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“Duty to God Certificate Requirements,” Aaronic Priesthood: Fulfilling Our Duty to God [Priest], 11

The requirements for earning the Duty to God certificate for priests are outlined below.

Priesthood Duties and Standards

Remain worthy to represent the Savior by doing all of the following regularly:

• 1. Keep the commandments.

• 2. Live the standards in For the Strength of Youth.

• 3. Have daily personal prayer.

• 4. Read the scriptures.

• 5. Attend seminary, where available; otherwise, enroll in the appropriate seminary home-study course.

• 6. Attend sacrament meeting, priesthood meeting, and other Church meetings.

• 7. Keep the Word of Wisdom.

• 8. Pay a full tithe.

• 9. Bless the sacrament.

• 10. Serve as a home teacher as assigned by your priesthood leaders.

• 11. Perform other assigned priesthood duties.

Family Activities

Do all of the following. Have a parent initial each goal when you complete it.

• ___ 1. Read the Book of Mormon. Discuss with your family the highlights from the book, including such topics as the difference in attitude between Nephi and Laman, the value of obedience to parents and priesthood leaders, the need to heed the messages of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, the fight between good and evil, King Benjamin’s wise counsel, Jesus Christ’s visit to the Western Hemisphere, and the promise given in Moroni 10:4–5.

• ___ 2. Read For the Strength of Youth, and discuss with your parents your experience in living gospel standards.

• ___ 3. If you have not received your patriarchal blessing, begin making plans to do so.

• ___ 4. Under the direction of your parents, organize and teach at least 4 family home evening lessons each year. You may want to consider using topics from For the Strength of Youth,True to the Faith, or Gospel Principles.

• ___ 5. Read about the following topics in True to the Faith or Gospel Principles, and teach 2 of them to your family: the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the Creation, death (physical and spiritual), eternal life, the Fall, God the Father, kingdoms of glory, mercy, the premortal existence, prophets, the Restoration of the gospel, the Resurrection, and the Second Coming.

• ___ 6. Read D&C 4, and discuss what it means to be prepared spiritually, financially, emotionally, and physically for your mission. Discuss the importance of work (see Genesis 3:19; Proverbs 14:23; 2 Nephi 5:17; Mosiah 2:14; D&C 42:42).

• ___ 7. Talk to one or both of your parents about your career goals and how you are planning to achieve them.

• ___ 8. Read D&C 134, and discuss with your parents how it relates to your responsibilities as a citizen of your country.

• ___ 9. Submit the name of one of your ancestors for temple work, or write a 500-word personal history.

• ___10. Read “Temples” in True to the Faith, or read Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple. Discuss it with your parents.

Quorum Activities

Do all of the following. Have a priesthood leader initial each goal when you complete it.

• ___ 1. Memorize the sacrament prayers. Talk to a priesthood leader about the baptismal covenant and what it involves.

• ___ 2. If possible, give at least two 4- to 5-minute talks each year in a priesthood or sacrament meeting or Mutual, when assigned by a priesthood leader.

• ___ 3. Serve as a companion to a full-time or ward missionary at least twice, when assigned by a priesthood leader. Discuss the teaching experience with the missionary.

• ___ 4. Discuss the meaning of the oath and covenant of the priesthood with a priesthood leader (see D&C 84:33–44).

• ___ 5. Under the direction of a priesthood leader, help teach at least 2 lessons in priests quorum meetings.

• ___ 6. Learn the basic skills of conducting music, memorize a hymn, and lead others in singing it during opening exercises of priesthood meeting at least once a year.

• ___ 7. Participate in at least 1 priests quorum service project each year.

Personal Goals

To earn a Duty to God certificate as a priest, you must complete 8 or more personal goals under each of the 4 categories that follow. If these suggested goals do not fit your needs or abilities, you can modify the requirements with the approval of your parents and Aaronic Priesthood leaders. Discuss your goals with your parents and a priesthood leader.

Have a parent or priesthood leader initial each goal when you have completed it. Keep a summary of your progress on page 32.

Spiritual Development

Complete 8 or more goals from this category. You can select from the goals listed below or write your own. These goals should help you strengthen your testimony, learn your priesthood duties, and understand the doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

• ___ 1. Speak in a quorum or sacrament meeting about the importance of honesty and integrity in daily life.

• ___ 2. Teach a gospel lesson to younger children in family home evening, Sunday School, Primary, or another meeting.

• ___ 3. Visit a hospital or care center, and talk with or read to the patients or residents.

• ___ 4. With your bishop’s guidance, identify and assist 2 elderly families with tasks such as shopping, gardening, cleaning house, and painting.

• ___ 5. Learn to play the piano or organ well enough to accompany 2 hymns in a Church meeting.

• ___ 6. Participate in a baptismal service by being a witness, performing a baptism, giving a talk, leading the music, or helping set up.

• ___ 7. Encourage and invite a less-active quorum member to participate in at least 1 quorum or ward activity.

• ___ 8. Continue to add regularly to your mission fund in preparation for receiving your mission call.

