How Do I Set Righteous and Realistic Goals?

By Mabel Teerlink

Church Magazines

These three principles can help you work toward your righteous desires through Jesus Christ.

The start of a new year is a natural time to seek a fresh start and set goals. But sometimes family troubles, physical ailments, mental difficulties, or other challenges make our goals hard to achieve.

In the face of these obstacles, Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to “do many things of [our] own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:27). At this season of renewal, these three principles can help you set righteous goals through Christ.

1. Turn to Christ

In times of difficulty, you may wonder whether it’s worth setting goals or even possible to achieve them. The prophet Mormon asked a similar question: “How is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?” (Moroni 7:20). He then explained how people throughout time have exercised “faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing” (Moroni 7:25).

Through faith in Christ, we can do and obtain good things. His power, His love, and His teachings enable us to fulfill our righteous desires. In the early days of the Restoration, the Lord said to his servants, “If you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:8).

What does “doing much good” mean for you? There are many ways that God might use your unique talents and traits to build His kingdom. As you think about the goals you want to set, seek inspiration and help from Him. “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good” (Alma 37:37).

2. Take Small and Simple Steps

We learn in the Book of Mormon that “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6). This teaching can make our goals seem less daunting and more doable. God sometimes works “by very small means” (Alma 37:7) and gives us his word “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little” (2 Nephi 28:30).

You too can work on your goals “line upon line” and in “very small” steps. Here are some examples of setting goals to do good, along with small ways to work toward success:

Goals	“Small and simple” steps (Alma 37:6)
Minister to those who are poor, sick, or afflicted.	Take some time to listen to someone who is facing a trial.
Show love to those who are lonely.	Sit with someone sitting alone at church.
Care for children, elderly people, or those with disabilities.	Schedule a time to visit an elderly acquaintance or care home.
Work to help provide for yourself or your family.	Ask someone you respect for career advice.
Fulfill your calling in the Church.	Pray for guidance about your calling.
Volunteer in community projects or provide civic service.	Spend 10–15 minutes researching local volunteer opportunities.
Nourish your body, mind, and spirit with wholesome materials and activities.	Make a list of nutritious foods you could eat this week.
Improve personal habits or family routines of scripture study, prayer, church attendance, and temple worship.	Set a daily alarm or reminder to study the scriptures.
Serve those who are deceased by doing family history work.	Log in to FamilySearch.org and learn to use one unfamiliar feature.
Share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.	Tell a friend about your favorite scripture or general conference talk.
Learn new skills that can help you build the kingdom of God.	Find a video that teaches a skill you want to learn.

As Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles noted: “When we look at our lives and see a hundred things to do, we feel overwhelmed. When we see one thing—loving and serving God and His children, in a hundred different ways—then we can work on those things with joy.”

3. Press Forward

If your progress is slow or you stumble along the way, don’t be discouraged. Nephi instructed us to “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope” (2 Nephi 31:20). Jesus Christ stands ready to lift you and help you try again.

Heaven rejoices in every effort to achieve our goals, however imperfect. President Howard W. Hunter said: “We all experience cycles of progression and times when we fight against these inevitable challenges of regression. Great blessings from the Lord attend our efforts to progress.”

Your Heavenly Father knows your desires and your challenges. He can guide and assist you in your righteous goals. Pray to Him, and He will consecrate what you accomplish, however small, to “be for the welfare of thy soul” (2 Nephi 32:9).