Setting goals is a unique aspect of Latter-day Saint Theology. Whereas everyone sets goals, only for Latter-day Saints is goal setting part of our religion. We literally believe that God is goal-setting (Moses 1:39) and planning (Plan of Salvation) to attain His goals. We are commanded to follow Him, and be like Him, including in the act of goal-setting and making plans. This fact can easily be illustrated by the countless times we have been counseled to set goals and make plans by our church leaders in general conference. There are literally pages of this counsel! I wanted to highlight 25+ examples of this counsel specifically from the prophets and apostles.
Note: I love goal setting. If you are interested in better applying this counsel in your life I recommend two other articles I’ve written on this topic: “Learning How to Set And Reach Your Goals” and “7 New Year’s Resolutions Every Latter-day Saint Should Consider!“
25+ Quotes on Setting Goals from the Apostles and Prophets
“God, our Heavenly Father, has given us the perfect example of goal setting and planning. His goal is ‘to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man [and woman],’ and His means to achieve it is the plan of salvation.”
M. Russell Ballard (GC: Apr. 2017)
“Now there is a lifetime goal—to walk in his steps, to perfect ourselves in every virtue as he has done, to seek his face, and to work to make our calling and election sure.”
Ezra Taft Benson (GC: Oct. 1974)
“Set short-term goals that you can reach. Set goals that are well balanced—not too many nor too few, and not too high nor too low. Write down your attainable goals and work on them according to their importance. Pray for divine guidance in your goal setting.”
M. Russell Ballard (GC: Apr. 1987)
“Let your minds be filled with the goal of being like the Lord, and you will crowd out depressing thoughts as you anxiously seek to know him and do his will.”
Ezra Taft Benson (GC: Oct. 1974)
“Spiritual death is more likely when goals are unbalanced toward things physical.”
Russell M. Nelson (GC: Apr. 1992)
“Write down your goals and what you plan to do to achieve them. Aim high, for you are capable of eternal blessings.”
Thomas S. Monson (GC: Apr. 1999)
“As husband and wife, you can achieve your life’s goals together.”
Ezra Taft Benson (GC: Apr. 1988)
“Set your goals—without goals you cannot measure your progress. But don’t become frustrated because there are no obvious victories. Remind yourself that striving can be more important than arriving. If you are striving for excellence—if you are trying your best day by day with the wisest use of your time and energy to reach realistic goals—you are a success.”
Marvin J. Ashton (GC: Apr. 1984)
“Begin now to establish those goals which will bring you happiness”
Gordon B. Hinckley (GC: Apr. 1997)
“Good communication includes taking time to plan together. Couples need private time to observe, to talk, and really listen to each other. They need to cooperate—helping each other as equal partners. They need to nurture their spiritual as well as physical intimacy. They should strive to elevate and motivate each other. Marital unity is sustained when goals are mutually understood.”
Russell M. Nelson (GC: Apr. 2006)
“Never underestimate the importance of planning [and] setting goals”
Quentin L. Cook (As quoted by Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt. GC: Apr. 2021)
“Family goals based on gospel standards will make it easier to make good decisions.”
M. Russell Ballard (GC: Apr. 1999)
“To return to God’s presence and to receive the eternal blessings that come from making and keeping covenants are the most important goals we can set.”
M. Russell Ballard (GC: Apr. 2017)
“Write your goals and review them regularly. Keep them before you constantly, record your progress, and revise them as circumstances dictate. Your ultimate goal should be eternal life—the kind of life God lives, the greatest of all the gifts of God.”
Joseph B. Wirthlin (GC: Oct. 1989)
“I have observed that those who accomplish the most in this world are those with a vision for their lives, with goals to keep them focused on their vision and tactical plans for how to achieve them. Knowing where you are going and how you expect to get there can bring meaning, purpose, and accomplishment to life.”
M. Russell Ballard (GC: Apr. 2017)
“To analyze our fears, our dreams, our goals, our motives can be soul-wrenching. We need others to help us.”
Marvin J. Ashton (GC: Apr. 1989)
“Do not set goals far beyond your capacity to achieve. Simply do what you can do, in the best way you know, and the Lord will accept of your effort.”
Gordon B. Hinckley (GC: Oct. 1989)
“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 (GC: Apr. 2017)
“Set explicit goals. You should look ahead now and decide what you want to do with your lives. Fix clearly in your mind what you want to be one year from now, five years, ten years, and beyond. Receive your patriarchal blessing and strive to live worthy of its promises. A patriarchal blessing is one of the most important guides in life that members of the Church enjoy.”
Joseph B. Wirthlin (GC: Oct. 1989)
“Wise goal setting includes the understanding that short-term goals are only effective if they lead to clearly understood longer-term goals.”
M. Russell Ballard (GC: Apr. 2017)
“May we choose to build up within ourselves a great and powerful faith which will be our most effective defense against the designs of the adversary—a real faith, the kind of faith which will sustain us and will bolster our desire to choose the right. Without such faith, we go nowhere. With it, we can accomplish our goals.”
Thomas S. Monson (GC: Apr. 2016)
“A stumbling block can be anything that distracts us from achieving righteous goals.”
“Quentin L. Cook” (GC: Oct. 2016)
“Are my efforts leading me to the highest spiritual goals and values in life?”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf (GC: Oct. 2015)
“Fathers teach sons and daughters the value of work and help them establish worthy goals in their own lives.”
L. Tom Perry (GC: Oct. 2014)
“I encourage everyone, young and old, to review goals and objectives and strive to exercise greater discipline. Our daily conduct and choices should be consistent with our goals. We need to rise above rationalizations and distractions. It is especially important to make choices consistent with our covenants to serve Jesus Christ in righteousness. We must not take our eyes off or drop that ball for any reason.”
Quentin L. Cook (GC: Oct. 2014)
“Make a plan for your life, including education or vocational training. Explore interests and skills. Work and become self-reliant. Set goals, overcome mistakes, gain experience, and finish what you begin.”
Robert D. Hales (GC: Apr. 2013)
“The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments.”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf (GC: Oct. 2011)
“Carefully select practical and worthwhile goals and, in an organized way, work to reach them. Apply yourself prayerfully and diligently to selecting and pursuing academic and vocational goals.”
Ezra Taft Benson (GC: Apr. 1988)
“From [learning English], I learned that patience was far more than simply waiting for something to happen—patience required actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results didn’t appear instantly or without effort.”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf (GC: Apr. 2010)
“It’s in the doing, not just the thinking, that we accomplish our goals. If we constantly put our goals off, we will never see them fulfilled.”
Thomas S. Monson (GC: Oct. 2007)
“I urge you to examine your life. Determine where you are and what you need to do to be the kind of person you want to be. Create inspiring, noble, and righteous goals that fire your imagination and create excitement in your heart. And then keep your eye on them. Work consistently towards achieving them.”
Joseph B. Wirthlin (GC: Apr. 2007)
I hope you liked this quote collection on the importance of setting goals! If you did, then you might like one of these other quote collections I have previously compiled!
