Goals

LDS Quotes on Goals

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“Setting goals is a worthy endeavor. We know that our Heavenly Father has goals because He has told us that His work and glory is ‘to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man’ (Moses 1:39).

“Our personal goals can bring out the best in us. However, one of the things that derail our efforts in making and keeping resolutions is procrastination. We sometimes delay starting, waiting for the right moment to begin—the first day of a new year, the beginning of summer, when we’re called as bishop or Relief Society president, after the kids get into school, after we retire.”

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf  |  The Best Time to Plant a Tree

Topics: , , ,

“Set goals that are well balanced—not too many nor too few, and not too high nor too low. Write down your attainable goals and work on them according to their importance. Pray for divine guidance in your goal setting.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard  |  Keeping Life’s Demands in Balance

Topics: ,

“Create a masterpiece of your life. No matter our age, circumstances, or abilities, each one of us can create something remarkable of his life.”

Joseph B. Wirthlin

Topics: , ,

“I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard  |  Preach My Gospel

Topics:

“My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.”

Abraham Lincoln

Topics: , ,

“I urge you to examine your life. Determine where you are and what you need to do to be the kind of person you want to be. Create inspiring, noble, and righteous goals that fire your imagination and create excitement in your heart. And then keep your eye on them. Work consistently towards achieving them.”

Joseph B. Wirthlin  |  Life's Lessons Learned, May 2007 Ensign

Topics: ,

“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.”

Ezra Taft Benson  |  “Born of God,” Ensign, November 1985, p. 5

Topics: , , , ,

Spencer W. Kimball Portrait

“Let us remember, too, that greatness is not always a matter of the scale of one’s life, but of the quality of one’s life. True greatness is not always tied to the scope of our tasks, but to the quality of how we carry out our tasks whatever they are. In that attitude, let us give our time, ourselves, and our talents to the things that really matter now, things which will still matter a thousand years from now.”

Spencer W. Kimball  |  “First Presidency Message: A Gift of Gratitude,” Liahona, December 1977, p. 1

Topics: , ,

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“Though we cannot understand “the meaning of all things,” we do “know that God loveth his children” because He has said, “Behold, this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Heavenly Father is able to accomplish these two great goals-the immortality and eternal life of man-because He is a God of creation and compassion. Creating and being compassionate are two objectives that contribute to our Heavenly Father’s perfect happiness. Creating and being compassionate are two activities that we as His spirit children can and should emulate.”

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf  |  "Happiness, Your Heritage", Ensign, Nov 2008, 117–20

Topics: , , ,

“Procrastination may seem the easy way, as it momentarily removes the effort required to accomplish something of value. Ironically, in time, procrastination produces a heavy burden laced with guilt and a hollow lack of satisfaction. Temporal and, even more importantly, spiritual goals will not be achieved by procrastination.”

Donald L. Hallstrom  |  "Do It Now", General Priesthood Meeting October 2007

Topics: ,

“Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.”

William Faulkner

Topics: ,

Elder Gerrit W. Gong Quorum of the 12 Apostles

Let us make peace with the past year. Let go of the emotional angst and noise, the frictions and annoyances that clutter our lives. May we grant each other our new possibilities instead of fixating on our past limitations. Let’s give the new Scrooge in each of us a chance to change.

Elder Gerrit W. Gong  |  Christ, Our Savior, Is Born

Topics: , ,

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“You don’t need an invitation before you start moving in the direction of your righteous goals. You don’t need to wait for permission to become the person you were designed to be. You don’t need to wait to be invited to serve in the Church.

“We can sometimes waste years of our lives waiting to be chosen (see D&C 121:34–36). But that is a false premise. You are already chosen!”

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf  |  The Best Time to Plant a Tree

Topics: , ,

“In our life’s journey to return to and become more like our Father, we are not left alone. God has given us the necessary gifts to help us in our mortal experience…These gifts help us navigate our lives toward eternal goals. What a comfort it is to know that there is a plan providing us with a Savior, Jesus Christ. His sacrifice makes it possible for all people who comply with His gospel teachings to be forgiven through repentance. What a comfort it is to know that help is available for us to succeed in our endeavors to return to live with our Father in Heaven. What a comfort it is to know that we are not alone sailing uncharted waters as we go through life’s experiences.”

José A. Teixeira  |  Gifts to Help Us Navigate Our Life, April 2009 General Conference

Topics: ,

“If you’re trying to be miserable, it’s important you don’t have any goals. No school goals, personal goals, family goals. Your only objective each day should be to inhale and exhale for sixteen hours before you go to bed again. Don’t read anything informative, don’t listen to anything useful, don’t do anything productive. If you start achieving goals, you might start to feel a sense of excitement, then you might want to set another goal, and then your miserable mornings are through. To maintain your misery, the idea of crossing off your goals should never cross your mind.”

