Three-Peaks



The Relief Society’s

Pursuit of Excellence Program

presents

The

University of Celestial Arts

Dear Sisters,

This version of the Pursuit of Excellence program has contributions from several wards in the Anchorage Alaska Stake. We hope you will enjoy participating!

The goals are set month by month. Try to choose at least two goals each month. The goals which have been chosen each month are only suggestions. Please feel free to choose other goals from other months or create ones that are more beneficial to you.

If you have chosen daily scripture study and want to continue it into the next month, please do! Most of goals in this program can be completed in one month, but some goals are worth repeating continually. In addition to those being repeated, please choose two new goals for the next month.

Each January we will hold our annual Pursuit of Excellence awards program and confer the University of celestial arts that have been earned the previous year. Your degree will depend on how much work you have done.

12 completed goals earns a Bachelor's Degree

18 completed goals earns a Master's Degree

24 completed goals earns a Doctorate Degree

We encourage you to work on at least two goals each month. If you have a month when you don't finish two goals you can complete them the next month, while working on two new goals.

If you are moving out of the ward this year, we encourage you to continue to work on this program. Send us a report of your achieved goals and we will be happy to send you a diploma. We also encourage you to share this program with the Relief Society President of your new ward or branch. We want to share these blessings with them too.

Sincerely,

Your Relief Society Presidency

Goal Setting in the Pursuit of Excellence

Annette Nay, Ph.D.

Don't plunge into goal-setting without discovering what you're getting into. Do your homework for the best chance at success. Go through this worksheet for each problem you want to overcome.

1. Choose problems to work on that will make a difference in the quality of your life.

2. Don't waste your time on things which don't matter.

3. Your choice of goals should be a matter of prayer.

4. Define the problem.

5. Often we can only see the problem from our own point of view.

6. To make sure we truly understand the problem from all angles ask others what they think the problem is.

7. Now you know what the problem is.

8. How would things be if they were the way you wanted them to be?

9. Write these down. These become your primary goals.

10. How would you know things were the way you wanted them to be?

11. Write these down in detail.

12. The details become supporting secondary goals to reach your main goal.

13. There are many solutions to a problem.

14. Develop a list of different ways to solve the problem.

15. Consider your values, preferences, and resources, then decide how best to reach your goals.

16. Search for solutions to your secondary goals which you can live with.

17. These become supporting goals which will help you reach your secondary and primary goals.

18. Break down the supporting goals into doable small steps.

19. Write them down in the order they need to be accomplished.

20. Give the starting date and a projected finish date for each step.

21. Commit yourself to start and finish each step.

22. List things that you can do to reward yourself when you finish each step.

23. Consider your resources when deciding what you can afford to reward yourself. Example: Take a bubble bath, visit a friend, or go out to lunch.

24. Vary the types of rewards you give yourself.

25. If renting a video is your reward every time, you may become a couch potato.

26. Write down the requirements for getting the reward.

27. Give yourself small rewards for accomplishing small steps and larger rewards for larger steps.

28. Rewards are not bribery but a pat on the back for setting and reaching your goals.

29. Decide what consequences will take place if you haven't finished your goal by a certain time or if you slip up and do the unwanted behavior. Write this down in detail.

30. Example: If I do not finish my scripture reading before dinnertime, then I give up dessert for the day.

31. Before you begin a goal you should write down the primary, secondary, and supporting goals along with the start and finish dates, rewards, and consequences.

32. Then ask God to help you obtain you goals.

33. Each morning ask God for His help to do better that day.

34. Evaluate your progress with God nightly.

35. Ask your loved ones, friends, and Visiting Teachers to help monitor and support your progress.

36. Picture yourself feeling and acting as if you have already reached your goal.

37. The more vivid the picture the better chance you have or reaching your goal.

38. Try never to set goals which involve the participation of others.

39. These goals are seldom accomplished since you are the one that is motivated.

40. Don't quit because things aren't working out.

41. Some goals may need some changes to make them work better.

42. Review the effectiveness of each step and make changes where needed.

43. Don't make goals which are so strict they don't leave room for effective living and goal attainment too. Bad Example: I will read one chapter in my scriptures daily for a week.

44. This should read: I will read one chapter in my scriptures daily or 7 chapters for the week. This example allows for sickness or other reasons that would otherwise cause you to fail because of the strictness of the first example.

45. Changes made in your life affect you and all you come in contact with.

46. Some of those people may try to get you to remain the same, because change is comfortable or threatening to them. Your change could make them look inward.

