Hello my name is Matthew Moody which you would know if you looked at the program. My topic today is about setting goals. This is a thing people do around this time of year so they can improve their year. Setting goals helps us to be more successful. President Thomas S. Monson said, “Without goals there can be no real success.”
Heber J. Grant was a good example of someone who set goals. He wasn’t very good at baseball. He was too weak to run, or bat, or throw the ball from one base to the other. When the other boys made fun of him he vowed that he would play on the state championship team. He earned enough money to buy a baseball and would go the barn next door. He would practice throwing the ball against the barn for hours until his arm ached and then he’d do it some more. His bishop said he was the laziest boy in the ward because he would throw a baseball all day. In reality, Heber J. Grant was a very hard worker. He eventually won a starting spot on the team that won the state championship.
He also had very bad handwriting. One of his friends said his writing looked like “hen tracks.” Another friend said, “No, it looks as if lightning had struck an ink bottle.” Heber responded by saying that one day he would be able to give them lessons in penmanship. He very diligently worked on his handwriting and eventually taught penmanship in college and even won an award for having the best handwriting in Utah.
A goal I had this year was to get better at music. I play the piano and this year I started to do cello in the school’s orchestra. I have fun trying something new and have had a great time learning a different instrument and developing my talents. We get cute little yarn pieces tied on the end and we call them “belts”. I want to be the first to earn all of them in the class.
Sometimes people can help you reach your goals. For example, Sister Oliver helped me reach a goal of getting names to take to the temple. She came over and taught me how to use family search. I caught on pretty quickly and soon had over 100 names. I got to take some to the temple and get baptized for the dead. I’m really excited to go to the temple again.
One thing that boys my age do, and girls as well, is to prepare to go on a mission. I try to save some money to be able to go. I might, you know maybe, be a little nervous to go. But, everyone says that I’ll have a wonderful time preaching the Gospel when I’m older. L Tom Perry said “If you will respond to the invitation to share your beliefs and feelings about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, a spirit of love and a spirit of courage will be your constant companion, for perfect love casteth out fear.”
A good goal for me and others this next year might be to try to save a percent of the money I earn to go towards my mission fund.
Legrand Richards said “And one way to make sure that your boys will go on missions is to start a missionary fund for them and let them keep adding to it, and they will be on their missions from the time that they are young boys.” Missions cost $400 per month. So a two-year mission would cost $9,600. I have saved some money, but I know I still have a long ways to go. This year I’m going to have a goal to save more money for my mission fund.
This is a good time of year to make goals. If you make a goal you should take it seriously and try to stick to them for the rest of the year, and not just January.
I would encourage you to think about the things you need to work on and see what goals you can make.
I know that God has blessed me with talents and weaknesses, along with the ability to work at them so that I can become a better person. Setting goals is a great way to improve yourself and become a better.
I am thankful for all that Heavenly Father has given me, especially my family and the Gospel. I know the Church is true. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.
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