OCR Text |
Show 88 May 11th 1873 In hastily glancing over a place or two in this journal the impression made upon me was that there was an over anxiety manifest-too much self incrimination, troubled resolves, a constant promise and ever sameness, a lack of originality and variety. One of the objects and benefits to be derived in journalizing is the developing and exercising of our writing faculties and descriptive powers. It takes more judgment than first thought might suggest, to select those incidents, the most profitable to put in black and white, things that will give us pleasure to read afterwards and would be of value to our friends. How oft are journals burned and destroyed after they get cold because, after the heat of the moment is over, they do not read to suit us. In fact, we feel ashamed of them and wonder how it was possible that we ever penned such stuff. It is not our object in this hastily penned paragraph to discourage but rather to urge to greater excellence. Select themes to write upon that will bring into requisition knowledge gained by research and by every day experience, about subjects you have just been reading or reflecting upon. By this means you will leave upon reading thoughts that will be prized by those after you. Milford2 Whether or not Ellis agreed with Milford's ideas of what a journal should contain, her introspective nature did ino_t permit the changes he recommended, and she continued to use her journal as a means of re-orienting herself to her inner world-a therapy she no doubt needed. Her descendants probably bless her for so generously revealing her thoughts and feelings (much harder to come by in personal histories than the types of subjects Milford was recommending). The projected move south for Milford's family results in an invitation from Ellis's father that she stay with him until then. Milford is to go on a mission to Arizona. As far back as the Kirtland period some families accompanied missionaries to their assignments. Parley P. Pratt, in the late 1830s, took his family to Canada. Somewhat later, several families accompanied missionaries to |