47. Seeing things which need changing causes feelings of inadequacy and discomfort.

48. Being forewarned is being forearmed. This warning will aid your ability to change in spite of others wanting things to stay the same.

49. When you change for the good you will affect others more positively and, hopefully, help them want to change too.

50. Remember, you can not change others; they must do this for themselves.

51. You can only be the catalyst.

52. Below is an example of a goal ready to start.

53. Primary Goal: Get a one year supply of food.

54. Secondary Goal: Spend $10.00 per month on food the family likes.

55. a. Supporting Step: Purchase plastic storage containers to store food in.

56. b. Supporting Step: Buy basic foods like wheat, powdered milk, salt, & sugar.

57. c. Supporting Step: Mark items with the date purchased.

58. d. Supporting Step: Use old food stored first. Start date: September 1, 1997

59. Finish date: Continuous 'til 1 years of food is amassed.

60. Reward: Pat self on the back and self sufficiency.

61. Consequence: Not prepared for the last days/ starvation.

References

Egan, G. (1990). The Skilled Helper, A Systematic Approach to Effective Helping

Nay, A. (1997). HOW TO COUNSEL Published at :

The University of Celestial

Arts Honors Program

The Honors Program is open to every sister who wants to excel in the University of Celestial Arts Program. There are two requirements to the Honors Program. Complete one requirement to earn Honor Status, do both and graduate with High Honors.

Program Requirements:

1. Do 100% visiting teaching at least 10 out of 12 months during this year.

|January | |May | |September | |

|February | |June | |October | |

|March | |July | |November | |

|April | |August | |December | |

2. Attend 9 out of 12 homemaking meetings during this year.

|January | |May | |September | |

|February | |June | |October | |

|March | |July | |November | |

|April | |August | |December | |

January

University of Celestial Arts: Time Management

"For he who is faithful and wise in time is accounted worthy to inherit

the mansions prepared for him of my Father." D&C: 72:4

1. Organize and post a family calendar.

2. For five days out of the week, do something constructive every time you talk on the phone for longer than five minutes. Do this for four consecutive weeks.

3. Go shopping only once a week this month. Plan your trip so that you do all your shopping during that one time block.

4. Spend an afternoon alone with each of your children during the month.

5. Take an hour for yourself each day this month.

6. Complete two unfinished projects.

7. Make a "to-do list" for most of the days this month. Use this list to keep on track.

8. Review your schedule. Get rid of a time-consuming activity you can do without.

9. pend one morning making and freezing enough dinners for one week.

10. Go to bed 15 minutes earlier and get up 15 minutes earlier for 3 out of 4 weeks this month.

GOALS I HAVE CHOSEN TO WORK ON THIS MONTH ARE:

1.

2.

Please put the date completed next to the goal!

February

University of Celestial Arts: Scriptures

"...they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently,

that they might know the word of God." Alma 17:2

1. Daily scripture study for most of one month.

2. Start each scripture study session off with prayer for most of one month.

3. Memorize 10 favorite scripture verses.

4. Read the Pearl of Great Price.

5. Memorize the Articles of Faith.

6. Draw a chart to show the significant journeys of the Book of Mormon people into and out of the lands of Zarahemla and Lehi-Nephi. Do this only if you want a challenge.

7. Fast with purpose one day this month and study the scriptures for at least one hour while fasting.

8. Read the scriptures to or with family members 3 times every week for a month.

9. Use a scripture study guide along with the scriptures to better understand a difficult passage. Do this on 4 occasions.

10. Read three Old Testament stories found in children's literature (check the books out at the library) and read the stories in the Bible.

GOALS I HAVE CHOSEN TO WORK ON THIS MONTH ARE:

1.

2.

Please put the date completed next to the goal.

March

University of Celestial Arts: Spiritual Health

"Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual,

and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal...

" D&C 29:34

1. Hold family or individual prayer morning and night for most of one month.

2. Bear your testimony in sacrament meeting, Relief Society, or bear your testimony to a friend who has not heard it before.

3. Fast with a purpose this month.

4. Prepare and hold Family Home Evening four times this month.

5. Attend at least 3 out of 4 Sacrament, Sunday School and Relief Society meetings this month, plus Homemaking meeting.

6. Get your temple recommend.

7. Keep your thoughts centered on Christ during the sacrament 3 out of 4 Sundays this month.

8. Prepare for the Sabbath on Saturday. Keep the Sabbath day holy and a day of rest for at least 3 out of 4 times this month.

9. Read the lesson assignment for Relief Society and Sunday School for at least 3 out of 4 times this month.

10. Attend 3 out 4 sessions of General Conference.

GOALS I HAVE CHOSEN TO WORK ON THIS MONTH ARE:

1.

