In Relief Society this year, we started a program called Celestial University. I'm not exactly sure where our presidency found it, or how widespread it is, but I wanted to share it with all :)! I plan on retyping the whole thing so you guys can steal any of it that you like! I also plan on keeping you guys posted on my experiences with it and what I have accomplished! This could take a while, but you're worth it ;)
Welcome to the Celestial University. How often do we wonder where the last year went and feel like we haven't progressed over the months? The purpose of this program is to offer each sister motivation, opportunity, direction, and support to aid her in reaching her divine potential destiny as a daughter of our Heavenly Father. The goal is to help each of us be better, more fulfilled women next year than we are this year. Any sister who actively participates in this program will be able to look back at the previous 12 months and know that she has accomplished many items that have temporal and eternal worth.
The program is simple. Look at the goals and plan how to accomplish them. When you have completed a goal, have a friend, family member, etc. put their initial by the number. You cannot count two goals accomplished from the same effort.
The sister who completes the most goals will get special recognition as the Celestial University Valedictorian and the sister who completes the 2nd highest total will be the Celestial University Salutatorian.
We hope that each sister in the branch will participate. It will be fun and rewarding. Good luck to each of you as you embark on this adventure of growth and development.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
1. Read a book about a famous person in American History.
2. Visit a museum.
3. Visit an art exhibit.
4. Attend a live concert, play, etc.
5. Sing in the branch choir for 3 consecutive months.
6. Attend 12 Enrichment Meetings or Enrichment Activities.
7. Read a classic American novel or a Newberry Award winner.
8. Visit an historic site.
9. Learn a new skill or become more proficient in a current skill.
10. Make a list of 20 positive things about yourself.
11. Learn to do something new on the computer.
12. Spend at least 6 hours doing community service.
13. Feed the missionaries at least 4 times during the next 12 months.
14. Attend 4 or more branch activities.
16. Attend a city council meeting.
17. Buy 5 cans or packages of food for your food storage. Do this each week for 6 consecutive weeks.
18. Obtain “Preach My Gospel” and read it from cover to cover.
19. Visit 3 sisters, who are not on your visiting teaching list, each month for 4 consecutive months. Each of the 12 sisters needs to be a different sister.
20. Choose a personal development goal that you feel that you need in your life.
HOMEMAKING
1. Use 6 new recipes.
2. Make 6 homemade cards.
3. Clean out at least 2 closets.
4. Make a holiday craft.
5. Plant a flowerbed.
6. Learn the basics of sewing. If you already know how to sew, teach someone else.
7. Complete a homemaking goal that you have been putting off.
8. Look for ways to cut your food budget by shopping sales, having meatless dishes, no junk food, etc. Use the money you saved to buy food for you years supply. Do this 4 consecutive weeks.
9. Deep clean one room, including the closet.
10. Read a book on organizing your home.
11. Spend 3 hours reading www.organizedhome.com . take notes and use at least 2 ideas that you find on that site. 12. Have a garage sale and use the money for improving a room in your home.
13. Learn the basics of cake decorating.
14. Make on meal a week using your food storage. Do this for 6 weeks.
15. Learn the basics of flower arranging. Make an arrangement for your home. If you already know how, volunteer to teach a class.
16. Make something to display in your home.
17. Clean all windows (both sides) in your home.
18. Make a lap quilt to donate to someone needy.
19. Take an inventory of your wardrobe, discarding unnecessary or out of style items.
20. Spend at least 2 hours at www.flylady.net reading and taking notes about how to become more organized in the home. Put at least 2 things that you learn into your life.
SPIRITUALITY
1. Read 2 issues of the Ensign from cover to cover.
2. Pray morning and night for 21 consecutive days.
3. Chose a spiritual goal that you have been putting off.
4. Bear your testimony at Relief Society or Sacrament Meeting.
5. Pick a hymn and study the text and related scriptures.
6. One day a week have a prayer that totally consists of you expressing gratitude for your blessings. Do this once a week for 6 consecutive weeks.
7. Have a gratitude journal. Each day record at least 3 thins for which you are grateful. Do this for 30 consecutive days.
8. Look for opportunities to serve. Each week do at least one act of service. Do this for 6 consecutive weeks. Each act of service has to be for a different person.
9. Read one book by a General Authority.
10. Sign up to do indexing. Do at least 2 hours a week for 4 consecutive weeks.
11. Get 100% visiting teaching each month for 6 consecutive months.
12. Do a random act of kindness each day for 30 days.
13. Contact a sister who was not at church and tell her that she was missed. Share something from the meetings with her. Do 8 weeks.
14. Pray to see who needs you. Then contact her in person, by telephone, e-mail, etc. to let her know that you were thinking about her. Do this 30 consecutive days.
