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“Aaronic Priesthood Duty to God Program,” Guidebook for Parents and Leaders of Youth, 9

Overview

The Aaronic Priesthood Duty to God program helps young men accomplish the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood. It helps them develop skills and attributes that are needed to succeed in life.

The goals and requirements of the program are outlined in the Aaronic Priesthood: Fulfilling Our Duty to God guidebooks for deacons, teachers, and priests. Young men work with their parents and priesthood leaders to set and accomplish goals leading to the Duty to God Award.

Some goals are accomplished in a family setting, some with the quorum, and some individually. For example, a deacon would accomplish the following goals over a two-year period:

The young men set personal goals in the following four areas of development: Spiritual Development; Physical Development; Educational, Personal, and Career Development; and Citizenship and Social Development.

The following chart summarizes the Aaronic Priesthood achievement program. A copy of this chart is included in each young man’s guidebook to help him record his progress.

Duty to God Service Projects

Each young man must complete three service projects that benefit the family, ward, stake, or community. One project is performed as a deacon, one as a teacher, and one as a priest. The young man should plan, prepare, and carry out the project. Others may assist as needed. The project needs to be approved by the young man’s parents and quorum adviser.

Duty to God Activities at Mutual

The Young Men presidency and the quorum presidencies are encouraged to plan Mutual activities focused on the four areas of development: Spiritual Development; Physical Development; Educational, Personal, and Career Development; and Citizenship and Social Development. This will help young men complete the goals leading to their Duty to God Award.

Scouting

Scouting is part of the Aaronic Priesthood activity program. The Duty to God Award is a priesthood award, having requirements that will help young men develop spiritually and fulfill their priesthood duties.

All young men are encouraged to earn the Eagle Scout Award. Scouting requirements may be used to fulfill many of the personal goals of the Aaronic Priesthood Duty to God program. Also, the Eagle Scout service project may count for one of the Duty to God service projects.

Certificates and Award

A young man should earn three separate Duty to God certificates: one as a deacon, one as a teacher, and one as a priest (deacon certificate, 36416; teacher, 36417; priest, 36418). He receives a certificate each time he completes the requirements outlined in one of the three Aaronic Priesthood: Fulfilling Our Duty to God guidebooks. Bishopric members may present each certificate in a quorum meeting or during priesthood opening exercises.

When a young man receives all three of his Duty to God certificates, he receives the Duty to God Award. He should receive this award by his 19th birthday. This award consists of a certificate (36419) and a medallion (81334). A member of the bishopric may present the award in a sacrament meeting.

The certificates and medallion may be obtained through a Church distribution center using ward or branch funds, at no cost to the young men or their parents.

Record Keeping

Young men are encouraged to keep their guidebooks as a record of their progress. Quorum advisers may want to keep a simple record of each young man’s progress in order to provide appropriate support (see the Aaronic Priesthood Duty to God Achievement Record [36720]). Extensive record keeping is not expected.

Adapting to Individual and Local Needs

The requirements listed in the Aaronic Priesthood: Fulfilling Our Duty to God guidebooks may be modified or replaced according to personal or local circumstances, interests, and needs with the prior approval of parents and Aaronic Priesthood leaders. When making any changes or exceptions for one person, leaders should carefully consider the effect those changes may have on the other young men. After careful consideration by parents and leaders, modifications may be appropriate to meet the needs of young men with disabilities or educational limitations, to meet cultural or individual needs, or to allow young men who are not members to participate.

A worthy teacher or priest who did not receive one or both of the preceding Duty to God certificates may still earn the Duty to God Award by completing (1) all the requirements for the current certificate and (2) the family and quorum activities and the personal goals for preceding certificates (except for the annual service projects, talks, and family home evening lessons).

Responsibilities of Leaders

Bishopric members are responsible to teach young men their priesthood duties and help them earn their Duty to God Award. Bishopric members are assisted by the Young Men presidency. The Young Men presidency should ensure that young men are given opportunities during quorum meetings and activities to fulfill their required quorum goals.

Near a young man’s 12th birthday, a member of the bishopric and a member of the deacons quorum presidency should meet with the young man and his parents. They should give him a copy of Aaronic Priesthood: Fulfilling Our Duty to God for deacons and teach him his duties. Similar visits should also take place as the young man is ordained to the offices of teacher and priest.

Members of the bishopric are encouraged to use their regularly scheduled interviews with young men to review each young man’s progress. Stake presidents should regularly ask bishops about the welfare and progress of the young men in their wards.