Goals (Jan 1st) Jenks ward Jan 06

A mother, wishing to encourage her young son’s progress at the piano, bought tickets to a professional piano performance. When the evening arrived, they found their seats near the front of the concert hall and eyed the majestic Steinway waiting on stage. Soon the mother found a friend to talk to and the boy slipped away. At eight o’clock, the lights in the auditorium began to dim, the spotlights came on, and only then did they notice the boy, up on the bench, innocently picking out “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”

His mother gasped, but before she could retrieve her son, the master appeared on stage and quickly moved to the keyboard. He whispered to the boy: “Don’t quit—keep playing.” Leaning over, the pianist reached down with his left hand and began filling the bass part. Soon his right arm reach around the other side, encircling the child, and he improvised a delightful obligato. Together the old master and the young novice held the crowd mesmerized.

In our lives, unpolished though they may be, it is the master who surrounds us, and whispers in our ear time and again: “Don’t quit—keep playing.” And as we do, he augments and supplements until a work of amazing beauty is created.

Naturally, as today is the First day of a New Year, we think of turning over a New Leaf or reaching some aspiration that has evaded us in the past. A new year comes and a variety of things seem possible. For example, this is the year we really will loose 10 pounds. This is the year we will stop loosing our patience with our children. This is the year that we will read the book of Mormon everyday faithfully, even without a specific challenge from the prophet. And, my personal favorite, because I’ve found myself setting this goal every year for the last 6 years, this is the year I will have family home evening every single Monday night.

I’ve asked myself, why is it that I can’t just have family home evening. Or why can’t I just be better at this or that or whatever I’m feeling deficient in? While thinking of these questions, I divided my thought into a few categories. First, straighten your propeller. Second, turn off Saturday morning cartoons. Third, consider the postage stamp.

The great Cunard shipping line of Great Britain has built some of the most magnificent ships in history, but one was extraordinary. Commissioned by the government to build a great military vessel, the shipbuilders constructed one that seemed to be engineered perfectly. Every detail was precise; every piece of equipment was the best available. But one little thing was wrong with the ship. Its great propeller was just slightly crooked—not really enough so anyone could notice, but just slightly askew. And when they took the great ship out for its maiden voyage, the builders discovered something terrible. The ship could not be steered in a straight line. It just went around in circles because of its slightly crooked propeller. Because this fine ship had no direction, it had to be scrapped and sold for razor blades.” (With Maurine Ward, Dimensions of Life, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1979, p. 16.)

The parallel to our own lives is obvious. If we don’t consciously set ourselves in a straight course, we likely will end up going in circles. So ask yourself, where do I want to end up, in what direction to I need to travel, and is my life on course to travel there in a straight line? There are the big picture answers to these questions, which are the most important. Such as I want to end up in the celestial kingdom with my family and I am doing what I can to make sure we all get there. Beyond the grand scheme goals, however, we have our agency to determine what we want to accomplish. For example, do you want to develop a musical talent? A social aptitude? A physical ability? All are worthy goals when set under the larger umbrella of eternal life.
M. Russell Ballard Counsels us . . . “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. [As in Luke 5:16] Jesus, our exemplar, often “withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.” 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.”
So first, before even setting goals, consider your priorities. If you are unsure of what they are, spend some time asking the Lord for guidance. Even if you think you are on the correct course, taking time to review and ponder your priorities will allow you to make them more a part of your life. Once you are sure of your priorities, you are prepared to make your goals with your propeller on straight. So, how many goals do you set? For me personally, I have found that setting too many goals at once, no matter how good they are, will result in failure. I have found that setting a few goals and then focusing helps me be more optimistic about my chances for success.
Benjamin N. Woodson was a business and financial expert. He set and accomplished many goals through out his life. He suggested, “All you need to do is this: Beginning this very day, stop doing some one thing you know you should not do.” After you have written this one thing down, stop doing it—tonight! Do you understand the assignment? You will write down one thing you will stop doing tonight that is holding you back.
Some of you will have the necessary self-discipline and courage to do this. Others of you will just sit here and say, “Oh boy.” You won’t pay any attention to it and so a month from now you will still be dragging behind you the same habit that is holding you back from being your best self.
Mr. Woodson’s continues on and says, “Start doing . . . some one thing you know you should do!” Write down one thing that you are going to start doing that you have been meaning to do for a long time but that you just haven’t gotten around to. I don’t know what it might be, but place into your life, beginning tonight, one thing that you are going to do that is going to make you a better person.” (M. Russell Ballard, “Do Things That Make a Difference,” Ensign, June 1983, 68)
I would suggest that if you, like me, have a difficult time remember in February the list of goals you wrote down on January 1st that you try this approach. Decide on one thing you will stop doing and on one thing you will start doing. Write them down! We have heard that writing a goal and setting measurable milestones makes us more likely to accomplish it. Regardless of how many goals you set, and regardless of when you set them, double check and make sure that your propeller is on straight so that you don’t find yourself traveling in circles.
Now, once we have decided on specific goals, how can we avoid the experience we’ve all had of failing to reach those goals?

