Setting Goals

Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches the following:

Learning to set goals and make plans can bless you throughout your life. It can help you make and keep covenants with God, serve faithfully in the Church, pursue education, grow in your employment, and build a strong family. (Preach My Gospel [2023], 147)

goals, covenants, education, becoming

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want you to become your very best self—eventually becoming even as They are (see 3 Nephi 12:48). In today’s lesson, seek the guidance of the Spirit to see how They can help you set and accomplish your personal goals.

One example of the Lord helping His children move forward and accomplish their goals is the story of Abraham. Several years before his call as the Lord’s prophet, Abraham was raised in a land of wickedness and idolatry. Even his own father tried to “take away [his] life” (see Facsimile 1 below; Abraham 1:30).

Read Abraham 1:1–2, 4, marking the goals that Abraham had set for himself.

How might these goals help Abraham become like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke of the Lord’s willingness to help us overcome circumstances and reach our goals.

The help we can receive from the Lord in our goals and righteous pursuits is unlimited, and He supports us in any good and righteous endeavor. …

I invite you to consider ways to pursue righteous endeavors in your own life, no matter your circumstances. I assure you that the Lord loves each one of us and He is always there to help us, regardless of the situation we are facing. (“Goals, Growth, and Progress—Recent Messages from Prophets and Apostles” [digital-only article], Liahona, Jan. 2023, Gospel Library)

goals, support, overcoming circumstances

Read Abraham 1:15–16, 18. Mark what Abraham did to access God’s help.

Answer the following in your notebook:

• How have Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ helped you or someone you know set or accomplish a righteous goal?

• What else can you do to seek the Lord’s help with your goals?

As you set goals, it can be helpful to follow the steps in the following infographic:

1. Prayerfully set goals and make plans. Set goals that are realistic but that will stretch you and require faith. Avoid setting goals that are too high or too low. Plan how you will accomplish them.

2. Record and schedule. Record your goals and plans in a detailed schedule.

3. Act on your plans. Work diligently to accomplish your goals. Exercise faith in the Lord to help you.

4. Review and follow up. Evaluate progress and record your efforts regularly. Decide what to do differently and how to improve. Adjust plans as needed.

Along with helping you make goals, these steps can help you evaluate your progress and adjust your goals. For example, notice how Jayden uses the steps to help reach his goals.

1. Jayden asks Heavenly Father for help setting a goal. He decides to study the Book of Mormon daily for 10 minutes.

2. He decides to wake up earlier so he can study before school.

3. After one week, Jayden notices he keeps sleeping in. He prays for help.

4. After two weeks, Jayden feels like he failed in his goal. He asks Heavenly Father to help him feel His and Jesus Christ’s love for him. He feels encouraged and decides to try again, trusting Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will help him. He decides to intentionally go to bed earlier each night so he can wake up more easily.

In your notebook, write one or two goals you would like to accomplish. Create a detailed plan outlining steps you would like to take to accomplish them. Like Chad in the story at the beginning of the lesson, consider what might stop you from moving forward, and make a plan to address those issues. Be sure to include in your plan how you could involve the Lord with your goals.