?
What were your mother’s best traits? Her worst? The ones you share?
Did you belong to a 4-H group, or girl/boy scouts? Tell about experiences you had there.
Do you remember a special birthday party you’ve had, given, or been to? Describe it…people, food, games, etc.
Where would you like to live most of all and why?
What are some of your favorite smells and why?
What kinds of food do you consider to be “picnic foods”? Where do you like to go to eat it?
Describe a ‘sound’ from your childhood. What was it? When did you hear it? What does it bring to mind?
Are there any family heirlooms in your possessions? Tell about them and how you came to acquire them.
Did you have a childhood hide out? Where? Describe it.
Where is the most exciting place you have ever been to? What made it exciting?
Tell a courtship story about your parents, how they met, etc. Then tell the same story about you.
What did your grandfather do for a living? Did your grandmother work too?
Do you wish you had more sisters or brothers? Why?
Describe a typical day during your high school years.
Tell about any special ancestors you know about, dates, names, etc. for historical purposes, and any stories about them.
What do you think about television? The internet?
Do you recall any special event which took place on your block or in your neighborhood while you were growing up…death, fires, accidents, illnesses etc?
Write a want ad that describes your father.
What are you frightened of? Why?
Describe the perfect Autumn day. What would you do on that day?
What makes each of your brothers and sisters special? Be specific!
What is the most adventuresome thing you have ever done?
Were there any events world, local, or personal that changed your life?
What was your most embarrassing moment?
Tell about dreams, expectations, & hopes you have for each of your kids.
Describe a typical day as a child in elementary school.
Do you have a special school memory?
Describe a trip downtown as a youngster.
Do you have a favorite General Authority(s)? Who and Why?
Describe your Sunday as a Mother/Father.
What is your favorite scripture? Why?
How did you first meet your in-laws?
Tell about your marriage. When, where, by whom, parties, reception, maid of honor, best man, colors, special music etc.
Did you and your father share any interests? Tell about your relationship.
Write your testimony of life..marriage..the gospel.
Do you have a favorite author? Why? Who? Tell about favorite books you have read throughout your life.
What are your most precious and deeply imbedded values?
What were your father’s best traits? His worst? The traits you share?
Describe your mother’s wedding dress. What do you know about her wedding?
Describe your wedding dress, bridesmaids, dresses, etc.
What is the biggest lesson in life you have found to be true?
What is your personal secret for happiness?
Did you go on a mission? If so, where and when? What do you most remember about it? Did you learn a foreign language?
Tell about favorite games you played as a child.
Tell about some of your neighbors as a child..youth..adult.
Tell about your favorite Aunt.
What do you remember about the day you were baptized?
How old were you and your husband when you were married? How old were your parents when they married? Describe yourselves, your plans, hopes, etc at that time.
Describe the most serious illness you have had.
Where did your parents live when they were first married? Tell about other places they lived as well.
Write a want ad that describes your husband/wife.
What is the most important lesson, message, or advice you’ve learned that you’d like to pass on for others to profit by?
What were your fears, expectations, anticipations about getting married.
Did you and your mother share an interest in any special activity? What was it?
Tell about any pets you had as a child.
Were you in a drama, speech, sports, pep, or other club etc? Tell about it.
What color was your house, your bedroom, your living room etc as a child.
Did you have a favorite TV show as a child or youth? Describe it.
Tell about any family reunions you’ve had.
Write a want ad that describes your mother.
How do you feel about doctors? Why?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Tell the words of a song from your childhood. What memories does it bring?
What games did you play in your house or neighborhood?
What do you feel has been the most significant world events that have taken place during your lifetime?
What kind of music do you like? Any memories associated with specific music?
What are your favorites: colors, flowers, activities, hobbies?
What do you remember about yourself as a teenager? What was important to you? Your dreams and goals?
Did you go camping? Tell about it.
What is a favorite family place to go with your husband/wife and kids?
Tell about a fishing or hunting experience.
Tell about the religion practiced in your home, faith promoting stories etc.
Did you have a favorite toy as a child? Did it have a name? Describe your memories.
Tell about your parents’ philosophy of raising kids, discipline etc.
Where did you live as a child?
Thinking back, was there a teacher that had a great influence on you?
What is the most difficult experience that you have been through?
Do you remember any of your grandparents or great grandparents? Describe any memories.
Where would you like to vacation most and why?
Tell about anyone interesting or important that visited your house.
Desccribe the perfect summer day. What would you do on that day?
