it was my turn to teach in relief society today (what a start to the year!) and i wanted something suitable for the occasion (new years day!) that would make people really think about what was important and how they could really achieve what they set out to do at the beginning of the year. i found some amazing talks/ articles to refer to including 15 new years resolutions from the prophets
here and a lady who had done a good deed each day for an entire year
here. i really enjoyed it and got so much out of it... and hope you can too. happy 2017 and good luck with your commitments ♥
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU!
A guide to new years commitments
What are some typical new years
resolutions?
Exercise, lose weight, eat better, save
money, take a trip, write in a journal, say daily prayers, study the
scriptures, have 100% visiting teaching,
This time last year I made a commitment,
not a resolution, because I wanted to treat it with a little more respect and
not take it lightly in any way. I decided that I would attend the temple at
least once a month and to make it through the book of Mormon again, but this
time with this copy. I can honestly say that my life changed this year, for the
better, when I made a promise to the Lord and did what I had committed to do. There
is a quote by Napoleon Hill that sums it up perfectly. It says: "The moment you commit and quit holding back, all
sorts of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, will rise up
to help you. The simple act of commitment is a powerful magnet for help."
Hence my suggestions of commitments – not resolutions.
Do you start
out each new year with lots of plans to improve your life but, after a few weeks,
lose your enthusiasm? If so, here are a few ideas to help you keep the best of
your New Year’s resolutions:
Make
realistic, attainable commitments, not wishy washy vague resolutions or intense
efforts of just trying to do too much
too quickly. For example, if you are presently not reading your scriptures at
all but your resolution is to read half an hour every day, you may be setting
yourself up for failure. It may be more realistic to resolve just to read
something, even if it is just a few verses, every day. After that becomes
habit, then you can work on increasing your goal. You’re not going to lose 50kg
in a month!
Set a series
of smaller goals. Divide your big goal into smaller sections. Say, for
instance, you want to save money. Instead of leaving your goal so vague, plan a
reasonable amount to work toward in the first month, then a larger amount to
have saved at the first quarter of the year. These smaller goals will keep you
encouraged as you make progress.
Make
reminders. After you decide the things you would like to work on, make several
reminders for yourself. The old method of taping a sign on your mirror or
somewhere where you will see it regularly might work. But if you usually ignore
your signs, try something different. Sometimes simple things can work. Take the
resolution to read your scriptures every day, for example. When you get out of
bed in the morning, place your scriptures on your pillow. It will be difficult
to say you forgot when you have to move them before going to bed.
Be kind to
yourself. If you find you’ve made resolutions that are making you miserable, be
willing to change them. After all, they are your resolutions. Sometimes you can
resolve to do things that are really too big to handle. Instead of giving up as
a failure, modify your goals so that they will be a true help and result in
improvement.
We need to
also ask ourselves a question when making our resolutions: is the decision I am
making today, helping me get to where I want to be tomorrow?
Here are 15 goals from the prophets to help you
centre your life on Christ during 2015.
1. Avoid contention
Today’s world—especially the online social media
world—is fraught with arguments and differing opinions. Church
members can emulate Christ by being peacemakers even when
they disagree with others.
“On the subject of public discourse, we should all
follow the gospel teachings to love our neighbour and avoid contention,” Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught. “Followers
of Christ should be examples of civility. We should love all people, be good
listeners, and show concern for their sincere beliefs. Though we may disagree,
we should not be disagreeable. . . . We should be wise in explaining and
pursuing our positions and in exercising our influence.”
2. Find more meaning in temple service
Now is a great time to recommit to
meaningful temple worship. Elder Richard G. Scott taught, “Don’t
let anyone or anything prevent you from being there. While you are in the
temple, listen to the words of the ordinances, ponder them, pray about them,
and seek to understand their meaning. The temple is one of the best places to
come to understand the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Seek Him there. Remember that many more blessings come from
providing your own family names in the temple.”
3. Take care of your body
Physical well-being is closely connected to mental,
emotional and spiritual health.
“Take responsibility for your own physical
well-being,” Elder Jörg Klebingat taught. “Feeding
the spirit while neglecting the body, which is a temple, usually leads to
spiritual dissonance and lowered self-esteem. If you are out of shape, if you
are uncomfortable in your own body and can do something about it, then do it! …
Please use good judgment in what and especially how much you eat, and regularly
give your body the exercise it needs and deserves.“
4. Learn more about the gospel
Before Church members can fully live the
gospel, they must understand it. Elder M. Russell Ballard taught this
important truth:
“In searching the scriptures and the words of past
and current apostles and prophets, we should focus on studying, living, and
loving the doctrine of Christ,” he taught. “In addition to developing the habit
of personal scripture reading, we need to be like the sons of Mosiah and give
ourselves ‘to much prayer, and fasting.’ It seems that these things which are
not easily measured are of great importance. Stay focused on these simple
things, and avoid becoming distracted.”