John Bytheway  |  "How to Be Totally Miserable"

Topics: ,

“It is a peculiarity of man that he can only live by looking to the future – sub specie aeternitatis. And this is his salvation in the most difficult moments of his existence, although he sometimes has to force his mind to the task.”

Victor Frankl  |  Mean's Search for Meaning

Topics: , ,

Thomas S. Monson

“It is not enough to want to make the effort and to say we’ll make the effort. We must actually make the effort. It’s in the doing, not just the thinking, that we accomplish our goals.”

Thomas S. Monson  |  A Royal Priesthood

Topics:

“We are the creative force of our life, and through our own decisions rather than our conditions, if we carefully learn to do certain things, we can accomplish those goals.”

Stephen R. Covey  |  Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Topics: , ,

“When I say do your best, I mean do your very best. You are capable of so much more.”

Gordon B. Hinckley

Topics:

“There are two ways of evolving: deliberately and accidentally. You can either decide who you want to become and deliberately work toward that end, or you can just go with the flow and become whatever life makes of you. In that event, you will become whatever the fickle circumstances and forces of life and society will make of you; whatever is currently considered to be popular or in; whatever is easiest. But, whatever you become accidentally it will not be nearly the full measure of our potential. You will become just someone, somewhere in the middle.”

Lawrence Corbridge  |  “The Fourth Missionary”

Topics: ,

Thomas S. Monson

“Courage is required to make an initial thrust toward one’s coveted goal, but even greater courage is called for when one stumbles and must make a second effort to achieve. Have the determination to make the effort, the single-mindedness to work toward a worthy goal, and the courage not only to face the challenges that inevitably come but also to make a second effort, should such be required. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, ‘I’ll try again tomorrow.’”

Thomas S. Monson  |  Living the Abundant Life.

Topics: ,

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“When it comes to living the gospel, we should not be like the boy who dipped his toe in the water and then claimed he went swimming. As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we are capable of so much more. For that, good intentions are not enough. We must do. Even more important, we must become what Heavenly Father wants us to be.”

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf  |  "Of Regrets and Resolutions," April 2012

Topics: , , ,

Spencer W. Kimball Portrait

“Our goal is to achieve eternal life. That is the greatest goal in the world. We are not opposed to goals. We do not want stake and full-time mission presidents to establish quotas for the missionaries. Rather, we expect them to inspire missionaries to set their own goals, and make them high enough to challenge their very best efforts, and work to achieve them. … We look to you to teach these principles and follow up.”

Spencer W. Kimball  |  President Kimball’s Vision of Missionary Work

Topics: , ,

Elder Jeffery R. Holland of the LDS church

God doesn’t care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are and, with His help, where you are willing to go.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland  |  Created for Greater Things

Topics: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“May I invite you to rise to the great potential within you. But don’t reach beyond your capacity. Don’t set goals beyond your capacity to achieve. Don’t feel guilty or dwell on thoughts of failure. Don’t compare yourself with others. Do the best you can, and the Lord will provide the rest. Have faith and confidence in Him, and you will see miracles happen in your life and the lives of your loved ones.”

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf  |  September 2009 Liahona

Topics: , , , ,

Now it is time for you to define your own goals and meet your own expectations. From now on, you decide! Instead of concentrating on what you are to do, now is the time to zero in on who you are to be…

Russell M. Nelson  |  Disciples of Jesus Christ—Defenders of Marriage

Topics: , , ,

“No other success can compensate for failure in the home.”

David O. McKay  |  Conference April 1935

Topics: , ,

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“An old proverb says, ‘The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.’

“There is something wonderful and hopeful about the word now. There is something empowering about the fact that if we choose to decide now, we can move forward at this very moment.

“Now is the best time to start becoming the person we eventually want to be—not only 20 years from now but also for all eternity.”

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf  |  The Best Time to Plant a Tree

Topics: , ,

“Please don’t nag yourself with thoughts of failure. Do not set goals far beyond your capacity to achieve. Simply do what you can do, in the best way you know, and the Lord will accept of your effort.”

Gordon B. Hinckley  |  Rise to the Stature of the Divine within You, Ensign, Nov. 1989, 94

Topics: ,

“The tragic evils of our life are so commonly unintentional. We did not start out for that poor, cheap goal. That aim was not in our minds at all. … Look to the road you are walking on! He who picks up one end of a stick picks up the other. He who chooses the beginning of a road chooses the place it leads to.”

Harry Emerson Fosdick  |  Living under Tension [1941], 110–11

Topics: ,

“The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do. He who has conquered fear has conquered failure.”

James Allen  |  As a Man Thinketh

Topics: , ,

“If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.”

Henry Ford

Topics: ,

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Topics: ,

Elder Jeffery R. Holland of the LDS church

“Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant and far away. Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, of trust and divine love that will transform your life today, tomorrow, and forever. That is a New Year’s resolution I ask you to keep.”

