Have you ever felt completely paralyzed by the idea of writing your entire autobiography? The thought of summarizing decades of memories into a single book is incredibly daunting for most people. Fortunately, there is a brilliant method designed to break this massive undertaking into easily manageable pieces.
What is the 52 Stories Project?
The embedded document below outlines a fantastic 52-week personal history program. It perfectly structures your writing journey so that you only have to focus on one small topic per week. By following this inspired guide, you can comfortably complete a comprehensive life history in exactly one year.
Often referred to in Latter-day Saint culture as the 52 Stories Project, this program is designed to help members follow prophetic counsel to keep records. Instead of facing a blank page, you simply answer one specific question or share one brief story every week.
The beauty of this program is its incredible flexibility. FamilySearch actually provides a list of 144 different questions, allowing you to handpick the 52 prompts that best fit your unique life experiences.
Phase 1 & 2: Roots, Youth, and Growing Up
The project is beautifully structured into four distinct phases to keep your memories organized. Phase 1 covers weeks 1 through 13 and focuses entirely on your roots and early life. Here, you can write about your parents, your childhood home, and the earliest memories you have.
Phase 2 spans weeks 14 through 26 and transitions into your youth and growing up. This is the perfect time to document your high school days, your first jobs, and the invaluable life lessons you learned as a teenager.
Phase 3 & 4: Adulthood, Wisdom, and Legacy
Phase 3, covering weeks 27 through 39, invites you to reflect on your adulthood and your own growing family. You can share stories about meeting your spouse, starting your career, and raising your children.
Phase 4 is perhaps the most spiritually profound section, focusing on wisdom, reflection, and your lasting legacy. During weeks 40 through 52, you are prompted to write about miracles, your favorite scriptures, and your personal testimony of the Savior. You can even leave a final, unfiltered message to those who will read your history in the future.
Embracing the Small Bites Method
The key to success with this project is strictly adhering to the “Small Bites” method. You should never try to write a masterpiece all at once. Simply focus on writing one page, or answering one single question, each week.
It is also crucial to be completely honest in your writing. You should record your joyful moments, but do not shy away from writing about your challenges. Your posterity will draw immense strength from reading exactly how you overcame your trials.
Using Modern Tools and the Spirit
If you prefer speaking over typing, you can use the FamilySearch Memories app to record audio stories directly to your family tree. Whenever you feel stuck, try looking at old photographs for inspiration or use pre-made prompt books.
Most importantly, focus on the Spirit as you work. Actively ask the Holy Ghost to help you remember the important events of your life. Take a moment to read the full 6-page document below to get started! You can also check out our massive list of 58 Autobiography Questions, or visit the official FamilySearch blog for more weekly inspiration.