5. Be a better parent
Children are the future of our homes, the Church
and the world. Therefore, the role of parents is of paramount importance.
“It is my firm conviction that there has never been
a period in my many years of life when our Father in Heaven’s children have
needed the guiding hand of faithful, devoted parents more,” Elder L. Tom Perry taught.
“… We must find within ourselves that same determined spirit and overcome the
challenges we face with the same spirit of sacrifice. We must instill in future
generations an ever stronger reliance on the teachings of our Lord and Savior.”
6. Improve personal scripture study
Prophets have repeatedly counseled that scripture
study is essential to gaining a testimony and maintaining the companionship of
the Spirit.
“Don’t yield to Satan’s lie that you don’t have
time to study the scriptures,” Elder Richard G. Scott taught. “Choose
to take time to study them. Feasting on the word of God each day is more
important than sleep, school, work, television shows, video games, or social
media. You may need to reorganize your priorities to provide time for the study
of the word of God. If so, do it!”
7. Serve someone every day
The small acts of service we offer may seem
insignificant, but Elder Jeffery R. Holland taught that when we do what we can,
our offering will make a difference.
“A journalist once questioned Mother Teresa of
Calcutta about her hopeless task of rescuing the destitute in that city,” Elder Holland said. “He
said that, statistically speaking, she was accomplishing absolutely nothing.
This remarkable little woman shot back that her work was about love, not
statistics. Notwithstanding the staggering number beyond her
reach, she said she could keep the commandment to love God and her neighbor by
serving those within her reach with whatever
resources she had.”
(STORY)
An idea came to me one afternoon in late December.
I had just completed a six-week challenge suggested by a magazine article on
doing good deeds daily. Some of the author’s activities had included writing
letters, calling people he had intended to telephone for a long time, taking
someone a pie, a plant, or a small remembrance, praying for others, and sharing
the joy of living. It was such a joyful experience that he challenged his
readers to emulate his experience.
At the end of my six
weeks I was absolutely ecstatic about all the good things that had happened.
Then it hit me—why not make it a year-long adventure and commit myself to doing
something good for someone every day? It intrigued me to think that at the end
of the year I could have touched the lives of 365 people. And I could keep
track of my successes or failures in my personal journal.
As the year began I could hardly wait for each new
day. It seemed so easy to think of good things to do. For example, I could
catch up on my correspondence and lend a helping hand to neighbors with small
children.
I was doing well through February until one night,
after a particularly exhausting day, I suddenly realized that I had not done
one good deed. I couldn’t bring myself to record a failure, so I crawled out of
bed and wrote a letter to a long-forgotten friend.
Not all of my good deeds were preplanned; some just
happened.
I was able to touch other lives, too, through my
Church callings. I had never before realized how tuned out I had been to the
needs of those around me. I began to see those who were lonely, those who
needed an arm around their shoulder, and those who needed something to spark a
dull day.
April and May found me making little spring treats
to take to “new” friends. My activities were developing a new dimension: not
only was I touching those around me, but now I was reaching out to people I
never knew before. I still felt the excitement of my resolution, but added to
it now was a deeper, spiritual feeling that made me feel much closer to my
Father in Heaven.
I came closer to my children, to. By September and
October my resolution had become a daily habit. Oh, I was still human. Sometimes
my heart was not fully in tune when I started out to visit someone ill or down,
but I always came away with a strengthened testimony of doing good.
As the year has progressed, I have come to realize
that charity is not always convenient, and that it sometimes takes much thought
and planning. At first, I was proud of all the “good” I was doing, but as the
year comes to an end, I am
humbled to realize how selfish I have been all my life. As I left
the home of the bedridden, or listened to frustrated teenagers, or climbed the
hills with my children, I often thought of all the lives I could have touched
in previous years if only I had taken the time. My one consolation is knowing
that I can make a similar journey in this coming year, and in all the years
ahead.
8. Have more meaningful prayer
Improving prayer habits can improve every facet of
life. Elder Richard G. Scott taught, “Choose
to converse with your Father in Heaven often. Make time every day to share your
thoughts and feelings with Him. Tell Him everything that concerns you. He is
interested in the most important as well as the most mundane facets of your
life. Share with Him your full range of feelings and experiences.”
