Chapter 8: Accomplish the Work through Goals and Plans
“Chapter 8: Accomplish the Work through Goals and Plans,” Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2023)
“Chapter 8,” Preach My Gospel
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Go Ye Therefore (Go Ye Therefore, and Teach All Nations), by Harry Anderson
Chapter 8
Accomplish the Work through Goals and Plans
Consider This
Why do I need to set goals?
How can the key indicators for conversion help me focus on the spiritual progress of individuals?
How do I set goals, make plans to accomplish them, and carry out my plans?
How do I conduct weekly and daily planning sessions?
How can I use the Preach My Gospel app to help me accomplish the work?
What is the principle of accountability? How will it bless my efforts?
You are assigned to help with the Lord’s work in a specific area. He wants you to bless individuals with His love and truth. He wants you to invite and help them to come unto Him.
The Lord desires that you “be anxiously engaged in [this] good cause.” He asks that you “do many things of [your] own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:27; see verses 26–29). Do all you can to leave each ward or branch where you serve stronger than when you arrived.
This chapter will help you learn how to set goals, make plans to accomplish them, and diligently carry out your plans. It describes the key indicators for conversion, which guide your efforts to help God’s children progress spiritually. It then presents a simple goal-setting process you can use in all aspects of missionary work, including your personal and companionship goals. It also outlines how to conduct weekly and daily planning sessions with your companion.
Learning to set goals and make plans can bless you throughout your life. It can help you make and keep covenants with God, serve faithfully in the Church, pursue education, grow in your employment, and build a strong family.
Scripture Study
What can you learn from the following scriptures about planning to help accomplish God’s work?
He Healed Many of Diverse Diseases, by J. Kirk Richards
Help Others Become Converted to the Savior
Focus on Your Missionary Purpose
Perhaps you have wondered which of your many missionary duties are the most important. This is a good question to consider as you set goals and plan each week and each day. To help answer it, think about your purpose as a missionary:
“Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.”
Let your missionary purpose guide your goals and plans. Focus on how you can help individuals exercise their agency to become converted to the Savior and receive His gospel.
Seek the guidance of the Spirit and counsel with your companion as you set goals and make plans. Then follow through with your plans and use your time effectively.
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President Dallin H. Oaks
“We do not preach and teach in order to ‘bring people into the Church’ or to increase the membership of the Church. We do not preach and teach just to persuade people to live better lives. … We invite all to come unto Christ by repentance and baptism and confirmation in order to open the doors of the celestial kingdom to the sons and daughters of God. No one else can do this” (Dallin H. Oaks, “The Purpose of Missionary Work,” missionary satellite broadcast, Apr. 1995).
Scripture Study
How did these missionaries and prophets accomplish their plans with the Lord’s help?
Church leaders have identified six key indicators for conversion. Key indicators help you focus on the spiritual progress of God’s children. They are intended to help you align your daily efforts with your missionary purpose.
The key indicators for conversion are shown below.
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missionaries shaking hands with man
New People Being Taught. Each person (not baptized) who has received a lesson in a given week (but wasn’t taught in the past three months) and accepted a specific return appointment. A lesson typically includes praying (when appropriate), teaching at least one gospel principle, and extending an invitation.
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missionaries teaching
Lessons with a Member Participating. The number of lessons in a given week in which a person (not baptized) was taught and a member participated.
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family at church
People Being Taught Who Attend Sacrament Meeting. Each person (not baptized) you are teaching who attended sacrament meeting in a given week.
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family praying
People with a Baptismal Date. Each person who has agreed to be baptized and confirmed on a specific date.
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baptism
People Who Are Baptized and Confirmed. Each new member who has received the ordinances of baptism and confirmation and for whom the form was submitted electronically in a given week. (See chapter 12 for the definition of a convert baptism and for information on creating records.)
