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 : <http: //members.aol.com/annettenay/index.htm
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 / SeptemberFebruary / June / October
March / July / November
April / August / December
2. Attend 9 out of 12 homemaking meetings during this year.
January / May / SeptemberFebruary / 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.