“…Families who work cooperatively toward ….goals will realize a happiness and peace which to other seems ‘idealistic’” J. Thomas Fyans
Family goals naturally are derived from the mission and vision statement of the family.
The Family Council is the place to discuss annual, and long-term goals. Since goal setting is an activity unto itself, we recommend that it be part of a special meeting of the council. It can be very fun.
Annual Goals
The family annual goals should consider the individual goals of all family members such as scouting, personal progress, education and employment goals. Vacations may also be included in this list. Of course spiritual goals such as scripture reading, baptism, priesthood ordinations, and family prayers, service to others and missionary work for living and the dead are all appropriate.
Family Goals We included the yearly calendar as part of this event. There may be a number of significant goal related calendar events such as graduations, missions, reunions and weddings that must be programmed into both documents. Tip: Use of a computer calendar program can be most helpful in this activity. (Multi-colored lines can be used for each individual's events.)
Our daughter Kathryn and Jonathan McEntire’s family holds an annual calendar and goal setting council. They also have special sub-councils to plan important family events like baptisms, youth activities and extended vacations etc. We now plan extended family reunions two to three years in advance in Family Council using internet tools.
Family goals could include a review of family life five to twenty years out. We recommend charting events include missions, education, marriage, etc. This charting activity will help family members prepare for the future and remain focused. It certainly helps parents in financial planning.In such a charting council, we set out the major goals of each family member in education, missions and marriages. The chart hung in our den. One example from the chart: When Kurtis, our youngest son, went on his mission Susan and I were to follow on a senior couple mission. In June of 2003 Kurtis began his mission, three weeks later Susan and Gordon left for a twenty-three month mission to Cambodia. The final event for that goal chart was accomplished.
These family Long Term/lifetime goals are really tied to mission statement of the family. Education to support ourselves and our families, missions of all types- proclaiming the Gospel, employment, raising God’s children, temple marriages and enduring to the end are all part of long term goals. There is a Goal form available to help document the Goals discussed in the Family Council
Monthly Goals A month calendar naturally falls out of the goals defined as part of the annual calendar . The detail weekly calendar is extracted from the monthly calendar for the weekly family council agenda with times and other logistic detail and any new additions.