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women at church
New Members Attending Sacrament Meeting. Each new member whose Baptism and Confirmation Form was submitted within the past 12 months who attended sacrament meeting in a given week.
In summary, give priority to helping people choose to participate in these experiences. Center your efforts on the following activities:
Those that help you find new people to teach
Those that help people progress toward making and keeping covenants
Those that help people who have been baptized and confirmed in the past year
If you cannot see how your efforts might help a person progress in a way that is reflected in your key indicators, evaluate whether the activity is a good use of your time.
For people you spend less time with, continue to nurture their interest in the gospel. You could invite members to reach out to them. You could also use technology to encourage them and continue to minister to them. See “Use Technology” in chapter 9 for additional ideas.
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Elder Quentin L. Cook
“The ultimate objective of planning and setting goals is to make disciples—that is, to have consecrated converts who make and keep sacred covenants, beginning with a baptismal covenant leading to temple covenants” (Quentin L. Cook, “Purpose and Planning,” mission leadership seminar, June 25, 2019).
Set Key Indicator Goals and Make Plans
During weekly planning, you and your companion set goals for all the key indicators. Your key indicator goals should reflect your desire to help more people experience the blessings of conversion.
Set goals and make plans to do things in your control that can influence key indicator outcomes. For example:
You might set a key indicator goal to begin teaching a specific number of new people during the week. Whether you reach that goal depends on other people’s agency. But do what is in your control to accomplish it. One way is to set a goal to talk with a certain number of new people each day. Then plan how you will do that. See the ideas in Appendix 2 of this chapter and in chapter 9.
You might set key indicator goals to have a specific number of new members and people you are teaching attend sacrament meeting. Whether they come or not depends on their agency. But do what is in your control to influence these key indicator outcomes. Plan when to invite them and how to follow up.
You might set a key indicator goal to have members participate in a specific number of lessons during the week. Whether you reach that goal depends on the members and the people you are teaching. But do what you can to influence this key indicator outcome. Set a goal to work with ward leaders to have members present. Then plan how you will coordinate their participation.
As a companionship, you set the key indicator goals for your own area. Base them on (1) the progress of those you are teaching and (2) the need to find new people to teach. Finding new people to teach is a constant need.
Mission-wide key indicator goals are based on the goals set by each companionship.
The Preach My Gospel app will help you stay focused on people as you set key indicator goals. This app will also help you learn from past goals and show your progress toward current goals.
Key indicator goals and results are automatically reported to your mission leaders and young missionary leaders through the Preach My Gospel app.
Be careful not to emphasize one key indicator goal over the others. An ongoing focus on all key indicators will help you consistently invite others to come unto Christ and make covenants.
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President Thomas S. Monson
“When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates” (quoted by Thomas S. Monson, “Thou Art a Teacher Come from God,” Improvement Era, Dec. 1970, 101).
Work Diligently
The Lord desires that you “act … in all diligence” in your missionary service (Doctrine and Covenants 107:99). Diligence is a consistent, valiant effort.
Work diligently on your key indicator goals. Invite people to make commitments that lead to conversion. Your diligent efforts can inspire them to take actions that will help them come unto Christ (see 2 Nephi 2:14–16).
Teach the gospel in ways that meet people’s needs. The doctrine, when understood by the Spirit, is more likely than anything else to inspire them to act.
At the same time, recognize that key indicator goals depend on the agency of others. Always respect people’s agency.
Remember that key indicators are not the end goal. Instead, they represent a person’s potential spiritual progress toward baptism, confirmation, and enduring conversion. People’s actual progress will depend on their choices. You support their progress by exercising faith in Christ on their behalf as you set goals, plan, act diligently, and minister to them in an inspired way.
How to Set Goals and Make Plans to Accomplish Them
Goal setting and planning are acts of faith. Goals reflect the desires of your heart and your vision of helping yourself and others come to the Savior.
Carefully considered goals and plans will give you clear direction. They can help you find more people to teach. They can guide you in helping those you teach strengthen their faith and progress toward conversion.