15. Read the Book of Mormon. After each chapter, write you thoughts and feelings in your journal about what you read.
16. Attend the temple 3 times during the next 12 months.
17. Come prepared for Sunday School by reading and studying the lesson for that Sunday. Do 8 weeks.
18. Come prepared for Relief Society by reading and studying the lesson for that Sunday.. Do 8 weeks.
19. Attend Sacrament Meeting 6 consecutive weeks.
20. Read the scriptures 15 minutes a day for 30 consecutive days.
21. Read “The Lord’s Day” by James E. Faust in the November 1991 Ensign and the First Presidency Message “The Sabbath – A Delight” in the January 1978 Ensign. Prayerfully decide one thing that you can do to make the Sabbath more meaningful in your life.
22. Write in you journal each day for 30 consecutive days.
23. Have a church journal. Record quotes, scriptures, etc from your meetings. Take notes at 12 church meetings.
24. Read Doctrine and Covenants 89. Prayerfully decide on one thing that you can do to more fully live this law and put it into your life.
FAMILY RELATIONS
1. Complete a goal in this area that you have been putting off.
2. Complete 6 scrapbook pages about you family or individual members of your family.
3. Complete 4 scrapbook pages showing your love and appreciation for your family members.
4. Have Family Home Evening once a week for 6 consecutive weeks.
5. Have each of your family members write their autobiography. Put them together and make copies for each member.
6. Start a memory book with stories, pictures, family traditions, etc. Compile stories of ancestors to add to your book. Record your memories of your relatives and invite others to also do so. Add to it during the year and encourage family members to participate.
7. Compile family recipes from various relatives. This can be in a book, on the computer, etc. you can add pictures of the relative and pictures of the food item.
8. Plan a family activity to clean the church building. Let the children help as appropriate.
9. As a family do some kind of service for someone.
10. Make a family newsletter and send it out for the holidays.
11. Prepare a family garden that the whole family works in.
12. Write a letter of appreciation to your spouse and other members of your family.
13. Forgive a family member for a hurt that they have caused. Be prayerful as you learn to let go of the hurt and bitterness that you feel.
14. Spend at least 4 hours researching your ancestors at the Family History Center.
15. Start a new tradition in your home.
16. Learn about the areas of the country or world where your ancestors lived.
17. Attend a family reunion.
18. Have a Family Home Evening centered on emergency preparedness. Make a family emergency plan.
19. Submit at least one family name for temple work.
20. Invite a family into you home for Family Home Evening.
PHYSICAL HEALTH AND PREPAREDNESS
1. Exercise for 30 minutes a day at least 3 times a week or exercise 15 minutes 5 times a week. Do 4 consecutive weeks.
2. Go to the doctor for your yearly exam.
3. Don’t eat anything containing refined flour or sugar for 21 consecutive days.
4. Complete a physical preparedness goal that you have been putting off doing.
5. If you have a 72-hour kit, check it to make sure that it is up to date. If you don’t have one, put one together.
6. If you have smoke detectors in your home, check to make sure they work. If you don’t have them, buy some.
7. Spend 3 hours reading the article at www.providentliving.org . take notes and choose 3 thins to implement into your life. 8. Keep a food journal for 7 consecutive days. Record everything that you eat and drink. Study the results and determine at least 2 ways you can change your eating habits to make you more healthy. For the next 4 weeks keep a food journal and implement the 2 eating changes.
9. Take the “Peace in your Hearts” online course at www.providentliving.org . put 2 thins that you learn into your daily life. 10. Spend 3 hours reading and taking notes at www.ready.gov . Put into practice 3 thins that you read. 11. Plant and care for a vegetable garden. Planting and ignoring don’t count. Talk with people who are successful gardeners and find out ways to best care for your garden.
12. Make the changes necessary to transform 3 of your recipes into healthier versions. Make these healthier meals for your family
13. Create a family emergency plan
14. Make copies of your important papers and put the copies into your 72-hour kit.
15. Spend 3 hours reading and taking notes at www.sparkpeople.com . Make a list of at least 3 thins that you can do to help you become healthier and lose weight. 16. Take a CERT course.
17. Personally repair something in or around your home.
18. Plant 2 fruit trees in your yard.
19. Weigh and measure yourself. Plan a healthy diet plan and put it into practice. Each week record your weight and measurements. Do this for 6 consecutive weeks. Find a buddy to whom you will report.
20. Take a first aid class.
21. Take a class on how to protect yourself from identity theft.
22. Add something to your food storage each week for 6 consecutive weeks.
23. Plan a realistic budget and put it on paper. Stick to it for 5 consecutive weeks.
I truly hope all of you love this and apply it in your lives! CU has truly helped me gain skills, knowledge, and has increased my awareness of my individual worth :)
