Journaling with the Spirit

Soon after I found Bullet Journaling - I found Bible Journaling. I was captivated by the amazing art and the spirit I saw on those pins. Everyone was so talented, their pages flowed with beauty. After being apart of the bullet journaling community for a year - I wanted to try my hand at that as well. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints so naturally my instant 'I want' was the Book of Mormon - but alas I could not find one. So I found a KJV Bible with wide margins and tried my hand at Bible Journaling. Unfortunately - my heart wasn't in it, so I assumed it wasn't for me. I placed my bible on my desk and sadly didn't open it again for almost a year.

Fast forward to September 2018. My Relief Society gave a counsel about reading your scriptures - especially the Book of Mormon. She past around her Book of Mormon she used on her mission and as I flipped through it I was hit by something. Her triple set was just gorgeous. It was beat up and it smelled like perfume....but there was stickers and notes from her investigators....those scriptures had traveled and meant more to her than anything. I was struck by that lesson and that night opened up my quad and began to read the Book of Mormon for the second time. I then went to Dessert Book and got the Scripture Stickers (if you haven't seen these - they are so fun! check them out HERE) and new high lighters. I was determined to read it all the way through. Not a week or so later McKaylie had sent me a link to these two gals who started a Journaling Edition of the Book of Mormon - Line Upon Line! I was in love the second I saw the book and knew I had to have one. I didn't hesitate and purchased one right away. Then waited and waited impatiently for it to arrive. Once it did - I didn't waste any time. It even went to General Conference with McKaylie and I - and once President Nelson gave the women the challenge to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year - I grabbed my Journal and was determined to finish it. Using the Line Upon Line Journaling Edition has brought me so much joy and gratitude. I feel the spirit right by my side as I read the Lords words.  I feel as if I understand them better - being able to jot down notes or quotes is truly what helps me! I absolutely love my scriptures from Line Upon Line.

I completed it in November 2018 and when I was flipping through it today to find pages to share - I could have marked each and every one. Not every page is written on, there are a few drawings but mainly lettering and notes. That's the beauty of Bible Journaling! You don't have to be an artist or a calligrapher to keep one. Some of the photo I am going to show are you are just highlights and notes! I had roughly 48 Pictures that I took - narrowing it down was hard. But here are some of my favorite spreads that I created - and a few lessons I've learned to go along with them!

The Doctrine of Christ in 2 Nephi 31. I remember this standing out to me during my missionary discussions. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism by water and by fire...enduring till the end...all of these things lead to Eternal Life. After this lesson my missionaries asked me if I wanted to be baptized. I was hesitate at first because my husband was over seas, but after re reading the chapter at home and praying....I knew that it was right, and told them the following day that I wanted to become a member. I was baptized two weeks later by an amazing friend.

This to me is so sweet. I had honestly forgotten about so seeing it during a flip through meant so much. I had my BoM on the side of the couch, open to Alma and my Hadley was sitting next to me singing I am a Child of God. It made me think of how important it was that she saw me reading this wonderful book and that she knew what it was. It brought me joy to know that my children were being raised in the Church and the gospel. I was filled with the spirit enough to know it record the moment in my scriptures.

Even though now with my New Testament and Doctrine and Covenants (I'll post those too!!) I am branching out and getting more 'artsy' I found flipping through my Book of Mormon that there is very little 'art' and more notes and hand lettering. The second photo is in Alma 32, where Alma teaching about faith. In the margins are my thoughts on the chapter and summary of what I had just read. There is a lot of information in those chapters so the bulk of Alma is notes!!  I love the lessons Alma taught and truly value them. Faith is like a seed - nourish it...don't let it go. It's planted in your heart and needs attention to stay alive!

 A lot of songs make it into my scriptures. The ones that I have put in the most are I Stand all Amazed - one of my favorite hymns - and I Saw the Light by Hank Williams. During my discussions my friend Debbie (the amazing gal who first asked me to church) asked me if I wanted to hear her favorite hymn. She grabbed a hymn book (which I thought was cool she owned one, I grew up Catholic and those stayed in the church!) and she read me the lyrics. I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me... now whenever I hear that song I think of my journey and how much my life has changed. It has made it into my scriptures....a lot....



'I saw the Light' and pretty much any of Josh Turners amazing country gospel music as made it in my scriptures as well. I'll sometimes listen to music as I read and study and more often then not the song that's playing or stuck in my head fits perfectly with the scripture itself. For example...Alma 60:36 says "Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain. I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country..." As I was reading this, a certain song by Josh Turner was in my head. "For the Love of God." He says..."I ain't tryin to win the praise of man I live for the love of God" I found it very fitting! And...anytime I read 'Strait is the gate and narrow is the way...' I think of 'I Saw The Light'....those lyrics are there a lot.... Music truly sometimes help me see things more clearly.

                                                                                                                                             














I had 48 photos that I knew I wanted to share - so there will definitely be a Part 2! I could do a post of nothing but photos from my scriptures - that's how much it means to me to share it with you. My last picture needs to be shared and it's not even anything I did in it! Last year I got the pleasure of going to Pinners Con and meeting the beautiful creators of Line Upon Line. Emily and Alexis are both amazing girls and the spirit just seeps out of them! I had brought my book with me and nervously asked them to sign it. Instead - they wrote me a blurb and water colored over their scripture. I hope to see these ladies again one day as they have become such an inspiration to me. These amazing girls are doing so much- serving in ways I only dream of. I look up to them in so many ways.

If you think you are interested in Bible Journaling, don't be afraid to start. Mistake will happen but those will make it your book. Pray, listen to music and feel the spirit as you read and make your scriptures your own. Its changed the way I look at the world and its a constant reminder that God does care and love for me. As he does for you!

With love - Stefanie