2.

Please put the date completed next to the goal!

April

University of Celestial Arts: Family History

"Foreshadowing the great work to be done in the temples of the Lord in the dispensations of the fullness of times, for the redemption of the dead and the sealing of the children to their parents, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse and utterly wasted at his coming." D&C 138:48

1. Start a journal. Write at least three times a week this month.

2. Interview an older family member and record their memories.

3. Organize and label family photographs.

4. Have a family portrait taken.

5. Visit the Family History Library at the stake center and learn how to use at least one resource there.

6. Complete your four-generation chart.

7. Go to the temple and do the work for the dead, preferably for one of your own ancestors.

8. Place pictures of as many of your family and ancestors as you can in a prominent place. Discuss who they are.

9. Organize your family records. Inform others family members of their existence and their availability to be to copied, as needed.

10. Spend 3 hours a week on genealogy each week this month.

GOALS I HAVE CHOSEN TO WORK ON THIS MONTH ARE:

1.

2.

Please put the date completed next to the goal!

May

University of Celestial Arts: Missionary Work

"And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just--yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them--therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God." Alma 31:5

11. Invite the missionaries to dinner. Ask them what you can do to help spread the Word of God.

12. Bear your testimony to a nonmember friend.

13. Prayerfully consider whether you are a good example to those around you. Is there any change in your actions or attitude you can make that will make you a better member missionary? If so, make that change.

14. Invite a nonmember friend or family member over for Family Home Evening.

15. Display a picture of a LDS temple in your living room. If anyone asks about it, tell them about your beliefs.

16. Present a Book of Mormon to a friend or family member.

17. Invite and bring a non-member to a church meeting.

18. Read the First Vision and share the story with a friend.

19. Check a video out of the church library. Invite a friend over to watch it with you.

20. Share the story of your conversion with a sister you visit teach. (Even if you were born into the Church you still must come to believe the church is true. This is your conversion.) Ask how she came to join the Church. Share the changes in your life that are a direct result of your membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

GOALS I HAVE CHOSEN TO WORK ON THIS MONTH ARE:

21.

22.

Please put the date completed next to the goal!

June

University of Celestial Arts: Home Storage

...If ye are prepared ye shall not fear." D&C: 38:30

1. 1. Put together a 72 hour kit and/or an emergency car kit. Put it where it belongs.

2. Update the supplies in your first-aid kit.

3. Visit the church dry-pack cannery and purchase food for your food storage.

4. Practice a fire drill with your family. Check to see that all the fire alarms in your home are in working order.

5. Compile a list of all nonfood supplies needed in your home storage. Figure out what you have and what you need to obtain. Acquire at least one needed item.

6. Take a first-aid course.

7. Can, freeze, or preserve foods you grew yourself, harvested, or bought.

8. Inventory your food storage. Organize and implement a good rotation system.

9. Try out at least 2 new recipes using beans or wheat.

10. Start a water storage program. Rotate an existing supply.

GOALS I HAVE CHOSEN TO WORK ON THIS MONTH ARE:

1.

2.

Please put the date completed next to the goal!

July

University of Celestial Arts: Compassionate Service

"And behold I tell you these: things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." Mosiah 2:17

1. Volunteer to do community service.

2. Make a phone call to someone you think could use cheering up. Do this at least once a week for a month.

3. Anonymously do five good deeds.

4. Donate blood to the Blood Bank.

5. Visit someone who is ill or disabled.

6. Do something with your spouse, child or friend that they have requested you do with them, but you have been avoiding.

7. Offer (without being asked) to care for a mother's children for a few hours so she can have some free time.

8. Help a friend do some spring cleaning.

9. Invite and take a new sister, or a sister you don't know well, to Homemaking Meeting.

10. Do mending for someone who doesn't have a sewing machine or doesn't like to mend.

GOALS I HAVE CHOSEN TO WORK ON THIS MONTH ARE:

3.

4.

Please put the date completed next to the goal!

August

University of celestial arts: Physical Health

"Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated." D&C 88:124

5. Be physically fit. Participate in an aerobic physical fitness program. (Get your physician approval as needed). Exercise 3 times a week for 3 out of 4 weeks.

