New Year. New Beginnings. New Journal.

Remembering 1976 Rose Float that I designed

 

Now is the time to start a New Tradition!  

Use Your Patriarchal Blessing to Set Goals

1. START WITH A PRAYER

2. Read completely through and note words that "Pop Out" at you.

3. Look for things you've been blessed with. Make a List.

4. Note warning, especially look for "IF" phrases. Make a List.

5. Look for the one thing you just don't want to see, do or hear about.

THAT'S THE ONE YOU BEGIN WITH. 

Make a plan of how to overcome that dread, topic, or warning. Heavenly Father will help you tackle this one if you treat it as a NEW psychology challenge. 

Use your talents to help you develop spiritual habits and start with naming it something very hopeful like My Miracle or My Blessing.

Make it Smart:  

    S for Specific

    M for Measurable

    A for Achievable

    R for Relevant

    T for Timely

The Power of the Written Word

Selecting an Annual Theme and Writing Your Life Mission Statement

SCRIPTURE: “And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should obtain these records, that we may preserve unto our children the language of our fathers.

                        “And also that we may preserve unto them the words which have been spoken by the mouths of all the holy prophets, which have been delivered unto them by the Spirit and power of God, since the world began, even down to this present time.”

–1 Nephi 3:19-20

 “Remember to Start this Study Session with a Prayer”

MY QUESTION FOR YOU: After studying your patriarchal blessing, have you come to love your written blessing and the patriarch who was worthy enough to seek God’s will for you and speak with inspiration and revelation on your behalf?

            Let us liken the scriptures unto ourselves for the moment. If you indeed have come to love your own personal scripture you will appreciate the words of God unto Nephi when he was asked to kill Laban for plates that recorded his family’s history and scriptures:

            “It is better that one man should perish than a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief.” –1 Nephi 4:13

            We may never find ourselves in that unique position, but the importance of the written word to God is very evident in our scriptures. Keeping records is a sacred enterprise. A record is a written account. There is power in the written word. It is the Priesthood binding power.

            “Whatsoever you record on earth shall be recorded in heaven, and whatsoever you do not record on earth shall not be recorded in heaven.” –Doctrine and Covenants 128:8

           

MY SUGGESTION: Write down your goals! Now select a theme for the year, then write a mission statement for the year.

Mission Statement for a Family

Let me tell you the story of my themes (usually phrases from my Patriarchal Blessing) and mission statements over the years. Over 30 years ago, my mother’s ward asked each of it’s member families to select a motto or theme and then design a banner. My mom’s married name was Gillette. So she selected “Be Sharp” as her theme or motto and we designed a banner using a single edged razor blade and a razor. It looked very bold on it’s shield shaped banner.

            My husband and I selected a Family Theme or Motto in the 1990s. It basically said we would do all we could in the area of family history. Over the years since, this has indeed been an overarching motto for the Field family. As for myself, I have adopted a rather loose system of mission statements AND themes for myself. I suspect one I wrote quite a few years ago would still be my LIFE's mission statement. However, as an artist  I’ve designed art work for the cover’s of my annual journals with my theme on the front. It is a reminder of what I’ve set my mind to during the year. 

Personal Annual Themes and Inspiring Mission Statements

Let me share some examples of what I’ve used for themes and mission statements ranging from the very basic to more complex.

1979    Become a Virtuous Woman based on Proverbs 31:10-12

1982    Feast Upon the Words of Christ   2 Nephi 31:20

1986    If I am diligent in study and prayer I will center my life on the Blessings of the Priesthood through research into my family history, temple service and reverent contemplation there.

1987 (the year following my daughter’s birth) I bless you that you shall become a mother in Israel was my theme and my objective was,  “I select to know the Lord’s way by study and prayer because I esteem and love Him.” My mission statement was “Faith is a principle of action and power, and by it one can command the elements or influence circumstances when occasion warrants. Although faith is a gift, it must be cultivated and sought after until it grows from a tiny seed to a great tree. One of the effects of true faith in Jesus Christ includes an actual knowledge that the course of life one is pursuing is acceptable to the Lord. Faith, when made manifest in an individual’s life, brings revelation and knowledge as well as an inheritance in the promised land.”

1990    Theme: As a natural Israelite I must gain a perfect knowledge and understanding of the Lord’s ways and dedicate my life to serving Him and doing His will and keeping His commandments. More specifically I shall bring to pass much righteousness and be an influence for good amongst fellow associates, friends, become a dedicated mother in Israel, have a spirit of love and harmony with my husband, and search out my forefathers to perform their temple ordinances.

