Included in the beginning of the 6-month format

It can be a powerful exercise to clarify your values and priorities through a personal mission statement. Having a clear and concise statement of what matters most to you and what you are working towards can help you to stay focused and motivated as you pursue your goals and persevere through challenges and setbacks. Below are some questions to help craft yours. Your patriarchal blessing can also be a great place to gather your unique strengths and callings. Once you've written a personal manifesto that feels aligned to you, don't forget to refer back to it often throughout the year!

• What unique qualities do you posses that can better the world around you?
• What are you striving for or striving to become?
• What role does religion play in your life? What do you believe in and how does that strengthen your foundation?
• What do you choose to dedicate your time to? What are your highest priorities?
• What obstacles do you anticipate? How do you want to approach them and what will you do to overcome them?
• What do you want to feel when you look back at your year? Your life?
• What are your strengths and how do they bless your life? What are your weaknesses and what do they teach you?
• What motivates you? How do you measure success or fulfillment?
• How do you silence the lies of your inner critic?
• If you could share a message with the world, what would it be?
• What challenges have you faced already, what have you learned, and how can that knowledge bless others?
• What rhythms and habits do you practice (or wish to begin practicing) consistently to support your overall wellness?

Inspired by the Personal Development program for the Youth of the church, use this space to identify goals or milestones in each of the inspired categories—spiritual, physical, intellectual, and social. We've also included two blank spaces if you'd like to set goals in a more specific area of your life.

Finally have a place to keep track of all those little details that make a big impact as you are seeking to get to know and serve your ministering sisters or families.

Use this at-a-glance layout to record your appointemtns, reminders, meetings, kids' schedules etc.! Or, if you prefer to keep your calendar digital, use for birthdays or maybe monthly challenges or focuses!

TEMPLE: A reminder to ponder and plan how you might serve and worship in the temple this month. Or maybe just setting aside time to ponder your covenants.

MINISTER: A reminder to think about those you can love and serve well, as well as some ideas for how you might to do. Maybe this is your formal assignment, or maybe it's simply a neighbor whose name keeps coming to mind!

Our reflection page was inspired by these powerful words from Iyrah Tzanis,

"Self-reflection is open communication with yourself, or what I like to call “getting real.” You take an honest look at your weaknesses, strengths, temptations, joys, and the relationships you have in your life (including your relationships with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ). Take it all into account, and own it. Next, figure out what behaviors or habits you want to change or develop in correspondence with what desires and intentions you need to develop or shift to achieve that. Taking time to assess the actions of our minds and hearts is key to determining what our desires and intentions are. From there we can work with Heavenly Father to improve our intentions, behavior, and character."

Keep in mind, the goal here is not to feel guilt or shame for what we are not, but rather offer a moment to celebrate progress and recognize opportunity for improvement. The process of becoming is rarely linear. We will likely experience ups and downs, highs and lows, as we make subtle course corrections and offer ourselves grace all along the way.

Bearing testimony over the pulpit isn’t for everyone—but everyone can benefit from articulating what they know to be true and real in their lives. Use this space to record whatever you feel called to testify of in this season, where you have seen God's hand, and the truths you are holding fast to. You can also use this opportunity to identify what you are fasting for this month to give your sacrifice a greater and deeper purpose.

As we created this planner we wanted to include a space the would remind us to hold consistent weekly councils, whether that be a personal check-in, with your spouse, or your whole family gathered 'round. This is one of those rhythms that will look different for everyone, so we’ve provided several prompts to get you started, then utilize the blank space to personalize it for the needs of you and your family!

In 2016, President Ballard did a beautiful job of expanding on the importance of family councils. He said,

“There was a time when the walls of our homes provided all the defense we needed against outside intrusions and influences. We locked the doors, closed the windows; we shut the gates; and we felt safe, secure, and protected in our own little refuge from the outside world. Those days are now gone. The physical walls, doors, fences, and gates of our homes cannot prevent unseen invasion from the Internet, the Wi-Fi, the mobile phones, the networks. They can penetrate our homes with just a few clicks and keystrokes.

Fortunately, the Lord has provided a way to counter the invasion of negative technology that can distract us from spending quality time with each other. He has done this by providing the council system to strengthen, protect, safeguard, and nurture our most precious relationships. Children desperately need parents willing to listen to them, and the family council can provide a time during which family members can learn to understand and love one another.”

In the back of your planner, in the Resources section, you will find an overview of each of the family council types that President Ballard outlines.

Use this as a place to keep track of where you are currently studying or reading. If you'd like, use the space below for notes or insights.

This prompt is an invitation to look for the Lord's hand in our lives. Though simple, this practice has the ability to change our entire outlook on life—the classic tale of "look for the good and the good gets better". Or taking it a step further, as C.S. Lewis puts it, "Look for Christ, and you will find Him, and with Him everything else." Energy flows where our focus goes, so imagine the shift that could take place when we start to recognize His presence and power in our lives.

Don't forget to look back from time to time, especially when the heavens feel quiet, and lean on those little moments when He felt near.

Sundays

This prompt can be used as preparation for the sacrement, or during. It is an invitation to both reflect on where we saw the Lord's hand in our lives that week, and to ponder how we will renew our connection and commitment to Him. Two simple ways we can always remember Him, and keep our gaze towards His light and redeeming grace.