6. Plan and eat nutritious meals for most of the month.

7. Have a physical examination by your doctor. Have needed medical tests done.

8. Get your children's vaccinations or the shots you need.

9. Brush your teeth twice daily and floss at least once for most of the month.

10. Read and ponder Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Apply its teachings more fully in your life.

11. Get the proper amount of rest by going to bed early and rising early for most of one month.

12. Avoid junk food and sweets for most of this month.

13. Participate in a physical activity that is new to you.

14. If your weight is not at an appropriate level, lose at least five pounds. It is suggested you watch your fat intake and exercise.

GOALS I HAVE CHOSEN TO WORK ON THIS MONTH ARE:

1.

2.

Please put the date completed next to the goal!

September

University of Celestial Arts: Intellectual Development

"And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith." D&C 88:1 18

3. Read a nonfiction book on a new topic of interest to you.

4. Go to a play, museum, or concert. Take your family if possible.

5. Read the Ensign from cover-to-cover.

6. Read a book of poetry or memorize a short poem.

7. Read the newspaper daily for most of this month or read a news magazine every week.

8. Study a foreign language.

9. Present a Family Home Evening about a country your ancestors came from. Serve food from that country. Learn to say "hello" and "please" in that country's native tongue.

10. Check a music tape out from the library. Listen to a type of music you don't usually listen to: jazz, classical, gospel, ethnic, etc.

11. Visit local art galleries and look for the paintings of local artists.

12. Read a science book or review a math technique you have forgotten.

GOALS I HAVE CHOSEN TO WORK ON THIS MONTH ARE:

15.

16.

Please put the date completed next to the goal!

October

University of Celestial Arts: Homemaking Skills

"Organize yourselves; prepare: every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a hours of glory, a house of order, a house of God;" D&C 109:8

1. Clean and organize two closets this month, or clean and organize your kitchen cupboards.

2. Sew an item for yourself, your child, or a friend.

3. Take a class to learn a new skill: quilting, upholstery, weaving, oriental cooking, etc.

4. Organize your recipe files. Use two recipes you haven't used in awhile or try two new ones.

5. Bake all the bread your family eats for most of this month.

6. Try a new needle craft art this month: Cross-stitch, embroidery, needlepoint, crocheting, etc.

7. Defrost your freezer and clean your refrigerator.

8. Paint a room in your house or repair five items that need fixing.

9. Buy a live plant and keep it healthy for at least 30 days.

10. Hold a family council to discuss and plan each family member's responsibilities for a clean home.

GOALS I HAVE CHOSEN TO WORK ON THIS MONTH ARE:

17.

18.

Please put the date completed next to the goal!

November

University of Celestial Arts: Character Development

"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul - We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, of good report or praiseworthy we seek after there things." The Thirteenth Article of Faith

1. Prayerfully review the way you deal with your fellowmen in light of the Thirteenth Article of Faith. Make some goals based on this review.

2. Arrange a special outing with a friend and express gratitude for the friendship you share.

3. Do not gossip for at least 21 days. If this does not become a habit, repeat this goal for another 21 days for credit.

4. Think of a service you can perform the members of your family. Perform these services.

5. Pay an honest tithe or fast offering if you haven't been doing so. If you have, you've been blessed! Congrats!

6. List all the things you have to be thankful for. When you find yourself envying others, look at your list. Do this as often as needed this month.

7. Remember to start the day with a smile and say "Good morning". Put it into practice for 25 days out of. 30.

8. Look for the good in others. Give your family and friends sincere compliments.

9. Kindly listen to every question asked by your children for at least 21 days. Repeat this for credit, if it is not already a habit.

10. Talk with a person who has problems similar to yours. Share ideas on how to overcome them. Choose one of those ideas to put into effect this month.

GOALS I HAVE CHOSEN TO WORK ON THIS MONTH ARE:

19.

20.

Please put the date completed next to the goal!

December

University of Celestial arts: Honoring Christ

"For the Father judgeth no man, but hat committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honor not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent Him." John 5:22-23

1. 1. Read the New Testament.

2. When your find yourself losing patience with other people, stop and ask yourself, "What would Christ do in this situation?" Be as Christ-like as possible.

3. Do not take the Lord's name in vain.

4. Do a small deed of service for someone for least 21 days.

5. Prepare a special Family Home Evening or Christmas presentation on the birth of the Savior.

Read Jesus the Christ.

6. Put up a picture of Christ in your home.

7. Make a special effort to think about Christ when you say "in the name of Jesus Christ" when ending prayers this month.

8. Live the Golden Rule with renewed zeal this month.

9. Ponder the significance of having the Savior as your elder brother. Remind yourself of this lineage at least five times a week.

GOALS I HAVE CHOSEN TO WORK ON THIS MONTH ARE:

21.

22.

.

Please put the date completed next to the goal!

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