Pursuit of Excellence

Relief Society sisters who would like help in setting worthy personal goals may consider using Pursuit of Excellence as a guide.

“When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates” (see Thomas S. Monson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 107).

Priorities in the Pursuit of Excellence – a great talk on this subject

Priorities in the Pursuit of Excellence By Janath R. Cannon Education Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency Janath R. Cannon, 'Priorities in the Pursuit of Excellence,' Ensign, Apr. 1976, 70 Dear sisters, as I look into your faces, it seems to me I can see a bright desire shining forth from your very souls'a...

Encouragements while working on Pursuit of Excellence

Encouragements while working on Pursuit of Excellence Here are some ideas of ways to encourage sisters to work on this program: Here are some ideas that I got so far: In our Ward there was a sister who had the ceramic molds to a 12 piece small Nativity Set. The idea of receiving one piece...

The Pursuit of Excellence – Climbing the Steps Toward Excellence

This idea originate in the Austin Oak Hills Stake in Texas, I got it from a sister who had been in that stake a few years ago, she does not really know who wrote it, but it is such a great program I decided to go ahead and post it, and hope that who...

The Pursuit of Excellence Celestial University 2

I am sending you what I typed up: a modified "University" I have not put some of it in my own words so the part that is a greeting I "stole" from what was on your website. I love the idea of a "University." Everything on the word document (as far as the challenges and...

Pursuit of Excellence Bingo

I was in a stake in Alabama that was big into the Pursuit of Excellence. We had a sister called as the Pursuit of Excellence coordinator, or leader or something like that for our ward. What the stake did was each month they made a bingo sheet, each square with goals on it that you...

Celestial University

Thank you Shannon Roberts from Brentwood, CA What is Celestial University? Celestial University, is a basic Pursuit of Excellence program with a twist.In the Celestial University program you may earn your Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate degree by obtaining and finishing goals. There are 12 different colleges or areas to earn your degree in. I would...

Scholar Reading Program

Ward Enrichment ConferenceScholar Reading Program Here is our literacy program. This is something my mom's ward did, and then I took it from them. We were only going to do it once, but we had such a good turnout, we are going to do it again. It is pretty self explanatory. I gave them a...

FROM LDS.ORG

This info can be found on the churchs web site at this link:

https://www.lds.org/callings/relief-society/leader-resources/new-relief-society-sisters/pursuit-of-excellence?lang=eng

Setting goals and working toward those goals can strengthen your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by helping you develop patterns and qualities of discipleship in your life. Pursuit of Excellence can help you to follow the Savior's example of “a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31).

Begin by asking the Lord to help you determine what you will work on. Decide how you will evaluate and record your progress. Discover how the Spirit affirms your progress. You will find that your greatest reward will be an increase of the Spirit in your life. Your faith will grow, and your testimony will be strengthened.

The goals listed below are intended to help support and strengthen you in your responsibilities as a son or daughter of Heavenly Father and to help you establish righteous habits and patterns for a lifetime.

You could choose from the following suggested goals, or you may find that the ideas below inspire other worthy personal goals.

Goals That Build Spiritual Strength

Learn what it means to seek, receive, and act on personal revelation.
Establish a habit of daily personal prayer.
Develop the habit of studying the scriptures every day.
Read the Book of Mormon.
Qualify for a temple recommend.
Attend the temple regularly.
Study the words of the prophets in Church magazines or on LDS.org.
Learn to repent daily.
Freely forgive others.
Pay an honest tithe, and attend tithing settlement.
Share your testimony more often.
Attend and participate in all Sunday meetings.
Fast with a specific purpose, and give a generous fast offering.
Receive your patriarchal blessing, and study it often.
Accept opportunities to speak or teach.
Record memorable spiritual experiences or events in a journal.
Participate in institute.
Register for newfamilysearch.org, and participate in family history work.
Register and index historical records.

Goals That Increase Knowledge

Pray to know what gifts the Lord has given you, and use one of those gifts to bless others.
Study the words of prophets and Church leaders about strengthening families, marriages, and homes.
Read a book that will increase your faith and strengthen you spiritually.
Learn about and develop a new skill or interest.
Improve your ability to communicate with others.
Improve skills for an occupation.
Improve your employment opportunities.
Complete a degree or certificate program.
Learn another language.
Learn to budget wisely and manage personal finances.
Develop a plan of preparedness for emergencies.
Acquire greater proficiency in an occupational or homemaking skill (such as organizing, using a computer, sewing, mechanical work, cooking, or cleaning).

Goals That Increase Personal Well-Being and Health

Study Doctrine and Covenants 89 (the Word of Wisdom), and apply its principles to improve your health.
Develop healthy eating habits and patterns.
Learn to cook healthy foods.
Develop a program of regular exercise.
Work toward healthy sleep patterns.
Improve emotional and mental health.
Improve your personal appearance or hygiene.
Create opportunities to be active with family and friends.
Participate in young single adult activities.

Goals That Increase Your Ability to Serve Others

Pray for inspiration about who needs your help each day, and act on your inspiration.
Faithfully serve as a home teacher or visiting teacher.
Faithfully fulfill responsibilities in elders quorum or Relief Society.
Give service to your family to strengthen your relationship with them.
Accept a Church calling or service opportunity.
Welcome or befriend a new member of the Church.
Volunteer for or lead a service project in your community.
Help someone return to Church activity.
Find ways to be a friend and serve someone who is elderly.
Find opportunities to share the gospel.
Write encouraging letters to a missionary.
Assist someone who needs help with their education.
Contribute to Church funds. (For example: missionary, humanitarian, Perpetual Education, and general temple patron assistance.)

Goals That Increase Moral Strength

Keep a firm personal commitment to be sexually pure, and encourage others to do so.
Use and view only media and entertainment that are uplifting and invite the Spirit.
Obey laws that govern sharing movies, music, and other copyrighted material.
Overcome a bad habit or addiction.
Improve your ability to manage time wisely.
Develop patterns of speech, and use language and words that invite the Spirit to be with you.
Learn to be grateful, and express your appreciation.
Choose friends and companions who are earnestly seeking to maintain high ideals and standards.
Cultivate patience and tolerance for others.
Learn to enjoy hard work.
Develop the attribute of honesty.
Learn to keep confidences.
Avoid comparing yourself to others, and learn to recognize when you are doing your best.
Beware of pride, and seek to be humble and teachable.