2011    Theme taken from my blessing: Diligently Seek to know His Way by Study and Prayer and He will Answer every Need that you have.

            My 2011 Focus and Goals are based on this verse which I call my 2011 mission statement: “Our minds being now enlightened, we began to have the scriptures laid open to our understanding, and the true meaning and intention of their more mysterious passages revealed unto us in a manner which we never could attain previously, nor ever before thought of.” –Joseph Smith, JS History verse 74

            As you can see, consistency was not evident over the years with terminology, however, the intent or over-arching concept shines through. I did not know in 1979 that I would use my Patriarchal Blessing every year to inspire me, help me set goals and to know the Lord’s desires for me each year, much less that I’d write this blog. Thus, over the years I have used various terms to describe Theme, Goals, Objectives, Mission Statements, etc. I suggest you simply use what terms feel right to you, that will inspire you, that may be read by your descendants to show your testimony and progress in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

QUOTE: “The quest to become more like our Lord and Savior is to be more spiritually attentive, more personally sensitive, more tender and gracious.” –Robert L. Millet (Church News Week ending Jan 2, 2010 (See Preach My Gospel, 2004, Chapter 6)

            Our Stake President asked each of us to select an attribute of Christ to work on during the month each month. This was a very sobering experience. He suggested we read about some of these attributes in "Preach My Gospel."

 Attributes of Christ

THOUGHT: In January of each year, the Church News  devotes a portion of one issue to a selected theme that can be applied by individuals toward self-betterment in the new year. In 2010 the special issue was dedicated to the topic of “developing Christ-like attributes.” The theme was meant to be a help to Church members seeking to strengthen values in a world that seems to be void of them. Some of these attributes include faith, hope, charity/love, virtue, knowledge, patience, humility, diligence and obedience.

            I looked up the sixth chapter in Preach My Gospel and found fourteen attributes. I wrote out a personal statement for each one of these. Here is my statement for FAITH:

“I will listen in faith to the prophets and know that God will direct me, lead me and guide me by revelation to be doing what I’ve agreed to do while here in my probationary state. Then I will have the faith to keep walking even when the way seems dark and the path unknown because He will be there for me every step of the way.”

            In every way we are a blessed people because the Church has helps that benefit individual members. Use these helps, including the On-line resources, to become what Heavenly Father wants you to become, and be found doing what He wants you to be doing at this time in your life. Your Patriarchal Blessing is the most personal of these helps.

The reason for this blog grew out of my own 2011 goals, and have written down my experiences with studying my own patriarch blessing and shared them with you my friends and fellow associates.

 Although I am concluding my "Understanding Your Patriarchal Blessing" series within my blog, I may add other insights someday especially if people who read these series of posts make comments. May your personal scripture be a delight to you and a beacon to guide you throughout your life, is my prayer.

Targeting - Tool for Setting Good Goals with Your Patriarchal Blessing - Part 3

TARGETING:

            1. Knowing what has to be done…creating spiritually or conceptualizing

            2. Knowing how to do it…study specifics to understand what is required

            3. Ascertain if the goal is keyed realistically to available resources and abilities

An intention is something you make up your mind to do. To become a goal, it must be written down. A target is something that actually draws your attention toward it—that forces a certain line of action. An intention becomes a target when given certain properties. Not all targets are equally important.

            A desire or intention has no concreteness, no tangibility, it is not something you can set your sights on or aim at—its not a target.

            How to construct a target:

            1. Create a Place for the Target (visualize a clear area appropriate for goal)

2. Set up a Visible Target (make a real world object like an excel spreadsheet, workpage, or use a calendar, refrigerator sign, journal diagram, note on the mirror, poster on the bedroom door, etc.)

            3. Paint a Bull’s eye (set a deadline to reach the goal)

Here is an example of what I am talking about:

Selected phrase from blessing: Seek Him diligently in fervant and honest prayer.

Research words diligent: Diligence is characterized by steady earnest, energentic application of effort and is derived from latin words meaning to select, esteem or love. Therefore diligence differs from perserverance, where one persists against, in spite of, counter influences, opposition or discouragement, in that it is used to indicate one has chosen or selected to do something out of esteem or love.

Fervant: exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling; hot or glowing (as with holy ghost)

Honest: Free of deceit and untruthfulness; sincere, frank; characterized by truth; not false; Virtuous; chaste.