Tell about handed-down talents.
How do you feel about death? Tell about your philosophy of after-life.
Describe a favorite childhood friend and some things you did with him/her.
What is the first piece of furniture you bought?
Describe a childhood Christmas.
Do you recall any special family trips or holidays?
What church jobs did your parents have? What do you remember about their church callings.
What is your favorite animal? Why?
What special things did you do with your mother?
Tell about home cures or old wives tales you know.
How did you like being the oldest, youngest, or middle child? Did you have any particular advantages or disadvantages?
Did you or your husband/wife serve in the military? If so, when and where? What experiences did you have?
Between the ages 5 and 10, what was your favorite activity?
Describe your wedding day.
Tell about schools attended, special teachers, friends, activities, achievements, humorous situations etc.
What do you remember about shopping with your mother? Any particular stories? What was your favorite store?
Do you like to go to theaters, the Opera, or Symphony? Which show did you like best?
Describe your first home/apartment as a young couple.
Describe a childhood birthday.
What does the mail mean to you? Are you a good letter writer? Who do you correspond with?
What special things did you do with your father?
Tell something about each of your children’s personalities, talents, traits that make them special.
Did you have roommates or companions? Tell about them and the things you learned living with others.
What is your advice to those younger than you?
Tell about where and when you learned to drive. Any memorable experiences?
Tell about any conditions surrounding your birth that you are aware of. Any interesting stories about how your name was chosen, close calls etc?
Did you have a close relationship with any of your grandparents? Tell about it.
One word on how to live successfully.
What is your greatest joy? Your greatest sorrow?
Describe getting a Christmas tree with your family, how you decorated it, when you put it up.
Did you go to college or take any vocational training? What and where?
Tell about your own family traditions. Christmas, Birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day etc.
Describe your conversion to the gospel.
Tell about your father’s personality, characteristics, stature, talents, temperament, stories, and what his role was in your home.
What instruments do you play or wish you could play?
Share a principle you have learned or one you have taught.
What personality trait do you admire most and why?
Tell about your life as your children left home, new interests, what you did with the extra time.
Did it snow where you lived as a child? What kinds of things did you do in it?
Tell about your favorite Uncle.
How did you feel about school?
What church callings have you had? Which one did you enjoy the most?
Where were you and what were you doing the day the wall came down in East Germany…Or the day of the Coop in the USSR?
Would you choose differently if you could choose your occupation again? How? Why?
How do you feel about Dentists?
Describe the perfect winter day. Tell about what you would do on that day.
What would you like to be remembered for?
Tell about anniversaries.
Where did your grandparents live? What was their home like? Did it have a certain smell, look, or feel?
Do you remember any special feelings you had as a child? Fears, fantasies, etc?
Describe your favorite thing to wear as a child, teenager.
Did you have a bicycle? What was it like?
What is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to you? The worst?
How did you become engaged?
What did you do as a child that got you into the most trouble with your parents? How did they handle it?
What kind of bodies of water have you seen? Tell how you feel about it, playing in it, seeing it, using it etc.
Have you met or worked with any famous people? Where, when?
What things do you enjoy doing today that you enjoyed as a child?
What was a favorite place to go with your family when you were young?
What is your child rearing philosophy?
Tell about your mother..personality, characteristics, stature, talents, temperaments, family stories about her, her role in your home etc.
Tell about each of your children, names, birthdates, circumstances surrounding their birth, characteristics and differences, problems, joys, sorrows, accomplishments etc.
Describe a favorite vacation in your married years.
Describe a typical school day during your Jr. High years.
Do you have a favorite magazine? Describe it and the kinds of things you learn or enjoy about it.
Describe your first paying job. What was your salary? Your duties? What was your boss like?
What are your food preferences? How did they come about?
Describe the perfect spring day and what you would do on that day.
What convinced you most in your choice of a spouse?
What kind of sports did you play, watch, or like? What about now?
Tell about a frustrating experience you have had with a car.
What makes you feel good?
What brings you the most peace and why?
Were you responsible for any household chores? Which did you enjoy most? Least?
Tell about a special date you had with your husband.
How many brothers and sisters do you have? Describe them. Tell a story about you and each of them.
Tell about your teenage social life, friends, dating, church functions etc.
What is your principle and what circumstances led to it?
Tell about all the places you have worked.
What is your favorite holiday? How do you celebrate?
What do you dream about being or doing?
What did your father do for a living? How did he get to work? What time did he go and get home? Did he get special training to do his job?