• ___ 9. Participate in a community service project that benefits people who are not members of the Church.

• ___10. Recite from memory the Articles of Faith and D&C 4.

• ___11. Participate in a ward or stake missionary preparation program. Where possible, work with the ward mission leader to participate in companionship exchanges with the full-time or stake missionaries.

• ___12. As assigned by a priesthood leader, speak in sacrament meeting about a righteous father and the impact he had on his family.

• ___13. _______________________________________________________________

Physical Development

Complete 8 or more goals from this category. You can select from the goals listed below or write your own. These goals should help you develop good health habits, become more physically fit, learn teamwork, and practice safety.

• ___ 1. Run 10 kilometers or 6 miles in 60 minutes or less.

• ___ 2. Hike 25 kilometers or 15 miles with a pack in 2 days or less.

• ___ 3. Run for 30 minutes 3 times a week for 3 months.

• ___ 4. Swim for 30 minutes twice a week for 3 months.

• ___ 5. Present a display or demonstrate a hobby or craft at school, in a Church activity, or at a community event.

• ___ 6. Participate in a musical group that presents music in harmony with Church standards, and give a public performance.

• ___ 7. Participate on a sports team in your quorum, ward, school, or community.

• ___ 8. Learn to play or officiate for a sport.

• ___ 9. Teach the rules of a sport to another family or quorum member.

• ___10. As local regulations permit, organize and carry out a camping trip for your quorum. Make arrangements with the owner of the land for permission to camp there, and clean up the area before leaving.

• ___11. Study the needs of people with disabilities. With approval from your parents or a priesthood leader, plan and carry out a camping trip or other activity that includes those with disabilities.

• ___12. Under the direction of a priesthood leader, plan and carry out an activity close to home in which all members of your quorum may participate with little or no cost. Possible activities include a 50-kilometer or 30-mile bike or wilderness trek, a rafting or canoeing trip, or a bicycle road rally.

• ___13. _______________________________________________________________

Educational, Personal, and Career Development

Complete 8 or more goals from this category. You can select from the goals listed below or write your own. These goals should help you become more self-reliant, develop talents, and gain leadership qualities.

• ___ 1. Write a post–high school education or training plan. Include how your education or training might be financed. Explain how your plans will work with your goal of serving a 2-year full-time mission.

• ___ 2. Enroll and participate in a university or vocational school, on-the-job training program, apprenticeship, or internship.

• ___ 3. Visit the workplace of 3 occupations you are interested in. Write about what you did and did not like about the job and about why you think it does or does not fit your long-term goals.

• ___ 4. With your parents’ permission, obtain part-time work.

• ___ 5. Learn how to find a job. Prepare a résumé, and hold a practice interview with one or both of your parents or a priesthood leader.

• ___ 6. Obtain a valid driver’s license with your parents’ approval.

• ___ 7. Prepare a personal history, including several important events in your life or your family’s life. Keep a journal or personal record.

• ___ 8. In a language other than your own, learn to bear your testimony, and memorize Articles of Faith 7–13. Also, in 5 languages, learn greetings that people would give on the street.

• ___ 9. Plan and participate in a variety show at church or in the community that includes local talent.

• ___10. Create at least 3 paintings or drawings, and, if possible, display them in a church, school, or community cultural arts event.

• ___11. Participate in a church, school, or community choir.

• ___12. Learn to play a musical instrument.

• ___13. _______________________________________________________________

Citizenship and Social Development

Complete 8 or more goals from this category. You can select from the goals listed below or write your own. These goals should help you serve others, improve social skills, and become a better member of your family, ward, community, and nation.

• ___ 1. Plan and participate in at least 1 combined activity with your quorum members and the young women in the ward.

• ___ 2. Read the section on dating in For the Strength of Youth. Discuss appropriate dating activities and conduct and the characteristics to look for in a potential spouse.

• ___ 3. Learn good personal hygiene and grooming habits. Discuss why these skills are important to your success now and as a potential full-time missionary.

• ___ 4. Invite a group of newly married couples from the ward or stake to a panel discussion in which they discuss how individuals should treat each other during courtship and what to look for in a future spouse.

• ___ 5. Attend a social event in the ward or stake and another similar event at school. Describe to your parents or a priesthood leader how you felt and behaved in both situations.

• ___ 6. Plan and carry out a cultural or social activity for a group of elderly people in your area. Consult with the ward high priests group leader in your planning.

• ___ 7. Organize or assist with a crime-prevention program in your neighborhood, under the direction of priesthood and community leaders.

• ___ 8. Ask a representative of a local law enforcement agency to attend a neighborhood meeting, and encourage residents to watch out for one another.

• ___ 9. After talking with a priesthood leader, do 2 projects that will help you better understand national governments and how to preserve peace.

• ___10. Talk to a priesthood leader about the culture of a country or countries in which full-time missionaries are serving.

• ___11. Help an elderly person participate in an election in your area.

• ___12. Participate in at least 2 community service projects during the year.

• ___13. _______________________________________________________________