Your Life's Fingerprint

What is the greatest measure of success in this life? Is it riches, fame, influence, or maybe knowledge? As one considers these successes, the ramifications of them fall into one of three catagories: successes that impact us in this life, those that preparation us for the next life, and those which will leave a fingerprint of influence for others to observe and follow. The latter of these is provocative, but the one that is often given the least thought. Life is fleeting, and we risk having our sphere of influence flicker out the moment we depart. But with regular minimal effort, our influence can ripple on for generations. By sharing family traditions through journal writing and performing temple and family history work, our purpose on earth takes on a whole new dimension. Journal writing in particular is neglected due to the regularity and time it requires. But once one comes to the realization that the audience will be future generations and not just to yourself, it takes on a whole new significance. The authors of The Book of Mormon understood this, and they faithfully performed this task in spite of the limitations and difficulties it imposed upon them.

 Jacob 4:1 Now behold, it came to pass that I, Jacob, having ministered much unto my people in word, (and I cannot write but a little of my words, because of the difficulty of engraving our words upon plates) and we know that the things which we write upon plates must remain;
 2 But whatsoever things we write upon anything save it be upon plates must perish and vanish away; but we can write a few words upon plates, which will give our children, and also our beloved brethren, a small degree of knowledge concerning us, or concerning their fathers—
 3 Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor diligently to engraven these words upon plates, hoping that our beloved brethren and our children will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not with sorrow, neither with contempt, concerning their first parents.

LESSON LEARNED: Our mark of influence in life can ripple on for generations. To do so, we must take the time to document it for future posterity.

FEEDBACK: WHAT STEPS ARE YOU TAKING NOW TO ENSURE YOUR LIFE’S FINGERPRINT OF INFLUENCE IS FELT BY FUTURE GENERATIONS?