Weekly Planning for Returned Missionaries, After Marriage
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, Post-marriage
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 or Come Follow Me Program and other 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 with Sterling. Pray specifically that you will find the time needed to study from the scriptures, complete said assignments, be prepared for your tests, and accomplish your goals. Have the faith to ask Heavenly Father to bless you with time and the desire to accomplish your goals.
Schedule meetings that occur regularly. In your Academic planner, schedule any meetings that happen regularly, such as classes, District Activities, 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.
Set goals and make plans in regards to your studies, classes, and goals 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. Plan time to work on your individual goals, such as language study, writing music, or developing your relationship with your spouse. 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 date night, work parties, getting together with friends, church activities, and other social events.
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 for work, and block out times to finish them. Also review goals for language study and other talents. Consider which activities coming up you would like to participate in and plan to ask for work off if needed, in order to go.
Set goals and make plans to attend sacrament and church meetings. 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 or Relief Society and plan times to study those topics in preparation for 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. Plan to arrive early in order to establish a welcoming environment and prepare spiritually for the meeting.
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.
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.
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.
Set goals and make plans for lessons you will teach to your ministering sisters, recent converts and less-active members. Make plans to contact your Ministering Companion, the sisters you are visiting, and your own ministers 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.
Set goals and make plans to serve others. 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 ministering sisters, 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.
Plan how to work with the ward council. Contact your ministering sisters 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 District. 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.
Strengthen your marriage. Review the goals and desires that Sterling has shared with you and reflect on what you are doing to help him accomplish those things. Set a time to have weekly planning with him and schedule time to study the scriptures, pray, and spend time together. Think of little things you can do each day in order to help him feel loved and appreciated. Come up with ideas for date night this week and make an effort to focus on him while you are together.
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.
Weekly Planning with Spouse
Pray for and seek inspiration. Before you begin, have your planners available for reference as well as the food calendar. Begin your planning session with a prayer. Seek inspiration as you consider which topics you would like to cover during your companionship study time. Pray that you will have the energy needed to continue working towards your goals and consider what you can do better this week in and out of the home 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 together, stay caught up in school, and spend time with one another. Have the faith to ask Heavenly Father to bless you with time and the desire to accomplish your goals.
Review your combined schedules. In your planner, schedule any meetings that happen regularly, such as classes, FHE/District Meetings, sacrament meetings, institute, and other church meetings. Discuss any plans you considered making individually that could conflict with one another. Consider assignments you need to complete together prior to any of these meetings and add them to your Notes/To Do list.
Set goals and make plans in regards to your studies and activities in the coming week. Block out times to study together, and consider which chapters or topics you will address each day. Using your schedule, consider any conflicts that might arise that would prevent you from following through with your studying. Review your plans daily and avoid distractions. Write in any potential activities you would like to involve yourself in, such as Temple attendance, or any activities that are already planned to happen that week, such as dates, church activities, FHE, and other social events.
Plan to make food and do meal prep. Plan out meals for the coming week as well as what foods you will need to buy. Make sure to use up old things in the fridge or pantry and plan to buy things on sale.
Divide up chores. Based on the activities you each have going on, determine who will do which chores on which days in order to keep the house in order. When necessary, plan in a monthly deep clean.
Set long-term goals and make plans for upcoming studies and activities in the coming month. Review your progression in companionship 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). Consider which activities coming up you would like to participate in and plan to ask for work off in order to go.
Set goals and make plans to attend sacrament and church meetings. 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 plan times to study those topics in preparation to the meeting. Plan to contribute to the class and the spirit felt. 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. Plan to arrive early in order to spiritually prepare for the meeting and contribute to the spiritual atmosphere of the chapel.
Set goals and make plans to improve financially. Pay tithing as necessary. Review last week’s expenditures and where you are on the budget. If you have not established a budget for the month, establish one. Discuss upcoming activities and how much they will be. Set aside money for loan repayment, health care costs, or any other upcoming expenses. Talk about things you can do to save money, or any big items or events you are saving up for.
Discuss the needs of family members. Talk about what you are doing to draw closer as a family and how you can help your family progress upon the road to exaltation. Discuss plans for upcoming FHE activities and lessons and what you can do to strengthen the relationship of your family. When necessary, discuss the struggles your family members are facing and ways you can help them overcome those difficulties.
Conduct companionship inventory. At the end of your planning session, review again your personal goals and those of your spouse; ask for the Lord’s help in accomplishing them. Talk about what you are doing to accomplish those goals and ask one another for help in achieving them. Think about the strength of your relationship with one another and with Him and any challenges that may be keeping you from working in unity with the Spirit, or with each other. Resolve conflicts. Share what you think your strengths are and ask your spouse what you can improve upon. Allow your spouse to do the same. Set goals that will improve your relationship.
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