Lowe: Try to make yourself better every day

Bishop Michael G. Lowe

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

At the beginning of a year, our thoughts turn to setting goals to accomplish during that year.
Our ultimate goal is to return to our Father in heaven, having accomplished those goals during our lifetime that make us be like Him.

To a large degree, we control our destiny. We control our life and what we make of it. Some of us have the necessary self-discipline and courage to work at our goals. Others will just sit there and say, “Oh, boy.”

May I suggest that you write down one thing that you want to start doing and that you have been meaning to do for a long time but you haven’t?

Name one thing that you are going to do that is going to make you a better person. I believe if we make this a regular practice, we start to fulfill the Savior’s teaching when he asked us, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father,which is in heaven, is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)
Perfection is a process, not an event. When we eliminate the things in life that are not good, we can replace them with things that are eternal in nature.

Pray for inner strength to have the discipline to do those things that will guarantee through your activity and your life that you will reach your goals.

I think, perhaps as important as anything, we have to have faith. We need faith in God and in the Lord Jesus Christ — and faith in ourselves. We can become the masters of our own destinies by practicing self-discipline and by setting worthy goals.

We often start with good intentions, but little by little, we retreat to our same old ways. Start doing one thing you know you should do each day, then write down these things and review them daily. Try to make yourself better each day. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

Achieving our goals will be easier when we eliminate from our lives those things that discourage or stop us. Poor habits, undesirable companions and negative thoughts through anxieties, doubts and fears will keep us from accomplishing our righteous desires. I am confident that our goals will come as a result of planning, effort and prayer.

Having a positive attitude will help us achieve the goals we set for ourselves. As we work daily for improvement, we should fully enjoy each accomplishment, however small it may be.
We should remember that we will never fail as long as we are striving to reach our goals. Individual goals can guide us to achieve personal triumphs, and family goals can lead us to become unified.

I believe one of the great desires of the Lord our God is that we keep that great commandment “Be ye therefore perfect... .”