“Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will raise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience that another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come” (D&C 130: 18-19).
To the sister who becomes absorbed in achieving eternal goals, life becomes more abundant. The program described in the following pages can be accomplished by any sister who has an honest desire to improve herself and pattern her life after the Savior. This can be an exciting opportunity to discover (and rediscover) the power and the strength of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no more darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things” (D&C 88:67).
Read the following pages carefully. Be honest with yourself as you select the goals that will challenge you personally. Once you have selected the goals, be diligent and prayerful about following the plan. Account to your Heavenly Father regularly about your progress and goals. DO NOT UNDERTAKE AT ONE TIME MORE THAN YOU CAN REASONABLY ACCOMPLISH. Challenge yourself, but be realistic! A wise king once counseled: “And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore all things must be done in order” (Mosiah 4:27).
This we see that through the principle of “line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little,” the path toward excellence can be achieved (D&C 128:21). Personal growth and satisfaction and increased power to be of service to others are the rewards that will be ours as we meet the challenges of “Aim for Excellence”.
The “Aim for Excellence” program is a modification of the “Pursuit of Excellence” program which is published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The program was simplified under the General Relief Society Presidency so that it might better meet the needs of the sisters in the Raleigh Stake.
Each sister is encouraged to accept the first four challenges listed below. Additional spiritual challenges are to be prayerfully decided upon by each individual .
“Wherefore, verily I say unto you that
all things unto me are spiritual” (D&C 29:34).
1. Read Enos 1:1-8. Pay special attention to verse 4. Following Enos’ example, increase the power of prayer in your life. Have sincere daily communication with your Heavenly Father.
2. Undertake a consistent program of serious scripture study. Strengthen your testimony of the gospel thorough fasting, prayer and study. Share your growing testimony on appropriate occasions.
3. Secure, review or update (as appropriate) your home storage.
4. Prepare, review or update (as appropriate) emergency preparedness equipment and requirements for your household.
5. Keep a personal journal. Record spiritual experiences, goals, thoughts and feelings.
6. Increase your temple attendance this year. Set a challenging, but realistic goal of attendance.
7. Complete at least 4 generations on a pedigree chart for your family.
8. Perform the ordinance work for those ancestors whose names you have submitted to your family file.
9. Memorize and recite the 13 Articles of Faith.
10. Write your personal history.
11. Have 100% visiting teaching each month for the year.
12. Bring a new member into the church or help in reactivating a member.
13. Find fun and interesting things you can do to advance your family history. Select at least one thing to plan, organize and complete. Examples: sort, label and arrange your family photos into photo albums. Plan a family excursion to the family history center. Plan and carry out a family reunion. Tape an interview with a grandparent or other relative. Make a copy of the family history that has been completed by others in your family.
14. Obtain a picture of the temple and hang it in your home.
Each sister is encouraged to accept the first three challenges listed below. Additional physical challenges are to be decided upon by each individual.
“Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean;…
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).
1. Establish a physical fitness program, tailored to your needs, to help you reach a higher level of health. Complete physical fitness activities regularly.
2. Read D&C 89. Evaluate your adherence to the total spirit of the Word of Wisdom. Establish a goal of improvement, particularly in terms of eating and sleeping habits.
3. Put forth the time, energy and learning skills necessary to prepare and harvest a garden, whether it is one plant in one pot or the whole back yard.
4. Acquire greater proficiency in, or learn a new sewing skill. Examples: knitting, crocheting, sewing, needlepoint, cross-stitch, quilting, etc. Complete at least two items and display for others to see.
5. Participate regularly in an organized ward, stake or community athletic or recreational sports activity. Examples: Volleyball, basketball, softball, etc.
6. Participate in a physical activity that is new to you such as cycling, back-packing, camping or hiking. Participate in this activity at least three or more times during the year.
7. Acquire greater proficiency in a food preparation skill such as baking, bread making, canning, freezing, dehydration, dry canning, use of food storage, etc.
8. Acquire greater proficiency in an occupational skill such as carpentry, basic auto care, basic plumbing, computers, upholstery, typing, etc.
9. Become more safety conscious. Learn safety precautions for women and children, learn how to handle roadside emergencies, learn how to safeguard your home, etc.
Each sister is encouraged to accept the
first three challenges. Additional challenges may be selected as
desired.
1. Read Matthew 5: 38-42. Strive to apply the second mile principle with your family (or roommates) and the sisters you visit teach.
2. Consider the true spirit of the Master’s Golden Rule. Evaluate the actions and motives in your relationships. After determining your strengths and weaknesses, set two specific goals to improve the quality of your relationships with your family (roommates) and sisters you teach.
3. Read Moroni 7. Consider the roles that faith, hope and charity have in your life. Seek to better understand this scriptural message. Pray to obtain and maintain charity.
4. Teach an art skill to someone who cannot afford to pay for such training or teach a homemaking class in Relief Society.
5. Assist the elderly or those living alone who may need help with such things as household chores, shopping, yard work, repairs, etc. Give assistance over a sustained time period.
6. Fellowship new members of the Church or new move-ins. Help them in making the transition into the Ward family. Select at least two individuals or families to work with.
7. Write encouraging, uplifting letters to a missionary, serviceman or friend who is absent from your Ward (other than a family member). Write at least monthly for one year.
8. Working through your Bishop, contribute toward the financial support of a full-time missionary.
9. For a sustained period of time, visit the elderly in a local nursing home bringing them friendship and cheer.
10. Participate in a group effort to provide books and recent Church publications for prisons, hospitals, convalescent homes, libraries, etc.
11. Learn how to become a more effective grandparent. Put into practice the things you have learned.
Each sister in this program will want to evaluate her personal standard of honesty and integrity. As members of this Church, we recognize the importance of bringing our lives into harmony with the principles of virtue and righteousness taught by the Savior. The development of a high and noble character should be foremost in the pursuit of eternal excellence, and its absence in the lives of Church members would render any other achievement meaningless.
Prayerfully review your life and your dealings with your fellowmen in light of the thirteenth Article of Faith:
“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, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”
Each sister should select at least two
areas in which she feels the need for improvement.
1. Make righteous promises and commitments carefully – then count these as your sacred word of honor; act accordingly.
2. Read Proverbs 16:18 – 22. Seek to eliminate false pride from your character. Avoid doing or saying anything that would cause another to feel that you were haughty or disdainful.
3. Seek to be truthful in all you say. Avoid gossip and untruthfulness no matter how small. Carefully consider your words to avoid hurting or offending others.
4. Willingly accept assignments and complete them to the best of your ability.
5. Make and honor a resolution to lead a morally clean life.
6. Give proper credit for the work of others in talks, conversation or composition.
7. Make and honor a resolution that you will not cheat in any way.
8. Set your goal to take nothing that belongs to any other person, company or organization, no matter how small, without the permission of the owner.
9. Do not envy others or seek by improper means to acquire that which belongs to another.
10. Develop a love for and dedication to honorable, hard work.
11. Be courageous enough to acknowledge mistakes, to apologize when appropriate, to make things right if you have given offense.
Each sister is encouraged to accept at least two of the challenges listed below.
“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 88:118).
1. Plan and undertake a reading program of uplifting, outstanding literature. The selection of books may reflect a variety of interests or may emphasize one particular theme.
2. Develop a new interest in any creative field (poetry, fiction, music, art, crafts, photography, etc.) or hobby (collections, woodworking, nature, etc.). The emphasis is involvement and participation in an area that is new to you. Pursue excellence to the point of performing, exhibiting or teaching this interest.
3. Expand your cultural appreciation by attending at least six cultural events available in your area. Examples: Opera, symphony, concerts, theatre, museums, ballet, High School performances, seasonal concerts, etc.
4. Participate in a structured study of other countries. Learn about the food, culture, customs, traditions, etc.
5. Develop fundamental speaking and writing skills in another language.
6. Participate in a book-review group on a regular basis. Selections may come from any uplifting literary category.
7. Expand your knowledge of current health issues concerning women today. Attend classes in Relief Society Homemaking or at local institutions. Examples: osteoporosis, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, mammography, menopause, hormone replacement therapy, etc.
8. Broaden your understanding of your family’s life insurance policies, health plans, wills, and other important documents. Are they adequate for today’s financial needs? Have they been updated appropriately? See that your documents are stored in a safe place and that you know where they are and have access to them.
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