Prayerfully select how to implement an improvement over current mode of prayer using these definitions: My example will focus on showing diligence by setting goals for increasing the amount of time I spend in my personal prayers, seeking the Holy Ghost to be with me and striving for personal worthiness.

                                                            date began   target date   accomplished    fervant?

Prayer length	3 minutes		February 1
	5 minutes		April 1
	10 minutes		June 1

Next, set a day and time to review how well you did each week: I.E., every Sunday at 7 am.

QUOTE:  2011 October General Conference talk by Elder Ian S. Ardern, quorum of the Seventy, entitled “A Time to Prepare.”

 “The eighth chapter of Preach My Gospel focuses our attention on the wise use of time. In this chapter, Elder M. Russell Ballard reminds us that we must set goals and learn how to master the techniques to achieve them (see Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service [2004], 146). Mastering the techniques needed to reach our goals includes becoming the master manager of our time.”

            “Time is never for sale; time is a commodity that cannot, try as you may, be bought at any store for any price. Yet when time is wisely used, its value is immeasurable. On any given day we are all allocated, without cost, the same number of minutes and hours to use, and we soon learn, as the familiar hymn so carefully teaches, “Time flies on wings of lightning; we cannot call it back” (“Improve the Shining Moments,” Hymns, no. 226). What time we have we must use wisely. President Brigham Young said, “We are all indebted to God for the ability to use time to advantage, and he will require of us a strict account of [its] disposition” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 286).”

“With the demands made of us, we must learn to prioritize our choices to match our goals or risk being exposed to the winds of procrastination and being blown from one time-wasting activity to another. We are well taught about priorities by the Master Teacher when He declared in His Sermon on the Mount, “Wherefore, seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33, footnote a; from Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 6:38). (See also Dallin H. Oaks, “Focus and Priorities,” Liahona, July 2001, 99–102; Ensign, May 2001, 82–84.)”

            “To have the peace the Savior speaks of (see John 14:27), we must devote our time to the things that matter most, and the things of God matter most. As we engage with God in sincere prayer, read and study each day from the scriptures, ponder on what we have read and felt, and then apply and live the lessons learned, we draw nearer to Him. God’s promise is that as we seek diligently from the best books, “[He] shall give unto [us] knowledge by his Holy Spirit” (D&C 121:26; see also D&C 109:14–15).”

            “Satan will tempt us to misuse our time through disguised distractions. Although temptations will come, Elder Quentin L. Cook taught that “Saints who respond to the Savior’s message will not be led astray by distracting and destructive pursuits” (“Are You a Saint?” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2003, 96). Hiram Page, one of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, taught us a valuable lesson about distractions. He had a certain stone and through it recorded what he thought were revelations for the Church (see D&C 28). On Hiram’s being corrected, an account says the stone was taken and ground into powder so it would never again be a distraction. I invite us to identify the time-wasting distractions in our lives that may need to be figuratively ground into dust.

THOUGHT:  Buy a new 3 ring binder/notebook with dividers and ruled paper for your journal of 2012.  Dividers could be used for these possible sections:

Your Patriarchal Blessing and associated studies

Goals with appropriate charts and record keeping spreadsheets

Daily or weekly journal entries

How to Set a Good Goal using your Patriarchal Blessing - Part 2

 What is a Good Goal?

SCRIPTURE:  “For I God, created all things of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth.” –Moses 3:5

 “Remember to Start this Goal Setting Session with a Prayer”

            In the pre-mortal existence the plan of salvation was presented to the spirit children of God. There was conflict over how and in what manner the plan would be administered to the forthcoming human family upon the earth.

            That a “plan” was presented, is another way of saying that God had a goal…”to bring to pass the the eternal life of man,” and his plan was well thought out beforehand. Moses wrote that God said this was “creating all things spiritually.” God then broke down that goal into smaller, logical, sequential activities that were met in a specified time frame. Read Abraham 4:19

            “And it came to pass that it was from evening until morning that it was night; and it came to pass that it was from morning until evening that it was day; and it was the fourth time.”

            God had already organized the lights in heaven causing them to divide the day from night, then organized them to be for signs and seasons, and for days and for years.

            Then he watched those things which they had ordered until they obeyed.

MY QUESTION FOR YOU: Can you see the logic in the creation? First spiritual (thoughts and concepts formulated) and next God ordered into smaller activities (a day, time or in other words a period of time to accomplish)? THEN God worked on his plan in the real world (the Creation in six creative periods) and then recorded what he was doing (scriptures).   

