Avalon Ward News

What a great year 2025 was, but 2026 holds many new adventures to look forward to. 

With our family we always set new goals at the beginning of the year, try to plan out our family trips and other events, and focus on large family traditions and projects we have around the house. This helps us focus our efforts toward our faimly and so that everyone is on the same page. Last year for myself I did not set very good goals, and I found myself throughout the year trying to stay on track with projects and events we had. I am going to do much better this year and write down some goals to help me focus my efforts. 

I encourage you all to make some achievable goals that will help you reach out of your comfort zone, to become a better human and also disciple of Jesus Christ.

If you struggle with making and keeping goals, this is for you!

Setting a goal is like planting a seed. A seed needs consistent water and sunshine to grow over time. In the Doctrine and Covenants, we learn that Christ “received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:13). We can follow Christ’s example of growing to perfection. We can grow and develop by planting “seeds” or setting goals that can help us grow consistently each day, instead of expecting it to happen all at once.

1. Know the Why Behind Your Goal Setting

Goal setting can sometimes seem overwhelming. We can find motivation by remembering why we set goals.

President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, taught, “In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something.

A big part of goal setting is taking what we know and learning how to become better—to become more like Jesus Christ.

2. Make a Plan

One step in creating an effective goal is understanding the difference between goals and plans. President M. Russell Ballard (1928–2023) once said: “Goal setting is essentially beginning with the end in mind. And planning is devising a way to get to that end.”

For example, attending the temple regularly is a goal. But the plan you create to get there will include things like why, when, where, and how you will attend the temple. Breaking your goal into smaller parts makes it more manageable.

3. Take It Slow—in Wisdom and Order

Your goals may seem easy when you first make them. But it’s important to remember that when you plant a seed, you shouldn’t expect it to grow overnight.

When you’re making your plan, you should do so “in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength” (Mosiah 4:27).

Having wisdom and order as you plan how to reach your goals is a more sustainable approach. It will help you reach them even after your initial motivation has worn off.

When talking about faith, Alma explained that “if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away” (Alma 32:32).

We can apply that to setting goals. Just like seeds, if your goals grow and you find success, you will know you have a good plan that works. If not, you can take a step back, reevaluate, and fix what isn’t working. And that’s OK! (3 Tips to Help You Set Achievable Goals, By Bradley Salmond, Church Magazines)