Lesson 1: Making an eternal bucket list
Before the lesson:
You will want to print out the Eternal Bucket List Worksheet for each participant (print extras in case of mistakes)
You also may want to check on prices from a same day poster print shop.
Plan on an area to take photos.
You will want to print out the Eternal Bucket List Worksheet for each participant (print extras in case of mistakes)
You also may want to check on prices from a same day poster print shop.
Plan on an area to take photos.
Lesson purpose:
To help family members set and strive to reach Eternal Goals
(You may want to use smart devices or a computer screen to help family members follow along in the lesson)
Note:
Much of this lesson is taken from Elder Ballard's talk "Return and Receive" April General Conference 2017
Opening Prayer
s
Elder M. Russell Ballard Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (Click to see the April 2017 talk)
Elder Ballard Said: "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.
Scripture
3 Nephi 13:33 “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”.
Opening Songs:
Song #1
I Am a Child of God #301 (click to see words and piano)
Song #2
Families can be together forever #300 (click to see words and Piano)
Goals
What is a goal?
How do we set a goal?
What are some of the goals you set?
How do we reach our goals?
Elder Ballard Said:
"Some have difficulty differentiating between a goal and a plan until they learn that 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.
A key to happiness lies in understanding what destinations truly matter—and then spending our time, effort, and attention on the things that constitute a sure way to arrive there.
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."
The Plan of Salvation
What is the Plan of Salvation?
As His spirit sons and daughters we lived with Heavenly Father.
We came to earth to receive a body, learn and experience life and to be tested. We all sin and need a way to be perfect to return to Heavenly Father.
Jesus died for us so that if we repent of our sins we can return to live with Heavenly Father as families.
“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;" (D&C 19:16)
Elder M. Russell Ballard Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (Click to see the April 2017 talk)
Elder Ballard Said: "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.
Scripture
3 Nephi 13:33 “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”.
Opening Songs:
Song #1
I Am a Child of God #301 (click to see words and piano)
Song #2
Families can be together forever #300 (click to see words and Piano)
Goals
What is a goal?
How do we set a goal?
What are some of the goals you set?
How do we reach our goals?
Elder Ballard Said:
"Some have difficulty differentiating between a goal and a plan until they learn that 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.
A key to happiness lies in understanding what destinations truly matter—and then spending our time, effort, and attention on the things that constitute a sure way to arrive there.
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."
The Plan of Salvation
What is the Plan of Salvation?
As His spirit sons and daughters we lived with Heavenly Father.
We came to earth to receive a body, learn and experience life and to be tested. We all sin and need a way to be perfect to return to Heavenly Father.
Jesus died for us so that if we repent of our sins we can return to live with Heavenly Father as families.
“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;" (D&C 19:16)
If we keep His commandments and endure to the end we will Return to our Heavenly Father as Families.
D&C 14:7 "And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God".
If we keep His commandments and endure to the end we will Return to our Heavenly Father as Families.
D&C 14:7 "And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God".
Eternal Goals
What are some Eternal goals?
How do we reach our Eternal goals?
Elder Ballard said: "I testify there is no greater goal in mortality than to live
eternally with our Heavenly Parents and our beloved Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ. But it is more than just ourgoal—it is also Their goal. They have a perfect love for us, more
powerful than we can even begin to comprehend. They are
totally, completely, eternally aligned with us. We are Their
work. Our glory is Their glory. More than anything else, They want us to come home—to return and receive eternal happiness in Their presence".
Activity: Your Eternal Bucket List
A bucket list is a way of setting and reaching goals.
As we reach an item on our list we check it off.
The dictionary definition of bucket list is: “ a list of things that one has not done before but wants to do before dying”
An Eternal Bucket List is a list of things we can do to help us get back to our Heavenly Father. HE wants us to return and will help inspire us with goals we should set as we pray for help.
Elder Ballard said:
“We must keep the doctrine and gospel of Jesus Christ at the center of our goals and plans. Without Him, no eternal goal is possible, and our plans to achieve our eternal goals will surely fail. “
What are some things you would put on your Eternal Bucket List to help you get to the Celestial Kingdom?
Today for our activity we are going to make our own Eternal Bucket List. And take photos of us as a family and individually. (Handout the worksheet)
Once you finish your worksheet we will type it up add today's photos and have it printed as a small poster for each of us to put where we can see it (You may also want everyone to do a drawing or coloring of your family in Heaven to be put on their poster).
Some of the list is filled out for you already but those can be changed or other things added in the space to the right.
The lines are for you to put your own personal goals like Ordinances, Achievements or Personal Awards.
Daily goals, like reading your scriptures need to be made elsewhere, but for this list you need to keep the end in mind like “Study the scriptures to receive a testimony of them”
My Eternal Bucket List Worksheet
Name__________________________________ Date_________
Family Photo Personal Photo
The End Goals
__Family Hugs in the Celestial Kingdom (I will all check this one off with my family).
__Endure to the end (check this off at the judgment).
For this life
__Read the Book of Mormon, Pray about it and receive a testimony that it’s true.
__Help another person be baptized into the church.
__Serve a Mission (boys should, girls can).
__Be Baptized and receive the Holy Ghost.
__Do Baptisms for the dead.
__Receive my Patriarchal Blessing
__Get married in the Temple.
__Serve faithfully in a Church calling.
Others:
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Signed____________________________
Name__________________________________ Date_________
Family Photo Personal Photo
The End Goals
__Family Hugs in the Celestial Kingdom (I will all check this one off with my family).
__Endure to the end (check this off at the judgment).
For this life
__Read the Book of Mormon, Pray about it and receive a testimony that it’s true.
__Help another person be baptized into the church.
__Serve a Mission (boys should, girls can).
__Be Baptized and receive the Holy Ghost.
__Do Baptisms for the dead.
__Receive my Patriarchal Blessing
__Get married in the Temple.
__Serve faithfully in a Church calling.
Others:
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Signed____________________________
Adding to, and accomplishing your list
Because we learn and grow in life, you will want to add to your list as you feel inspired.
The Eternal Family Bucket List is a life long pursuit so you should never lose it. Keep it displayed in an area you will see often so you can review it and think about the things you need to work on so you can check them off.
Sometimes things may happen that prevent you from checking off all of the things on your Eternal Bucket List. Heavenly Father will reward you for the effort you make. Just do your best.
Closing Song:
O my Father #292 (click to see words)
Closing Prayer
Refreshments:
The treat for this lesson might be Hersey Hugs or Everlasting Gobstoppers. (Treats suggested by my granddaughter Skyler)
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO SHARE THIS SITE WITH EVERYONE YOU CAN
TOGETHER WE CAN STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AROUND THE WORLD
Other Sources: