Before computers, printers and modern innovations, the written word was recorded on handcrafted materials.  Innovations and technologies allowed the journal to expand its horizons.

Traditionally, journals were handwritten accounts kept on paper or in books. Journals allowed individuals to record thoughts, feelings and events.Individuals viewed journals as records for their posterity.

“Every person should keep a journal and every person can keep a journal,” said President Spencer W. Kimball in a 1979 general conference address. “It should be an enlightening one and should bring great blessings and happiness to the families. If there is anyone here who isn’t doing so, will you repent today and change — change your life?”

President Kimball gave this advice over 30 years ago, and it is still applicable today. However, technology changed the journal arena.

Handwritten journals are not the only form of journals. Now, journals encompass a wider variety of mediums such as scrapbooks, blogs and Facebook.

Journals include anything from writing to videos. More options are available with advances in technology. People who keep journals have the opportunity to record their thoughts on the Internet.

“I think, in blogs, we are more conscious of audience,” said Josh Allen, English Department faculty. “But with a blog we have a more real vision of who our audience is. We are able, in a way, to write for that audience.”

Blogs and other electronic methods of communication allow journals to branch out into newer venues untraveled by previous generations.

“It is kind of like a scrapbook/journal combo,” said Morgan Mathis, a freshman studying general education. “You can add pictures and videos and a bunch of links to your favorite sites. People get to learn from you and about you. It keeps everyone in touch with each other.”

Another advantage of blogs as personal journals is dissemination. In other words, your words and works can be spread abroad and shared with the world.

Convenience adds to the appeal of electronic journals. However, there are disadvantages to blogs as well.

“Since everyone can read it, you can’t write everything down,” Mathis said. “There are some things that you don’t want everyone to know, like who your crush is.”

Many online blogging companies have taken this factor into account. Blogs now offer privacy settings that only allow individuals you invite to view your blog. Facebook has similar measures in place.

Although there is no real way to know what the future of journals will be, the tradition of keeping a journal can continue. New technologies will arise and new methods of communication will come into being, but the creation of personal journals, personal accounts of people’s lives, will persist.