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland  |  The Best Is Yet to Be

Topics: , , ,

Thomas S. Monson

“A home is much more than a house built of lumber, brick, or stone. A home is made of love, sacrifice, and respect. We are responsible for the homes we build. We must build wisely, for eternity is not a short voyage. There will be calm and wind, sunlight and shadows, joy and sorrow. But if we really try, our home can be a bit of heaven here on earth. The thoughts we think, the deeds we do, the lives we live not only influence the success of our earthly journey, they also mark the way to our eternal goals.”

Thomas S. Monson  |  "Heavenly Homes, Forever Families", World Wide Leadership Training February 2006

Topics: ,

Thomas S. Monson

“It’s in the doing, not just the thinking, that we accomplish our goals. If we constantly put our goals off, we will never see them fulfilled. Someone put it this way: Live only for tomorrow, and you will have a lot of empty yesterdays today.”

Thomas S. Monson  |  "A Royal Priesthood," October 2007

Topics:

“Our achievements today are but the sum total of our thoughts of yesterday.”

Sterling Sill

Topics:

“We are poor in character when we think getting by is a substitute for doing our best.”

J. Reuben Clark

Topics: , ,

“Accomplish personal goals in each of four categories . . . : spiritual development; physical development; educational, personal, and career development; and citizenship and social development.”

Elder Robert D. Hales  |  "Fulfilling Our Duty to God," October 2001:

Topics: , , ,

Richard G. Scott Portrait

When a temple is conveniently nearby, small things may interrupt your plans to go to the temple. Set specific goals, considering your circumstances, of when you can and will participate in the temple ordinances. Then do not allow anything to interfere with that plan. Fourteen years ago I decided to attend the temple and complete an ordinance at least once a week. When I am traveling I make up the missed visits in order to achieve that objective. I have kept that resolve, and it has changed my life profoundly”

Richard G. Scott  |  “Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need,”

Topics: ,

Richard G. Scott Portrait

“To reach a goal you have never before attained, you must do things you have never before done.”

Richard G. Scott  |  "Finding the Way Back," Ensign, May 1990, 74

Topics: ,

Neal A. Maxwell Headshot

“How many specific things go undone because forgetfulness covers what a pencil and paper could have made into a prickly reminder?”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell  |  Deposition of a Disciple (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1976), 33.

Topics: ,

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Mark Twain

Topics:

“You must cultivate a desire to develop the skill of setting worthy and realistic goals. If your goals are righteous, then go for them. When you set a goal and commit yourself to the necessary self-discipline to reach that goal, you will eliminate most of the problems in your life. Spend your energies doing those things that will make a difference.

“We have to have faith. We have to have faith in God. We have to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And oh, how desperately we have to have faith in ourselves.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard  |  How Do I Achieve My Goal?

Topics: ,

“As we think about the future, we should be filled with faith and hope. Always remember that Jesus Christ—the Creator of the universe, the architect of our salvation, and the head of this Church—is in control. He will not permit His work to fail. He will be victorious over all darkness and evil.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard  |  Face the Future with Faith and Hope

Topics: , ,

“All that is not eternal [is] too short, [and] all that is not infinite [is] too small.”

Anonymous  |  Inscription on the east transept wall of Stanford University Memorial Church

Topics: , ,

“Whenever we tackle a gospel imperative, immediate goals will help us master it. …We should set up long-range and eternal goals, to be sure—they will be the guides and inspiration of a lifetime.” Baptismal covenants fit this description. They parallel what the world calls ‘values,’ or high-level principles that govern our lives… But we should not forget the countless little immediate objectives to be won tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. To win and pass these objectives marks our progress toward the greater goals and ensures happiness and the feelings of success along the way.”

Howard W. Hunter  |  “Gospel Imperatives,” Improvement Era, June 1967, 103

Topics:

“Begin now to establish those goals which will bring you happiness—education in your chosen skill or branch of learning, whatever it may be; a mission in which to surrender yourself entirely to the Lord to do His work; future marriage in the house of the Lord to a wonderful and delightful companion of whom you will be worthy because of the way you have lived.”

Gordon B. Hinckley  |  "Converts and Young Men," April 1997

Topics: ,

“First, think about your life and set your priorities. Find some quiet time regularly to think deeply about where you are going and what you will need to do to get there. Jesus, our exemplar, often ‘withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed’ (Luke 5:16). We need to do the same thing occasionally to rejuvenate ourselves spiritually as the Savior did. Write down the tasks you would like to accomplish each day. Keep foremost in mind the sacred covenants you have made with the Lord as you write down your daily schedules.

“Second, set short-term goals that you can reach. Set goals that are well balanced—not too many nor too few, and not too high nor too low. Write down your attainable goals and work on them according to their importance. Pray for divine guidance in your goal setting.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard  |  "Keeping Life's Demands in Balance," April 1987

Topics: ,