Elder Quentin L. Cook shares this story:
“When our son, Larry, was five years old, I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He said he wanted to be a doctor like his Uncle Joe. Larry had experienced a serious operation and had acquired great respect for doctors, especially his Uncle Joe. I proceeded to tell Larry how all the worthwhile things he was doing would help prepare him to be a doctor.
Several months later, I asked him again what he would like to be. This time he said he wanted to be an airline pilot. Changing the goal was fine, so I proceeded to explain how his various activities would help him achieve this goal. Almost as an afterthought I said, “Larry, last time we talked you wanted to be a doctor. What has changed your mind?” He answered, “I still like the idea of being a doctor, but I have noticed that Uncle Joe works on Saturday mornings, and I wouldn’t want to miss Saturday Morning Cartoons.”
Since that time our family has labeled a distraction from a worthwhile goal as a Saturday Morning Cartoon.”
Thus, I state as my second thought on accomplishing that which we want to as “Turn off the Saturday morning cartoons.” We all have them, stumbling blocks that impede our progress. For example, one of the reasons I don’t have family home evening on a regular basis is I simply don’t remember to prepare a head of time. Monday night comes and I know it’s time for family home evening, but I haven’t prepared. I could probably remove this stumbling block by giving myself a visual reminder to plan for Monday night in advance. I will try to overcome the distractions that are a natural part of life by doing this for my 2006 family home evening goal.
Elder Cook lists some cartoons that many of us share in common. They include: Those that want to be a good home teacher or visiting teacher but are distracted by TV programs, catalogs, and other media and don’t find time to minister to those they are assigned to teach. Some want to have family prayer but allow little matters to build into discord that make it difficult for the family to kneel together. Some who want to feel joy have become accustomed to exaggerating small imperfections and have lost the capacity to rejoice. And still others are distracted by comparing their talents and blessings with others. (Quentin L. Cook, “Rejoice!” Ensign, Nov. 1996, 28)
The list of Saturday morning cartoons can go on and on. One of the reasons that I like the parallel of weekly cartoons is that these distractions that keep us from our goals come into our lives on a regular basis, like the TV. Once we have accomplished visiting teaching or home teaching, the same goal and the same distractions are there again. What is the best way to avoid a literal cartoon? Don’t turn on the TV in the first place. If there are temptations in your home, maybe certain foods that prevent the weight loss goal, or certain video games that prevent the “I won’t loose patience with my kids” goal, or a huge variety of media that eat up our time and prevent the “I will have family home evening goal,” the best way to prevent the distraction is to not let it in your house in the first place. If you really are serious about accomplishing something, you can internalize it and take the opportunity to look at everything you can do to set yourself up for success.
M. Russell Ballard said, “I believe in the principle that you ought to act “as if” you were the person you would like to become. As you do that, you will grow into that kind of person. Ultimately your very actions, your attitude, will lead you into being the kind of person that you want to be.
Our main goal should be to seek “immortality and eternal life” (Moses 1:39). With this as our goal, why not eliminate from our lives the things that clamor for and consume our thoughts, feelings, and energies without contributing to our reaching that goal? (Ballard Balance)
President Ballard encourages us to eliminate those things that don’t contribute to our goal. Or, in other words, try turning off a few of those cartoons.
Once you have your priorities in order, you’ve written your goal, and you’ve tried your best to eliminate the distractions, I would ask you to consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in its ability to stick to one thing until it gets there.