Make your goal setting and planning an inspired experience. Pray earnestly, exercise faith, counsel with your companion, and follow the promptings of the Spirit. As you plan this way, you will feel the Lord working through you to bless others.
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President M. Russell Ballard
“A goal is a destination or an end, while a plan is the route by which you get there. … Goal setting is essentially beginning with the end in mind. And planning is devising a way to get to that end” (M. Russell Ballard, “Return and Receive,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 62–63).
Principles for Setting and Accomplishing Goals
The following process will help you set and accomplish goals.
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goal-setting chart
Prayerfully set goals and make plans. Set goals that are realistic but that will stretch you and require faith. Avoid setting goals that are too high or too low. Plan how you will accomplish them.
Record and schedule. Record your goals and plans in a detailed schedule.
Act on your plans. Work diligently to accomplish your goals. Exercise faith in the Lord to help you.
Review and follow up. Evaluate progress and record your efforts regularly. Decide what to do differently and how to improve. Adjust plans as needed.
As you use this goal-setting process, the Lord will magnify your efforts. You will grow in your capacity as an instrument in His hands. You will bring about much good in blessing Heavenly Father’s children.
Set Goals and Make Plans in All Areas of the Work
Prayerfully seek the guidance of the Spirit as you apply the goal-setting process to all aspects of missionary work. Some of these include:
Helping people you are teaching to make progress (see Appendix 1 in this chapter).
Finding new people to teach (see Appendix 2 in this chapter).
Working with members and serving people in the community and ward (see chapters 9 and 13).
Working in unity with your companion (see item 6 in “Weekly Planning Session”).
Strengthening your faith in Jesus Christ.
Improving your knowledge and abilities, including language learning (see chapter 7).
Set Appropriate Goals
Avoid setting key indicator goals for other missionaries. However, you may guide and encourage them in applying the principles of goal setting as they set their own goals.
Be careful not to make comparisons with others.
Do not use goal achievement as a quota, for public recognition, or to publicly correct or embarrass anyone.
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President Spencer W. Kimball
“We do believe in setting goals. We live by goals. … [One] important goal is to bring the gospel to all people. … Our goal is to achieve eternal life. That is the greatest goal in the world” (Spencer W. Kimball, regional representatives’ seminar, Apr. 3, 1975, 6).
Conduct Weekly and Daily Planning Sessions
Weekly planning helps you see the big picture and focus on people. It also helps you focus on activities that are most important. Daily planning helps you adapt and prepare to take specific actions each day. You want to be productive, not just busy.
During planning sessions, ask yourself basic questions about what you feel the Lord would have you do. Seek inspiration to answer these questions in ways that are appropriate for each situation and person. The answers should then take shape in your plans.
Weekly Planning Session
Hold a weekly planning session with your companion on a day and time set by your mission president. Follow the steps below.
Pray and seek inspiration. Ask Heavenly Father to guide you in making plans that will help accomplish His purposes. Ask Him to bless your efforts to help people progress and come unto Christ.
Set goals and make plans for all the key indicators using the Preach My Gospel app. Use the goal-setting process described earlier in this chapter. Begin with:
People who were baptized and confirmed within the past year.
People who have a baptismal date.
People you are teaching who attend sacrament meeting.
New people being taught.
Returning members, part-member families, and prospective elders.
People previously taught.
See Appendix 1 in this chapter for ideas about using the goal-setting process in working with people you are teaching.
Use the goal-setting process to find people to teach (see Appendix 2 in this chapter and chapter 9 for help with finding).
Use the goal-setting process to build relationships with ward leaders and members. Set goals and make plans for how you will support them in their efforts to share the gospel (see ideas in chapters 9 and 13). Prepare for the ward’s weekly coordination meeting (see chapter 13).
Review your plans and goals in the Preach My Gospel app. Confirm your appointments and meetings.
