HISTORY TIP & TRICKS
To Get Started Writing Your History

Writing a personal history is a daunting task for many of us. Where do I start? What things should I include? What's so interesting about my life anyway? Your personal history, however, is a very important part of your family history, and no one will be able to tell your story better than you. You can capture your entire personal history by working through the questions in the following two outlines. If you really can't face writing about yourself, then consider starting with a deceased ancestor who did something or became an important figure in your families history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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IDEAS FOR WRITING YOUR LIFE STORY OR INTERVIEWING RELATIVES TO
OBTAIN INFORMATION FOR PREPARING THEIR LIFE STORIES

• BIRTH: When and where were you born? How was your name chosen? Ages of parents and
  any others in your family circle. Any interesting events at that time in your community or in the nation?

• CHILDHOOD: General health conditions. Describe what you remember about your home and your home life. Did you have any playmates outside the family? Were you assigned any tasks to help in the home?

• RELIGIOUS TRAINING: What do you remember about religious training in the home and in the Church. Did you have any opportunities for participation in religious activities? When and where were you baptized? How did you first get a testimony?

• ECONOMIC CONDITIONS: What was your father's occupation? Did your mother help to
  contribute to the family income? Were children in your family given an allowance? Were you taught to build a savings account? What was your first employment experience?

• BROTHERS AND SISTERS: If you had siblings, were you eldest, youngest, number 3, etc.?
  Name your brothers and sisters, date and place of birth; if no longer living, give date and place of death and burial, cause of death. Describe your relationship with each brother or sister, any special memories.

• EXTENDED FAMILY: Give grandparents' names, date and place of birth, marriage and death and burial. What were your impressions of them, how they lived, clothing they wore, lessons you learned from them? Describe their homes, occupations, interesting experiences. Did you have any favorite aunt or uncle? Did you have any cousins who were playmates (describe favorite activities)?

• CHURCH EXPERIENCES FROM BIRTH TO AGE 12: By whom were you blessed: Did you wear heirloom clothing? Who baptized you and where? What do you remember about the event? Was the gospel practiced in an active way in your home-family prayers, scripture study, home evening, and father’s blessings? Did you have any temple experiences as a child-go there to be sealed to parents or attend a temple dedication? Describe changes you have observed in Sunday school or Primary while growing up-special activities or lessons you remember.  If you converted to the Church at an older age, describe religious atmosphere in your home while young.

• ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THRU SIXTH GRADE. Memories of school buildings, teachers, favorite teachers and friends, subject you enjoyed most. Special events, programs. Did you walk to school, take the bus, carpool? Did you eat lunch in a cafeteria, eat a sack lunch, or go home? Clothing you wore. Special memories of each grade, special events, music programs, spelling bees, sporting events.

• RECREATION, FRIENDS AND PETS: Describe some of the games or activities you enjoyed. How did you spend Saturdays? Who were your special friends, and do you still keep in touch? Did you have any special pets-have you any special memories of them?

• HOLIDAYS. What do you remember most about Christmas in your home? Did you decorate?
  Did you buy gifts for others? Did you believe in Santa Claus? Did your family have special foods at Christmas? Did your family join with others for the celebration? Anything special about other holidays during the year?

• SPECIAL EVENTS OF CHILDHOOD. Did your family ever move to another home? How-
  did you feel about it? Describe favorite trips, vacations, experiences, accidents, broken bones.

• OTHER DETAILS OF CHILDHOOD. Describe physical traits-large or small, did you have freckles? Describe your temperament. What childhood diseases did you have? Any worries or fears? How did you wear your hair? Wear glasses? Wear braces on your teeth? Any confinement to a hospital? How did you learn responsibility? Were you ever punished?

• TALENTS, HOBBIES, SPECIAL ACTIVITIES. Did you ever take music lessons? If so,
  how long did you practice? Did you have any other developmental lessons? Special activities or learning opportunities, such as how to sew, cook, knit, and paint? Did you earn your spending money?

• FAMILY LIFE DURING CHILDHOOD: What was the climate in your home, strict,
  permissive, happy, sad. What did you do for fun? Did you often have company, or did you visit relatives or friends frequently? Did you have any experience with adversity-divorce, death, and financial reverses? How did national wars affect your family? Describe your happiest and worst memory of childhood.