If you send a letter to Sacramento and the stamp falls off in the Tulsa post-office, the letter probably won’t reach its destination. The same with us, even with the best of intentions, if we don’t stick to the goal, it won’t happen.
A story shared by Elder Rex D. Pinegar goes, “Isaac Stern, the world-famous musician-violinist, was asked by a television talk show host at what point in his life he determined to devote his energies toward a career as a concert violinist. Mr. Stern told of having given his first concert in San Francisco at a young age. Music critics were extremely impressed and predicted a fine future for the promising young talent. With this encouragement, Isaac Stern began preparations for another concert a year later in New York City. The critics were not so kind to him there. It would require a tremendous amount of work, they judged, if Isaac Stern were to achieve success as a soloist.
Dejected and discouraged, the young Mr. Stern boarded one of New York City’s double-decker buses and rode it up and down Manhattan a number of times. He was, in his words, “crying inside” as he tried to decide where he was going from there. Were his critics correct? Had he gone as far as he was capable of going? Should he now seek a profession as just another member of an orchestra?
After his fourth bus ride through the city, he returned to his apartment where his mother was waiting. He had made his decision. “I am going to work, mother—work at my music until it works for me.” Isaac Stern is now acclaimed as one of the finest violinists to have ever played in the entire world. Work is a principle with a blessing.”
Elder Pinegar concludes the story by stating. “Work builds us physically and spiritually. It increases both our strength of body and our strength of character.”
We can’t be afraid of work. Most of us won’t get much in this life if we don’t work for it. In 1 Nephi chapter 18 verse 23, the family of Lehi arrived in the promised land. By verse 24--the very next verse--the people were tilling and planting and as result, they were blessed in abundance. The blessing in abundance came after the work. This principle has not changed today.
Elder pinegar points out that along with hard work, we need to believe. “Believe in God. Believe in yourself. Believe that God is very interested in you as an individual that he is anxious for you to succeed. He has provided in the gospel of his Son Jesus Christ the sure pattern for ultimate success.
When our lives are consistent with his gospel, we receive confidence through his Spirit to meet the challenges of each day. We can say with Nephi: “The Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him. … Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.” (1 Ne. 7:12.) (Rex D. Pinegar, “Decide to Decide,” Ensign, Nov. 1980, 71)
When looking at the three steps of setting our propeller is straight, turning off Saturday morning cartoons, and sticking like a postage stamp, it seems difficult. It is tempting to ask, why bother? I know that sometime I feel like I’m going to fail anyway, so it seems like it would be less depressing if I don’t try.
Elder Curtis R. LeGrand speaks to me when he says “Those seeking the easy path may say, “I want to be perfect someday, but not now. Maybe I’ll be ready when I am older.” This kind of reasoning allows them to avoid getting out of their comfort zones today or tomorrow or the next day. But attainment of perfection requires more than merely thinking about it or wishing for it. We must act.
Though each of us has different abilities and talents, all of us are given agency to decide what and how much we are willing to do to develop them and to improve upon our weaknesses. This agency is best applied through a simple, prayerfully thought-out decision to work on our weaknesses before they are tested rather than waiting to decide daily between good and bad influences in our paths. Such a decision fortifies our resolve to act wisely in the face of temptation. (LeGrand R. Curtis, “Perfection: A Daily Process,” Ensign, July 1995, 30)
So, when we set goals, even though it is hard, we are showing the Lord that we are willing to act, and that we are willing to try. Even though perfection is a long way off, we need the faith to take steps in the right direction. And, as we strive to reach goals we become stronger and more resistant to temptation. Personal growth occurs in the process of setting and obtaining goals, many times we grow more from the process than from actually reaching the goal its self. It’s hard, but we can do it.
I would like to leave my testimony that God lives. Jesus Christ lives and wants us to improve towards perfection. He knows it hard. He Himself faced daunting objectives. But he didn’t shrink. And because he suffered for me and for you, he is available to support us. What He requires of us is that we sit down at the piano and with all of our hearts we try our best o plunk out Twinkle, Twinkle little star. Even if it’s only with one hand and even if we hit some wrong notes, the Master will come onto the stage. His arms will surround you and with His love, the little melody will be turned into a masterpiece. He loves all of us. I know that he loves me because I have felt his love. I want to do my best to sit at the piano and play the music.