Hold a companionship council. This usually includes the following elements:
If desired, share appropriate personal goals and ask your companion for help in accomplishing them.
Discuss the strength of your relationship. Discuss any challenges with being obedient or working in unity. Resolve any conflicts by (1) allowing each person to fully express his or her views, (2) understanding and accepting each person’s concerns, and (3) building a solution together that addresses the most important concerns.
Share with your companion what you think his or her strengths are. Ask for suggestions on how you can improve.
Set goals that will improve your relationship.
Companionship councils can help you develop important skills that you can use in your personal and family life, Church service, employment, and other associations.
Conclude with prayer.
Daily Planning Session
Set goals and make plans with your companion for 30 minutes every morning. Follow the steps below.
Pray and seek inspiration.
Review progress toward your weekly key indicator goals.
Review your plans to help people you are teaching. Prioritize your efforts to help those who are making the most progress. Adjust daily goals and plans as needed.
Commit to actions you will take that day to find new people to teach and to help people you are teaching.
Plan how you will work with local leaders and members.
Conclude with prayer.
Companion Study
Review Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 at the end of this chapter for ideas about how to apply the goal-setting process in teaching and finding. Identify how you can use some of these ideas.
Use the Preach My Gospel App
Concerning those who were baptized in his day, Moroni said, “Their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way” (Moroni 6:4). Keeping good records is one way you can apply this principle.
Record Your Efforts
Keeping records is part of diligently watching over your area with love and concern. Keep your records accurate and up to date. This will help you remember what you need to do to help people.
The Preach My Gospel app allows you to coordinate and share important information with local leaders and members on the progress of people and the work.
Follow Data and Privacy Guidelines
Follow data retention and privacy guidelines when recording goals and plans in the Preach My Gospel app and in printed tools. For information, see Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ, 7.5.
Ask yourself the following questions before you record or share information in the Preach My Gospel app, email, social media, notes, or other communications:
How would this person feel about what I am recording?
How would I feel if someone shared this kind of information about me with others?
Am I following Church policies and data privacy laws for my area if I record or share this information?
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missionaries praying
Accountability
The principle of accountability is fundamental in God’s eternal plan (see Alma 5:15–19; Doctrine and Covenants 104:13; 137:9). This principle influences how you think and feel about the sacred responsibility the Lord has given you. Accountability also influences how you approach your work.
During His earthly ministry, the Savior gave assignments to His disciples to help them grow, develop, and accomplish His work. He also gave them opportunities to account for the work they were given to do (see Luke 9:10; 3 Nephi 23:6–13). As a missionary, you likewise account for the work the Lord has given you to do.
Approach your goal setting and planning with the idea that you will account to the Lord through prayer each day. Also be accountable to yourself and to your mission leaders.
Rendering an account should be a loving, positive experience in which your efforts are recognized and you identify ways you can improve.
Consider the following sentence from your call letter: “As you devote your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs, the Lord will bless you with increased knowledge and testimony of Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.” Ask yourself the following questions, and record your impressions.
How am I doing with devoting my time and attention to serving the Lord?
What blessings have I experienced?
How has my testimony been strengthened?
How can I improve?
Take a few moments to think about your last day in the mission field. When that day comes:
What do you want your relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to be like?
What do you want to have become?
In your study journal, write an answer to each of these questions. Use the goal-setting process to plan what you can do now to work toward these goals. Record your plans.
Companion Study and Companion Exchange
Using the Preach My Gospel app, answer the questions below:
Are all the records current and accurate?
Would a missionary who is new to the area benefit from your record of your efforts to find new people to teach?
If you were to review your app right now, would it help you know where people are? Would it help you know about their progress?
District Council, Zone Conferences, and Mission Leadership Council
Invite missionaries to share experiences with goals they have set and plans they have made to help people progress. Examples might include goals and plans to help people:
Develop greater faith in the Savior.
