This year, I'm so excited about goals that I may have gotten a bit carried away. I have fifteen. I've been writing down ideas over the last few weeks and then I planned to narrow them, but I just really like them all. Before you get too impressed, though, just realize that some of these goals are small things other people may not consider a resolution. They're just things I want to accomplish, not life-altering resolutions.
Spiritual
1. Read the Sunday School lesson before church on Sunday and email Pres. Myers my thoughts. This is actually a goal given to us by our Branch President, and I'm more than happy to oblige! I did well with this last year, but I've tweaked my tracking system this year to make sure I really do get each one. "Therefore, prepare they heart to receive and obey the instructions which I am about to give unto you." D&C 132:3.
2. Go to the temple at least once every other month and study something about the temple the week before I go. I also did well with the temple attendance last year, but this year I want to make sure I get the study in before I go. “…Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” Isaiah 2:3
3. Work on family history at least 2 hours every month. This was a pretty overwhelming goal for me when I set it, but I started this month and got completely addicted. I think I worked for about 10 hours in 2 days over Winter Break. It's hard to stop! It's exciting, though, that tomorrow when I go to the temple, I and both of my parents will have family names to do because I found them! “For we without them cannot be made perfect. Neither can they without us be made perfect.” D&C 128:18
4. Index 1000 names by the end of the year. I'm really excited about this one, because I don't think it will be hard at all but I've realized how important it is. As I started doing my own family history, I was so grateful to be able to search records to find names, and I'm grateful for those who made those records searchable. I've also been frustrated when hitting a dead end because there just aren't enough records available. We have so much more work to do.“…let us present in his holy temple…a book containing the record of our dead…” D&C 128:245
5. Accompany the missionaries to a lesson once a month. I started doing this last year, but haven't for a while. As a missionary, I was always so grateful to members for giving their time to come teach with us, and it will also help me to become more personally involved with those who are investigating the church in our branch. “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 28:19
6. Extend at least one missionary invitation each month—to meet with the missionaries, come to church, come to institute, come to an activity, read Book of Mormon, etc. Last year my focus was giving away The Book of Mormon, but this year I'd like to focus on personalizing my invitations so that I'm able to help those around me feel the Spirit in the way that will be most effective for them. For some, that may be a Book of Mormon but for others, they may need a safe place to get to know people. “And if it so be that you should labor all your days…and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!” D&C 18:15
7. Study with PMG each week. I've been meaning to do this for the last little while, but I always forget. If it's on my resolutions page, I won't forget. See how that works? It's all about keeping it in front of my face. And getting to check it off. If I get to check it off some kind of list, I'm much more likely to do it. :) “Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word.” D&C 11:21
8. Study the General Conference edition of the Ensign at least once all the way through after each conference. This is also something I try to do anyway, but often forget about. I purchased the General Conference CDs this year so I've been listening to them in my car which has been awesome. I know I'll get even more out of it, though, if I read and study the talks, too. “…whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.” 1 Nephi 15:24
Physical
9. Work out twice a week. This feels like a puny goal to me, but it will increase my current workout efforts by 200%. Read: I don't work out at all right now. “Cease to be idle.” D&C 88:124
Financial
10. Pay off all my debt, except for a new car loan. I'm SUPER excited about this one. As I mentioned before, pay day is my favorite day, not because I can go buy lots of stuff, but because I get to pay my bills. I LOVE seeing those balances go down. I've got just a few more small things I'm paying off this year, then I'll be debt free! I'm planning on buying a new(er) car this year, though, so that will put me back into debt, but that's a debt I can live with if it's the only one I have. “…they should deliver themselves from bondage.” Mosiah 22:1
Social
11. Write Thomas each week. My little brother is leaving for a full-time mission in Hawai'i this month. He'll be gone for 2 years, and his only way to communicate with us is by email and mail once a week. When I was a missionary, I loved getting letters and emails, even if they weren't very long. I don't pretend to have a lot of news to share with Thomas that he won't already hear from my mom, but I can at least send him a quick email about something I've learned in my scripture study that week or a funny story from school. “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.” Galatians 6:6
12. Perform some kind of service every month. According to the General Authorities, people who lose themselves in service are happier. I'm interested in being happier, so I think I'll give it a go. “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.” Mosiah 2:17
13. 100% Visiting Teaching each month. This goal also came from our Branch President for this year. I've been pretty spotty about visiting teaching since moving to Indiana (It's a lot easier in Provo when your whole ward lives in the same building). I know there are people who need love and support in my city, though, and I have made a covenant to find them. “When thou art converted, strengthen they brethren.” Luke 22:32
Personal
14. Learn 4 new hymns on the piano. I took piano lessons for like 5 years when I was younger. There's just no reason I can't play more songs, other than that I never practice anymore. “…that every man may improve upon his talent, that every man may gain other talents, yea, even an hundred fold, to be cast into the Lord’s storehouse, to become the common property of the whole church.” D&C 82:18
15. Perform in church once per quarter and somewhere other than church at least once this year. This is one I've struggled with the last few years. I love singing, always have, and I love performing. After my mission, though, I got rejected a few years in a row from the music program at my university and I think my confidence took a hit. I rarely sing anymore, even at church, and I haven't done any kind of acting or theater since high school. Most of the time, though, when I'm watching a live performance it awakens inside of me this familiar longing to be on stage. I miss it. I'm not sure how I'll manage that performance somewhere else in the community, but if you know of anything around Indy, please let me know. This one will be a challenge. “Neglect not the gift that is in thee…” 1 Tim 4:14
Wish me luck! I'd love to hear about your goals for this year!