9. Increase your fast offering
When speaking about caring for the poor, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland asked Church
members to be “as generous as circumstances permit” in their contributions.
“Cherish that sacred privilege [to fast] at least
monthly, and be as generous as circumstances permit in your fast offering and
other humanitarian, educational, and missionary contributions,” he said. “I
promise that God will be generous to you, and those who find relief at your
hand will call your name blessed forever.”
“Because the Atonement of Jesus Christ is very
practical, you should apply it generously 24/7, for it never runs out.” —Elder
Jörg Klebingat, Of the Seventy
10. Repent daily
Repentance has some negative connotations, but
daily repentance helps disciples of Christ become closer to the Savior.
“Because the Atonement of Jesus Christ is very
practical, you should apply it generously 24/7, for it never runs out,” Elder Jörg Klebingat said.
“Embrace the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance as things that are to be
welcomed and applied daily according to the Great Physician’s orders. Establish
an attitude of ongoing, happy, joyful repentance by making it your lifestyle of
choice. … Keeping your eyes on the Savior, care more about what He thinks of
you, and let the consequences follow.”
11. Have Family Home Evening
As Church members strengthen their own testimonies,
teaching family members gospel truths will increase their understanding and
increase the influence of the Spirit in family members’ lives.
“Be cautious not to make your family home evening
just an afterthought of a busy day,” Elder Richard G. Scott taught. “Decide
that on Monday night your family will be together at home for the evening. Do
not let employment demands, sports, extracurricular activities, homework, or
anything else become more important than that time you spend together at home
with your family. The structure of your evening is not as important as the time
invested.”
12. Forgive quickly
People who forgive others relieve themselves of
heavy burdens that decrease happiness. Immediate forgiveness increases joy and
strengthens relationships.
“Forgive everyone, everything, all the time, or at
least strive to do so, thus allowing forgiveness into your own
life,” Elder Jörg Klebingat said. “Don’t
hold grudges, don’t be easily offended, forgive and forget quickly, and don’t
ever think that you are exempt from this commandment. Spiritual confidence increases when you know that the Lord knows
that you bear no ill feelings toward another soul.”
13. Maintain a clear vision
As Church members set new goals and resolve to
become better, it’s important to keep the end goal in mind. Elder Carlos A. Godoy taught this
important principle: “Making decisions that can impact our lives and those we
love without having the broader vision of their consequences can bring some
risks. However, if we project the possible consequences of these decisions into
the future, we can see with greater clarity the best path to take in the
present. Understanding who we are, why we are here, and what the Lord expects
from us in this life will help give us the broader vision we need. … We have
the scriptures, the temple, living prophets, our patriarchal blessings,
inspired leaders, and, above all, the right to receive personal revelation to
guide our decisions.”
14. Evaluate yourself honestly
As people improve their lives and become more
committed disciples, constant self-evaluation helps the process continue. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave this
helpful formula for self-evaluation:
“[H]ow can we shine the pure light of God’s truth
into our souls and see ourselves as He sees us? May I suggest that the holy
scriptures and the talks given at general conference are an effective mirror we
can hold up for self-examination. As you hear or read the words of the ancient
and modern prophets, refrain from thinking about how the words apply to someone
else and ask the simple question: ‘Lord, is it I?'”
15. Emulate Jesus Christ
The best goals and resolutions lead Church members
toward Jesus Christ. President Thomas S. Monson taught, “As
we strive to place Christ at the center of our lives by learning His words, by
following His teachings, and by walking in His path, He has promised to share
with us the eternal life that He died to gain. There is no higher end than
this, that we should choose to accept His discipline and become His disciples
and do His work throughout our lives. Nothing else, no other choice we make,
can make of us what He can.”
If I may offer a few pieces of my own advice,
1. A goal unwritten is simply a wish
2. Tell someone else of your
commitment, to make yourself responsible. If someone else knows, you’ll feel
like you need to keep them updated, or they may ask you how it is going
3. If at first you don’t succeed,
try again and again and again and again, until you get it right
4. Try starting something again that
you have given up in the past. Who is to say that you won’t get it this time
around?!
5. Make goals that help not only
you, but others around you. Ie. Take someone a meal once a month (this can help
12 families!), attend the temple, do your visiting teaching, another unsubtle
hint sisters)
6. Make yourself a one word
resolution and focus on one particular thing: FAMILY, TEMPLE, LOVE, PEACE, the possibilities
are endless.
7. But most of all, make sure that
your resolutions will build you a better life and bring your closer to your
father in heaven.