Repent and make changes to come closer to God.
Be baptized and confirmed.
Come back to the Church and renew their baptismal covenant.
Read one of the following situations to the missionaries. Have the missionaries divide into small groups. Have each group use steps 1 and 2 in the goal-setting process to help the people in these examples progress toward baptism and confirmation. Have each group share their ideas.
A person you are teaching has accepted an invitation to attend church this week.
A person has accepted a baptismal invitation and has set a goal with you to be baptized.
A person has accepted your invitation to read the Book of Mormon and has committed to read 1 Nephi 1.
Invite missionaries to use the Preach My Gospel app to help them set realistic but stretching goals by:
Reviewing past key indicator history and progress.
Setting daily, weekly, and monthly goals.
Adding people to key indicator goals.
Discuss how these steps can help missionaries plan more effectively as they help people progress. Ask the missionaries to consider the following:
How will you use the Preach My Gospel app in the future as you plan?
What other ways have you discovered to use the app more effectively?
Mission Leaders and Mission Counselors
Frequently review the missionaries’ Preach My Gospel app. Invite them to share how they use it to track their goals and plans and to help people progress.
Occasionally observe missionaries’ weekly or daily planning sessions.
Appendix 1
Apply the Goal-Setting Process in Working with People You Are Teaching
This section provides examples of how you might apply the goal-setting process to help people you are teaching.
1. Set Goals and Make Plans
Prayerfully consider the spiritual needs of people you are teaching. Set goals and make plans to help them fulfill these needs. Use the Preach My Gospel app to review each person’s progress. Use the key indicators for conversion to identify actions that will help each person take the next step in coming unto Christ.
As you set goals and make plans, ask yourselves questions like these:
What choices is the person making that show a growing faith in Jesus Christ?
What experiences is the person having with the Spirit?
What challenges might he or she be facing?
What more can we learn from this person to help him or her?
What needs to happen to help this person develop faith in Jesus Christ, feel and recognize the Spirit, repent, and be baptized?
How can we prepare for the ward’s weekly coordination meeting to include ward leaders and members in helping this person? (See chapter 13.)
What key indicator goals can we set that reflect our faith in the Lord?
2. Record and Schedule Your Plans
Use the Preach My Gospel app to record and schedule your goals and plans in detail. This will help you organize the work and identify actions to take each day. Follow data privacy laws for your area.
As you record and schedule your plans, ask yourselves questions like these:
What specific things can we do today and this week to support this person’s progress?
What doctrine (or lesson) will help this person develop stronger faith in Christ and live the gospel? How could we teach this doctrine so he or she understands it and is edified by the Holy Ghost?
How and when will we confirm appointments?
What invitations should we extend or follow up on? How and when will we follow up?
How and when will we help the person attend church, read the scriptures, pray, and keep commitments that lead to making covenants with God?
How can members participate?
What online resources could we share with the person?
What backup plans can we make if something doesn’t go as planned?
3. Act on Your Plans
Have a prayer in your heart throughout the day as you act on your plans. The Spirit will help you know where to go, what to do, what to say, and what adjustments to make.
During the day, ask yourselves questions like these:
How can we work with faith, trusting the Lord to help us and magnify our efforts to serve His children?
How can we be creative and courageous when acting on our plans?
How can we adapt our plans according to people’s needs and circumstances?
Plans will not always go as you hope. Be flexible and use backup plans when needed.
4. Review Progress and Follow Up
With your companion, review progress toward the goals you have set to teach people and help them progress. Plan ways to follow up. Adjust your plans as needed as you strive to reach your goals.
Ask yourselves questions like these:
Are the people we are teaching moving toward making covenants with God?
What challenges do they face? What are their concerns?
What can we do today to help them and encourage them to act—in person or through technology?
Are they having experiences with feeling the Spirit?
Are they connected to Church leaders and members and building friendships? Who could participate the next time we teach?
