When last year had just begun, I had a thought that I would take the phrase “find joy in the journey” into my life and look for joy in what happened each week of the year. One of my most favorite words in the English language is joy. That comes from a favorite verse in The Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 2: 25, “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” What a blessing to know that we are here to have JOY, not just happiness, but JOY!
This really was so good for me to do, because each week I would have to look at what happened during the week in which I had joy in. Some weeks were, of course, easier that others, but I was able to see the joy each week, and that helped me to see the hand of the Lord in my life more easily, and this would help me to feel joy more often.
That was 2025, now as 2026 has come I was wondering what my moto for the year would be. Then the other day when I was thinking about my goals for the year, and all of the things that I need to do and the thought came to me, “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37: 6) There you, my moto for 2026. I will work on the small and simple things that I can do each day, week, and month that will help me to achieve my goals and to make 2026 a great year no matter what might happen.
To keep track of my progress I like to keep a daily journal. For me it is fun to see what I was doing this time in years past, and to be able to see the progress I have made, and also to see the miracles and blessings that have happened in my life. That helps me to hold on through the difficult times.
I encourage you to perhaps have a moto for your year that will help you draw closer to Jesus Christ, and Heavenly Father, and to record them in a journal. It will be fun to look back and see your progress and help you to recognize the hand of the Lord in your life. We have been encouraged by the prophets to keep a journal. I have had personal experience to see what a blessing it is to follow this commandment.