Patterning our goal setting on God’s example, we should have a PLAN (area of focus) then:

1. First create spiritually or conceptually; 

2. Second, break down the goal (area of focus) into smaller segments that can be measured; 

3. Third, place the smaller activities in a specific time frame; 

4. Fourth, write it all down.

            Also note that God was not a singular person in this process. See the phrase above that reads, “things which they had ordered,” and if you need help in reaching your goals, invite others to help share their expertise. Involving others can help with accountability in reaching your goals. If someone else knows about your goal they will usually support you as you try to reach it. Or, just you knowing that someone else knows about your goal will keep you honest in your efforts.

MY SUGGESTION:  In my 1983 journal I found some comments that might help you visualize this process of setting goals, it is called Targeting: the ability to direct behavior to recognized, predetermined objectives. It stated that this will help you deal with a variety of life situations in an effective way that will produce a minimum of stress, and produce self-esteem. Self-esteem is built upon accomplishment, or upon the ability to solve problems and accomplish what we set out to accomplish. Without confidence and self-esteem our capacity to derive joy and satisfaction from the life process itself is all but crippled. Targeting is a skill that requires practice. No one is perfect on the first try. Golly, I'm still not perfect after 30 years of goal setting using my patriarchal blessing. But, this skill that gives you more control over you life and actually frees you from being a slave to the conditions that affect you. The process of practicing (and sometimes failing to reach a goal) setting goals brings a self awareness. I always have hope to do better, next time around.

Be Kind to Yourself - Have Hope in Being Better and Better

          Although I will focus on the skill of Targeting in my next blog, don't worry if you get captivated by another book or concept on goal setting. Go for it. There are many, many books written on this topic. It is not the specific plan you use that is important. It is the attempt to engage in the process that is so rewarding.

Setting Goals Using Your Patriarchal Blessing - Part 1

Selecting Areas to Focus on This Year

SCRIPTURE: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”—Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

             God had an orderly plan for the creation of this world. He worked for six days and then rested. He began from the very basic and progressed to the most complicated creation of man himself. Start looking for areas of focus within your patriarchal blessing, but start simple. We will talk about how to set goals within these areas of focus next blog.

            The  authority to establish order through voluntary obedience is called “priesthood.” What a remarkable gift God has given us of the Priesthood and how special that he wants us to be a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.(Exodus 19:6) It is by Faith that this is accomplished. Thus we will ask God to help us in ordering our annual goals. He has given us the blueprint in our blessings. Now we must prayerful, then execute an orderly plan in faith. 

Select General Areas of  Focus Found in Your Blessing

            Let’s select a few areas of Focus. I have found that if I have more than four, one of them suffers. So perhaps start with three. You decide. Here are some possible areas that may be mentioned in your blessing: Family, Spouse, Mission, Community, Spirituality, Personal and so on.

MY QUESTION FOR YOU: Did you discover your “Nineveh”? Review my blog for February 8th, "What is Your Nineveh." This should be one of your areas of focus. Yes, I know, you don’t want to think about that this year. I really, really understand because I, too, have my Nineveh and it will have to be addressed this coming year. Sigh! Remember the Lord gives us weaknesses and then helps us turn them into strengths if we will let Him.

MY SUGGESTION: You should list the areas that the Lord has revealed to your patriarch are areas in your life that you might focus on.When you've found phrases that reflect an area of focus, list them on a sheet of paper and write the chapter and verse/ or paragraph and line where they appear so that you can refer back to them easily. You can find how I've suggested you retype and organize your personal scripture in my blog of January 28, 2012 entitled "Organizing Your Patriarchal Blessing to Get the Most Out of It." Then you will see what I mean by Chapter and Verse. I entitle my Blessing as "The Book of Beverly" and can tell you that my Nineveh is found in Chapter 3 Verse 5 or in shorthand Bev 3:5.

Now, prayerfully select the ones you feel the Lord wants you to work on next year. Remember you will always have more areas of focus than you can work on at any one time.

‘To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

 Now Here is One area of Focus that Might Be Your Nineveh

QUOTE: From General Conference Talks November Engsign 2011

“The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn” by Elder David A. Bednar pages 24-27

            To the youth he says, “Your fingers have been trained to text and tweet to accelerate and advance the work of the Lord—not just to communicate quickly with your friends.”   

