Diaries and journals: they are all the same ... right?

Not so!

According to Merriam Webster Dictionary:

Diary: record of events, transactions, or observations kept daily or at frequent intervals

Journal: a record of experiences, ideas, or reflections kept regularly for private use

So how do we make the distinction between a diary and a journal? For our purposes here, a diary might be kept by a teenager and contain “who is the hottest boy in school” type of entries. A diary is not suitable material for others to read and is extremely private and usually short-lived! On the other hand, a journal, although still personal and private, will have an audience and will serve other purposes along the writer’s personal journey. Therefore, a journal is one’s journey.

A journal contains events, detailed descriptions, thoughts, ideas, hopes and dreams. A journal is a tool used for reflection that can lead to personal and spiritual growth. Sometimes a journal is used to clear thoughts from an overcrowded head or feelings from a burdened heart.

Why should we keep a journal?

Brad Wilcox said, “Keeping a journal helps us learn who we are" (Ensign, Sept. 1999, 56).


Tip: He continued, “... I have found my personal journal an ideal environment in which to ‘become.’ It is a perfect place for me to think, feel, discover, expand, remember, and dream.” Discuss with your students why each of these areas might evolve from keeping a journal and what each term means to them. Those who do keep journals may be able to offer their own personal reflection in how keeping a journal has helped them to grow.