The Duty to God program is intended to help the young men of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or Mormon Church) to achieve the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood. There are several different areas of development to aid the young men in accomplishing this.
Priesthood Duties and Standards
In order to receive the certificate for deacons, teachers, and priests, other requirements are also asked. For the most part these duties and standards are the same for each age group.
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 sacrament meeting, priesthood meeting, and other Church meetings.
6. Keep the Word of Wisdom.
7. Pay a full tithe.
8. Perform other assigned priesthood duties.
The next three duties differ for each class. For example, deacons are asked to pass the sacrament while priests are allowed to bless it. Deacons gather fast offerings while both teachers and priests are assigned to go out with priesthood leaders as home teachers (visit different families in the congregation). Both teachers and priests are also asked to enroll in the seminary program.
Family Activities
Under this category parents are asked to help their young man complete each goal. Some of these goals differ by age, though some remain constant. For example deacons, teachers, and priests are all asked to read For the Strength of Youth, and then discuss with their parents the importance of these standards and values.
Family participation in helping a young man achieve these goals helps keep the family closer together.
Quorum Activities
A quorum is the individual class in the priesthood. The teachers and leaders directly over deacons will help accomplish certain goals. The teachers and leaders over teachers will do the same, as will those over the priests. These goals are geared more towards helping the young men learn what their priesthood responsibilities are.
Personal Goals
Under personal goals are four new categories. In each of these categories eight goals must be completed (totaling 32 for personal goals alone). While there are many goals suggested, the young men are allowed to modify them if they are not possible. This can only happen with the approval of both parents and leaders.
The first category is Spiritual Development. These goals are intended to help each young man strengthen his testimony, to learn his priesthood duties as well as to understand the doctrines of the gospel. A goal could be something like identifying four scriptures that testify of Jesus Christ, and then talking about it with a parent or leader. They could start a journal, or start a family group record.
The second category is Physical Development. These goals are intended to help each young man develop healthy habits, to become physically fit, and even to practice safety and learn good sportsmanship. One goal I like which progresses as the young man gets older is to, as a deacon, run 2 kilometers (or 1 ¼ miles), and set a goal for improvement. As a teacher he would then be asked to run 10 kilometers (or 6 miles) in an hour or less. From there priests are to set a goal of running 5 kilometers (or 3 miles) in 30 minutes or less. You can see how starting out with 2 kilometers can easily progress to 5 in thirty minutes if the goal has been set and steadily worked on over the course of six years.
The next category is Educational, Personal, and Career Development. These goals are intended to help a young man become more self-reliant, discover and develop talents, and gain leadership qualities. The goals can be anything from improving reading skills to learning to play a musical instrument.
The fourth category is Citizenship and Social Development. These goals are intended to help the young men serve others, to improve their social skills, and to become an all-around better person. This can be done through things like learning to practice proper hygiene, or volunteering for several afternoons at a hospital, or even attending a community council meeting.
The great thing about these service projects is they can double as an Eagle Scout project for those also doing Scouting.
Personal Journal
Last, but certainly not least, is the keeping of a journal. Journals are to be treasured. They are a record of our personal lives. The young men are encouraged to keep details of spiritual impressions and feelings.
There is no doubt in my mind the young men of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are blessed by being asked to accomplish so much in their youth. Focusing on the spiritual side can only help in making them good missionaries, strong husbands, and compassionate fathers.