“I invite the young people of the Church to learn about and experience the Spirit of Elijah. I encourage you to study, to search out your ancestors, and to prepare yourselves to perform proxy baptisms in the house of the Lord for your kindred dead (see D & C 124: 28-36). And I urge you to help other people identify their family histories.

            “As you respond in faith to this invitation, your hearts shall turn to the fathers. The promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be implanted in your hearts. Your patriarchal blessing, with its declaration of lineage, will link you to these fathers and be more meaningful to you. Your love and gratitude for your ancestors will increase. Your testimony of and conversion to the Savior will become deep and abiding. And I promise you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary. As you participate in and love this holy work, you will be safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives.

            “Parents and leaders, please help your children and youth to learn about and experience the Spirit of Elijah. But do not overly program this endeavor or provide too much detailed information or training. Invite your people to explore, to experiment, and to learn for themselves. Any young person can do what I am suggesting, using the modules available at lds.org/familyhistoryyouth.        

            “You also will count your many blessings as young people devote more time to family history work and temple service and less time to video games, surfing the Internet, and Facebooking.”

            “I testify Elijah returned to earth and restored the sacred sealing authority. I witness that what is bound on earth can be bound in heaven. And I know the youth of the rising generation have a key role to play in this great endeavor.”

QUESTION: Does your blessing mention temple covenants, remembering your ancestors, the Spirit of Elijah? Write down this area of focus where goals may be set for next year that will bring eternal joy.

THOUGHT: Review what promises were made to “the fathers”by rereading the excellent quote from Elder Nelson’s talk on Covenants from my last blog.

Here is another quote from General Conference in the November 2011 Ensign that you may wish to consider at this point:

“Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done” by Elder Robert D. Hales pages 71-74

            “The purpose of our life on earth is to grow, develop, and be strengthened”

            To wait upon the Lord means …to hope, to anticipate and to trust. “To hope and trust in the Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end.”

            “It means pondering in our hearts and ‘receiv{ing} the Holy Ghost’ so that we can know ‘all things what {we} should do.” –2 Nephi 32:5

“As we follow the promptings of the Spirit, we discover that ‘tribulation worketh patience’ –Romans 5:3 and we continue in ‘patience until {we} are perfected.’—Doctrine and Covenants 67:13

            “In my life I have learned that sometimes I do not receive an answer to a prayer because the Lord knows I am not ready. When He does answer, it is often ‘her a little and there a little’—2 Nephi 28:30 because that is all that I can bear or all I am willing to do.

            “We may not know when or how the Lord’s answers will be given, but in His time and His way, I testify, His answers will come. For some answers we may have to wait until the hereafter. This may be true for some promises in our patriarchal blessings and for some blessings for family members. Let us not give up on the Lord. His blessings are eternal, not temporary.”

MY SUGGESTION: Are there some areas in you patriarchal blessing that may have to wait until the hereafter? Could these areas be used as topics for study, prayer and inspiration now while you are setting goals?

        I hope this blog inspires you to look into your patriarchal blessing and become familiar with what areas of life the Lord would like for you to set goals in, that you may progress and become the best that you can be.

Themes of my lIfe

If you want to follow someone's blog you probably want to know if there are going to be any topics you might be interested in reading about. Although I've started this blog with beginning of the year concepts of setting goals using your patriarchal blessing,  I've got many more topics planned to talk about. Last year I reviewed many of my past journals and wrote down a list of various themes that I found. Of course, I add new interests every month, but the ones listed below are the ones that seem pop up in my life again and again.

Themes of My Life

Solving the Mystery by Finding the Clues

Searching for Answers

Enjoying the Rhythm of Life

Letting Go and Moving On

Working to Understand Light

Searching for my Ancestors

Keeping a Book of Remembrance

Writing in a Journal

Taking Photographs as History 

Searching for Wisdom

Developing a Relationship with God as His Daughter

Understanding Myself as Israel

Becoming a Sister Scriptorian

Studying Isaiah

Studying Symbolism

Studying the Olive Tree

Studying the Bee

Studying Indian Picture Rocks

 

This photo was taken only a couple miles from my house and is why the place I live is called Picture Rocks. 

I call this photo "To Ascend the Mountain" and it's symbolism touches me in my very center of my being. This spiral, found in many native American pictographs (painted on) and petroglyphs (scratched into) rocks in the desert locations of the Southwestern and Western United States, has been given as many meanings and interpretations by the dozens of anthropologists and park rangers who've studied them. And I am going to tell you the story of what this means to me.