What can we learn from setbacks?
How well did we do in reaching our goals? Is there anything we should adjust or do differently?
Is it time for less frequent contact?
See chapter 11 for more principles and ideas on how to follow up and help people progress.
Appendix 2
Apply the Goal-Setting Process in Finding People to Teach
This section provides examples of how you might apply the goal-setting process in finding new people to teach. Use this process in your weekly and daily planning.
1. Set Goals and Make Plans
With your companion, prayerfully consider what Heavenly Father would have you do to find more people to teach. Do this each week and each day. Have faith that He is preparing people for you (see Doctrine and Covenants 100:3–8).
Set finding goals each day. Make plans for actions in your control that influence key indicator outcomes. Examples include:
How many new people you will talk with about the gospel each day.
How many times you will ask members, people you are teaching, and people you contact if they know someone who might be interested in your message.
How quickly you will respond to referrals or comments on social media posts.
Review the Preach My Gospel app and ask yourselves questions like these:
What would Heavenly Father have us do today and this week to find people to teach?
What daily and weekly key indicator goals can we set to find people to teach?
Which finding activity is best for this time of day and location?
How can we inspire and support ward members in their efforts to share the gospel through the principles of loving, sharing, and inviting?
Which new members can we contact to help them attend sacrament meeting? Do they have any friends they might invite?
How can we work with the ward council or participants in the ward’s weekly coordination meeting to identify part-member families, returning members, and prospective elders to contact?
Which people currently being taught, people formerly taught, and referred people can we contact? How will we contact them? (In person, through technology, by phone, or in other ways)
What are some new ways we can find people?
What personal talents and strengths can we use?
How can we improve our ability to find people to teach?
How can we help those we contact feel the influence of the Holy Ghost?
For examples of finding activities, see chapters 9, 10, and 13.
Use the Preach My Gospel app to help you identify finding activities that have been effective in the past. For example, you can see how recent converts were found.
Seek inspiration and be open to new impressions and ideas. Avoid getting stuck in a routine. Missionaries who consistently find new people to teach often use a variety of ways each week. They work at it constantly.
2. Record and Schedule Your Plans
With your companion, use the Preach My Gospel app to record and schedule your goals and plans in detail. Recording and scheduling your plans will help you identify what actions to take and when to take them.
Ask yourselves questions like these:
When and how will we contact people? What are the best approaches? Where are the best locations? What are the best times of day for the different ways of finding people?
How can we have meaningful conversations with people we meet?
How and when will we find online using social media and other technology?
When will we contact referrals?
What backup plans will we make for when other plans fall through?
3. Act on Your Plans
Diligently strive to achieve your goals to find people to teach. Have a prayer in your heart throughout the day. Be open to greeting and speaking to people you meet. The Spirit will help you know where to go, what to do, what to say, and what adjustments to make.
During the day, ask yourselves questions like these:
How can we work with faith, trusting the Lord to help us and magnify our efforts to serve His children?
How can we be creative and courageous when acting on our plans?
How can we adapt our plans according to people’s needs and circumstances?
How can we help people feel the influence of the Holy Ghost?
Plans will not always go as you hope. Be flexible and use backup plans when needed.
4. Review Progress and Follow Up
Throughout the day and week, prayerfully review progress in reaching your goals to find people to teach. Ask yourselves questions like these:
How well did we do in reaching our goals and following our plans?
What adjustments should we make to meet our goals to find people?
How can we avoid slipping into a routine that is not effective in finding people to teach?
What is something new we can try during this time of day?
What are some ideas we can discuss in the ward’s weekly coordination meeting to help us find people to teach? (See chapter 13.)
As a companionship, use the “Finding Efforts” chart in chapter 9 to evaluate your weekly and daily finding efforts. Recognize those things you are doing well, and consider how you can improve.
Throughout the day, pause for a few minutes to recognize God’s hand in your work.