A Lesson on the Pursuit of Excellence Program

A Lesson on the Pursuit of Excellence Program

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Subj.: RS: Pursuit of Excellence
Contributor: Kathleen

Dear Sisters...

Thank you everyone for all of your ideas about the Pursuit of Excellence...

Thought I would send you what I finally came up with in regards to the introduction of the Pursuit of Excellence in our ward. I am giving this lesson tonight at homemaking and will give a follow-up lesson on the first Sunday in Sept. Each month I am going to put together a flyer containing additional goal examples and any quotes or thoughts that would support the goal for the month. We are only really running this till December when the Stake is to start their program.

Each sister will receive this lesson and a Pursuit of Excellence booklet tonight...keep your fingers crossed....and THANKS again for your ideas!!!!

Kathleen in GA

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A Celestial Connection:

The Pursuit of Excellence What is our purpose for being here on earth?

~"...man is that he might have joy." (2 Nephi 2: 25)

~all other purposes (to become like Heavenly Father, to become perfect, etc.) can be circumscribed by this one scripture.

What is the threefold mission of the Church?

~Proclaim the Gospel...Perfect the Saints...Redeem the Dead

Ensign, November 1997 (p. 30-31) Elder Richard J. Maynes, of the Seventy One of the great challenges...is successfully connecting these celestial goals with your everyday life. This is difficult because our lives are jammed so full of worldly stuff.

Why is it important to connect what is happening next Friday to what happens in 2, 5, or 10 years from now or in the eternities?

Ensign, November 1997 (p. 30-31) Elder Richard J. Maynes, of the Seventy If you want to reach your potential in the future, if you want to become the person the Lord wants you to be, you had better work on it today, because it is a true principle that we become what we do...if we want to live a celestial life in the hereafter, we had better live a celestial life here on earth. Our futures are truly connected to our past...It is very likely that a goal or vision not connected to everyday life by specific action will become just another unrealized dream with nothing more than hope to support it.

How then can we apply this to our lives – to obtain joy, participate in the mission of the Church, to reach our celestial destination?

~"The Pursuit of Excellence is an achievement challenge designed to help a participant develop a Christ-like life of love and service. Accomplishing this objective requires a diligent and serious effort in all aspects of life – spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical." (Pursuit of Excellence booklet)

General Conference Report, October 1972 (p. 26) Elder John H. Vandenberg if a man achieves worldly success and does not blend into his life a program of self-improvement to bring about a sensible balance, he no doubt will end up as a failure.

The Station

by Robert J. Hastings

Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the windows we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and rolling hillsides, of city skylines and village halls.

But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. The band will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there our dream will come true and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles, cursing the minutes for loitering--waiting, waiting, waiting for when we reach the station.

"When we reach the station, that will be it!" we cry.

"When I'm 18."

"When I buy a new 450SL Mercedes-Benz!"

"When I put the last kid through college."

"When I have paid off the mortgage!"

"When I get the promotion."

"When I reach the age of retirement, I shall live happily ever after!"

Sooner or later we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.

"Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24: "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." It isn't the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.

So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.

General Conference Report, April 1968 (p. 100) Elder Hugh B. Brown Keep in mind the challenging fact that your aim is not to get ahead of others, but to surpass yourself; to begin today to be the person you want to be.

Ensign, November 1997 (p. 73) Elder Marvin J. Ashton The desire to achieve has been placed in us by a loving Creator who honors our free agency but nonetheless beckons to us to do well.

Ensign, November 1990 (p. 75) Elder Richard G. Scott Establish specific objectives, and move steadily toward them. A rudder won't control a drifting boat; it must be underway. Similarly you need to be moving forward to gain control of your life.

Make a commitment to utilize the Pursuit of Excellence to keep underway and moving forward...to help us make our "Celestial Connection."

~"Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often, it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out." (Oliver Wendell Holmes)

~Be honest and soul-searching as you select your goals.

Once you have selected your goals, commit yourself to a carefully developed plan to achieve those goals.

~Be diligent in following the plan. Account to your Father in Heaven regularly concerning your progress.

~Do not undertake more than you can reasonably accomplish. Your goals and plans should be challenging but realistic.

"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)

~Keep an "Only the Good Things" journal. Every night write at least one good thing you did...never a negative.

~Concentrate on the good feelings you get as you obtain your goals. If we can all celebrate that, we will be closer to our goal of becoming like our Heavenly Father and not be consumed with the defeating feelings that Satan would have us think about ourselves. We will find joy!!

Ensign, November 1997 (p. 30-31) Elder Richard J. Maynes, of the Seventy
Prepare yourselves daily. Communicate with your Heavenly Father in prayer...if these seemingly little things seem tiresome, tedious, or time-consuming, carry on! The little things that confound the wise also confound Satan. Remember, celestial blessings are on their way...The Lord wants you to succeed, and He will be with you. He will help you and support and sustain you in your time of need if you are true to His plan. If you stay close to Him on a daily basis, He will stay close to you, and you will reap untold blessings in every aspect of your life...It will ultimately be your love of the Lord which will help you commit and then stay true to your celestial daily plan....His desire and hope for us all is a celestial future.

PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE GOAL KEEPER

Goal:
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How can I accomplish this?

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Efforts made toward my goal:

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