Setting Goals

Preparation:

It may be beneficial to read Elder Oaks talk, Small and Simple Things, from the April 2018 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Also read through the section of Preach My Gospel entitled, How Do I Use Time Wisely.

Materials:

You will need various pieces from different board and card games. 

Opening Song: Improve the Shining Moments 

Prayer:

Gain Attention:

This idea came from this clip about goal setting. 

Gather random pieces of four or more board games and or card games. Instruct the family to gather around the different pieces to play a game. Tell them that there are no rules and to simply begin playing. Allow them to play the game for a while then ask them to stop. Ask how each of them are feeling about the game, if it has a purpose, or if it has an ending. Then explain that much like a game without rules life does not have much purpose if we do not set goals.

Instruction:

Read this quote by President Ballard found in Preach My Gospel: 

“I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life.”

Also read this quote from Preach My Gospel:

“Goals reflect the desires of our hearts and our vision of what we can accomplish. Through goals and plans, our hopes are transformed into action. Goal setting and planning are acts of faith.”

Quote from President Dallin H.Oaks:

“We are surrounded by media influences and cultural deteriorations that will carry us downstream in our values if we are not continually resisting. To move upstream toward our eternal goal, we must constantly keep paddling. It helps if we are part of a team that is paddling together, like a rowing crew in action. To extend that example even further, the cultural currents are so strong that if we ever stop paddling, we will be carried downstream toward a destination we do not seek but which becomes inevitable if we do not constantly try to move forward.”

Discuss this quote and decide on a goal that you would like to work towards as a family so you can be paddling together. If age appropriate you could also have your children each set a personal goal as well. Then go through these questions found in preach my gospel about your goals and adjust them as needed.

Questions:

·        Is the goal specific?

·        Is the goal realistic?

·        Will the goal make us stretch?

·        Are we committed to this goal?

Bear your testimony of goal setting and share your own personal experience with goal setting or have a family member share his or her own experience.

Activity Ideas:

·        Go Kayaking/Canoeing/Floating as a family and relate it back to the quote from President Oaks about needing to paddle together.

·         Make a treat together and talk about how the directions are like our goals that give us direction to meet our end goal, exaltation.

Treat Idea:

Scotcheroos from Six Sisters’ Stuff