Weekly Planning for Returned Missionaries, Individual

This is a weekly planning template I made for my Eternal Families class at BYU that draws from Preach My Gospel's (which I used on my mission in 2016-2017) weekly planning outline.

I hope that it brings greater spiritual guidance to your planning and allows you to see the hand of God in your life more fully!

Weekly Planning, Individual

1. Pray for and seek inspiration. Before you begin, have your BYU Academic Planner and the Learning Suite schedule and calendar up on your computer, as well as your Work Schedule. Begin your planning session with a prayer. Seek inspiration as you consider which chapters of the Book of Mormon and which topics you would like to cover during your personal study time. Seek inspiration as you consider your upcoming assignments and tests in regards to which days you should complete assignments and when would be the best times to study. Seek inspiration as you consider what you would like to do for exercise throughout the week and when you will have time to do so. Pray that you will have the energy needed to continue working and consider what you can do better this week in the workplace to be an influence for good. Seek inspiration as you consider when you will reasonably have time to spend with friends or go on dates. Pray specifically that you will find the time needed to study from the scriptures, complete said assignments and be prepared for your tests. Have the faith to ask Heavenly Father to bless you with time and the desire to accomplish your goals. 

2. Set goals and make plans in regards to your studies, classes, and exercise in the coming week. Block out times to study, and consider which chapters or topics you will address each day. Review your schedule for each class in regards to which tests and quizzes you have in the upcoming week. Consider arrangements you need to make for studying, review sessions, and the test itself. Using your class schedule, consider any conflicts that might arise that would prevent you from following through with your studying. Review your plans daily and avoid distractions. Block out times to exercise each day and consider what you will do with that time. Block out your work schedule, and make any necessary changes. Write in any potential activities you would like to involve yourself in, or any activities that are already planned to happen that week, such as dates, dances, FHE, and other social events.

3. Set long-term goals and make plans for upcoming studies, exams, midterms and exercise goals in the coming month. Review your progression in personal study and what you need to do each day to continue to progress towards that goal. (ie, if you are reading the whole Book of Mormon in 3 months, review where you are currently and what you need to read in the coming weeks to stay on track) Review your schedule for each class in regards to upcoming exams and midterms. Plan out when you will review the topics that have been addressed so far and the topics that will be addressed as the class continues in preparation for the exam. Review your exercise goals, where you are currently and where you would like to be. Decide what needs to happen in the coming weeks in order to continue to progress towards those goals. (ie, run a mile in 6 minutes by the end of the month: run a mile in 8 minutes this week, 7min and 30 seconds the next, 7 the next, 6.5 the next and 6 the final week) Review any tasks you need to complete on the Basking Robbins website, and block out times to finish them. Also prep for entrance at the MTC. Consider which activities coming up you would like to participate in and plan to ask for work off in order to go.

4. Set goals and make plans to attend sacrament meeting. Get rid of anything that could potentially keep you from attending sacrament meeting next week, whether it be work, homework, or other activities. Ensure that you will be in attendance. Review what topics will be addressed in Sunday School and Relief Society and plan times to study those topics in preparation to the meeting. Plan to contribute to the class and the spirit felt. Review any additional tasks that need to be done in regards to your calling before the next sacrament meeting, as well as make plans in regards to tasks that need to be accomplished before the following meeting. Offer your help to the missionaries in regards to fellowshipping members, and contact the auxiliary leaders about anyone who may be going to church for the first time. 

5. Set goals and make plans for lessons to be taught to or experiences to be had with progressing investigators. Contact the missionaries about your schedule and offer your help throughout the week in teaching events. Review the previous weeks efforts in teaching with them and reflect on what you can do to be a more effective member missionary. Review the previous weeks efforts in reaching out to non-members and sharing the gospel with your friends. Make plans to follow-up and consider how you might introduce them to the missionaries if they are interested in learning more.

6. Set goals and make plans for lessons to be taught to or experiences to be had with all other investigators. Pray for guidance in regards to which friends you can reach out to about the gospel, and what activities you can invite them to come to. Plan a time to contact a non-member, through social media or other means, during the week and pray about what you will share with them. 

7/8. Set goals and make plans to refer friends and invite your other friends to do the same. Prayerfully consider what you can post this week to Social Media in order to help others feel the desire to share the gospel with their friends. Plan to reach out to one person individually and invite them to share the gospel with someone they know. Review any referrals you have sent to missionaries or people who are close to being referred and consider their next steps towards progression and what you can do to help them on their path. 

9. Set goals and make plans for lessons you will teach to your visiting sisters, recent converts and less-active members. Make plans to contact your Visiting Teacher Companion, the sisters you are visiting, and your own visiting teachers about times when you can get together this month. Plan to have weekly contact in some form if possible. Ask the Relief Society and the missionaries if there is anyone who is struggling and how you can reach out in a positive way to uplift them this week. Make the plans necessary to do so. 

10. Set goals and make plans to find new investigators. Review last week’s service opportunities, as well as any attempts at finding people to share the Gospel with. Make plans to help them progress towards investigation and determine what you can do this week to reach out to any of them in a positive way. Plan your next service project and determine how you can make the most of it (ie, inviting friends, making it a date, including your VTC, VTs or VS, as well as any LA, RC or investigators). Set goals and make plans to talk to as many people as the Lord puts in your path. Always strive to uplift others.

11. Plan how to work with the ward council. Contact your VTC and any other groups you are involved with at church about what activities or events need to be planned in the upcoming weeks. Seek inspiration in regards to what you can do to be a blessing to the Bishop, to the Relief Society President, and to your FHE group. Consider any assignments you have received from the Bishop or Relief Society President or auxiliary leader and report on whether or not you have completed them.

12. Schedule meetings that occur regularly. In your Academic planner, schedule any meetings that happen regularly, such as classes, FHE, sacrament meetings, institute, and other church meetings. Consider assignments you need to complete prior to any of these meetings and add them to your Notes/To Do list.

13. Conduct self inventory. At the end of your planning session, review again your goals and ask for the Lord’s help in accomplishing them. Think about the strength of your relationship with Him and any challenges that may be keeping you from working in unity with the Spirit, or being obedient. Resolve conflicts. Share what you think your strengths are and ask the Lord what you can improve upon. Set goals that will improve your relationship.