• ADOLESCENCE - AGES 12 TO 18. Describe each school you attended-size, special
  facilities, special classes you enjoyed (or detested), teachers you appreciated, special activities, opportunities, awards, lessons learned. Type of clothing you wore—any fads and fashions. Feelings on graduation day.

• RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES DURING ADOLESCENCE. At what age did your testimony
  develop? Did you attend seminary? Name of ward(s), special youth activities, awards.

• POST-HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION: Name and location of the institution. How did you
  choose your education field? Describe the classes you enjoyed most, also teachers. How did you pay for the schooling? A job, scholarship, grants? Special activities, awards. Describe graduation. Did you
  take institute during the higher education period?

• FULL-TIME MISSION. How you made the decision. Where and how you traveled for
  training and service. Learn a language? Mission leaders, how you felt about them. Notable
  experiences.

• COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE. Describe courtship and proposal, marriage and reception.
  If married in the temple, relate your impressions, feelings. Describe your honeymoon.

• EARLY YEARS OF MARRIAGE: First home or apartment. Adjustments you needed to make in your way of life. Any additional college or training? Military experience? Buying your first car or first home. Any special challenges you faced and how you profited from these experiences.

• CHILDREN: Describe birth and early development of each child. Abilities,  problems,
  accomplishments.

• EMPLOYMENT: Why you chose this field, how you got (each) job, were you ever fired? For
  ladies, did you continue to work after your children were born? Special  opportunities, rewards.
  Did you learn some noteworthy lessons, such as concentrating on what you can give, rather than what you expect to get?

• RECREATION: What kinds of fun activities do your family enjoy most? Describe some family
  vacations that were most memorable. Have you had some "couple time?"

• FAMILY ACTIVITIES: Describe how you obtained and made a home. What fun activities do
  you enjoy as a family-as a couple? What was your most memorable trip?

• HOBBIES AND TALENTS: Music, talents, community service, genealogy, writing, cooking
  What experiences have these brought into your life? Any special recognition or awards?

• MOST DIFFICULT EXPERIENCES. What were they? How did you profit from them? An}
  advice you would like to share with dear ones resulting from these experiences?

• HAPPIEST EXPERIENCES. Why, when, where? Lessons learned in the process.

• WRITE YOUR TESTIMONY FOR POSTERITY, LOVED ONES.

Leaving a Legacy:
1. "I write the things of my soul for the profit and learning of my children
2. Descendants can find out what you did. They never knew how you fell
3. Answer who or what brought:
a. Comfort
b. Caused you stress
c. Guided you
d. Befriended you
e. Who received my care?
f. Who caused grief?
g. Who sparked fun?
h. Who shaped your beliefs?
i. Who brought out the best in you
j. Taught me.
4. Who are the five most important people in my life?
5. Before marriage you and prospective spouse should agree upon
a. Religion
b. Education
c. Money
d. Raising Children
6. Marriage Manual
a. Pleasures you've shared
b. Mutual achievements
c. Supported each other through difficulties
d. Things you would have changed or did change
e. Feelings of devotion
f. What helped in marriage to rise above hard times.
7. Parent manual.
a. Pleasures you've shared
b The joy of achievements
c. Supported each other through difficulties
d. Things you would have changed or did change
e. What helped to rise above hard times.
8. In reviewing my life
a. My biggest surprise is...
b. Something I would do differently...
c. A regret I have...
d: My greatest joy has been...
e. I hope that my grandchildren and great-grandchildren...
f. My overriding concern is...
g. I have faith that...

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How to Write and Publish your Family History

"Behold, I make an abridgment of the record of my father, upon plates which I have made with mine own hands; wherefore, after I have abridged the record of my father, then will I make an account of mine own life." (1 Nephi 1:17)

Through my personal history, I will allow my children, grandchildren, and those who come after, the opportunity of knowing me. My descriptions, stories, thoughts, and feelings concerning family, friends, experiences, religion, and country will follow them to understand me in a way they would not be able to do if I had not written it myself.

• What were some of the positions you served in?
• Where did you like to serve best in your church callings?
• Did you have a good feeling when you served others?
• Did you go on a mission? Tell me about your mission.

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