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Statements
by Church Leaders about Duty to God |
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I have said these things unto you that I might awaken you to a
sense of your duty to God, that ye may walk blameless before him, that
ye may walk after the holy order of God. —Alma
7:22
The First Presidency
"In January 2000, we introduced an Aaronic Priesthood Achievement
program in areas outside the United States and Canada where Scouting was
not available. The purpose of the program is to help young men prepare
for the Melchizedek Priesthood, the temple endowment, a full‑time
mission, marriage, and fatherhood. This program has now been adapted for
use in the United States and Canada to include the important role of
Scouting in the development of young men. The name has been changed to
Aaronic Priesthood: Fulfilling Our Duty to God. . . .
"We desire all young men to strive to earn the Eagle Scout and Duty
to God Awards. We desire all young women to strive to earn the Young
Womanhood Recognition. As youth work on these goals, they will develop
skills and attributes that will lead them to the temple and prepare them
for a lifetime of service to their families and the Lord" (First
Presidency letter, Sept. 28, 2001).
"The books
For the Strength of Youth;
Aaronic Priesthood: Fulfilling Our Duty to God; and
Young Women Personal Progress help young men and young women
understand what Heavenly Father wants them to do and be. The books
provide a resource for you, as parents and leaders, to help the youth
prepare for the temple endowment, missions, temple marriage, and
parenthood.
"We hope that every young man earns the Duty to God Award. We hope
that every young woman earns the Young Womanhood Recognition. The
requirements for earning these awards are challenging and rewarding. We
are grateful to parents and leaders who help the youth achieve them. May
the Lord bless you as you help the youth of the Church go forward to
meet the great responsibilities that await them" ("Message
from the First Presidency," Guidebook for Parents and Leaders of
Youth [2001], 1–2).
"You have a responsibility to learn what Heavenly Father wants you
to do and then to do your best to follow His will. This guidebook, along
with
For the Strength of Youth, will help you learn and do your
duty to God. We hope you will earn the Duty to God Award and that it
will become a symbol of your preparation to receive the Melchizedek
Priesthood" ("Message
from the First Presidency," Aaronic Priesthood: Fulfilling Our
Duty to God, Deacon [2001], 4).
President Thomas S. Monson
"The Aaronic Priesthood prepares boys for manhood and the weightier
duties of the Melchizedek Priesthood. . . . To all the Aaronic
Priesthood assembled tonight with your fathers and your leaders, the
priesthood program of the Church, with its accompanying activities,
including Scouting, will help and not hinder you as you journey through
life" ("The
Upward Reach," Ensign, Nov. 1993, 48, 50).
"What a privilege to learn the discipline of duty. A young man will
automatically turn from concern for self when he is assigned to 'watch
over' others. . . .
"Miracles are everywhere to be found when priesthood callings are
magnified. When faith replaces doubt, when selfless service eliminates
selfish striving, the power of God brings to pass His purposes. The
priesthood is not really so much a gift as it is a commission to serve,
a privilege to lift, and an opportunity to bless the lives of
others. . . .
"I love the motto: 'Do [your] duty; that is best; Leave unto [the]
Lord the rest!'
"Active service in the Aaronic Priesthood will prepare you young men
to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, to serve missions, and to marry
in the holy temple" ("Do
Your Duty—That Is Best," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 57, 59; citations
omitted).
President James E. Faust
"You young men are a chosen generation for whom the future holds
great promise. The future may require you to compete with young men in a
worldwide market. You need special training. You may be selected for
training not because of some extraordinary achievement or great thing,
but because you got your Eagle Scout Award, your Duty to God Award,
graduated from seminary, or served a mission.
"In the parable of talents, the one who had increased his talents was
told, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful
over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou
into the joy of thy lord' (Matthew 25:23). May we all be faithful in
doing the day‑to‑day, ordinary things that prove our worthiness, for
they will lead us to and qualify us for great things" (" 'Some
Great Thing,' " Ensign, Nov. 2001, 49).
Elder M. Russell Ballard
"We have confidence in the youth of the Church and love and respect
them for who they are. They are tempted from every side, but they are
faithful and strong. . . . [The guidebooks] will give the youth
added strength and courage. The guidebooks teach gospel standards and
will help the youth do their duty. . . .
"We want every young man to enter the elders quorum with his Duty to
God Award. We want every young woman to enter Relief Society with her
Young Womanhood Recognition.
"There is nothing more important than helping our children and youth
learn the teachings of the Savior and remain faithful. We are grateful
for the leadership of parents, bishoprics, and other youth leaders.
Their good example and consistent support in assisting our young men and
young women are essential" (in "Helping Youth Develop Faith, Courage,"
Church News, Oct. 27, 2001, 3).
"In years to come, as young men advance in the Aaronic Priesthood
and are ordained elders, . . . I see them coming to their
elders quorum president with their Duty to God certificates in hand,
saying, 'I'm ready to serve the Lord' " (in "Teaming
Up for Youth," Ensign, Jan. 2002, 8).
Elder Robert D. Hales
"It is important the youth know who they are—sons and daughters of
God. It is important that they know what they are trying to achieve in
life—that is, to return back into the presence of their Heavenly Father
with their families. Because the youth are so blessed, it is also
important that they learn and do their duty to God. . . .
"Some of the great blessings of the Duty to God and Personal Progress
programs are that as youth of the Church, they will have a clear
understanding of who they are, they will be accountable for their
actions, they will take responsibility for the conduct of their lives,
and they will be able to set goals so that they might achieve what they
were sent to earth to achieve. Our plea is that each young man and each
young woman will strive to do his or her very best. . . .
"I hope that parents and leaders will understand that the young men
and young women for whom they have responsibility have been prepared to
come to earth at this particular time for a sacred and glorious purpose.
I hope the parents and leaders will do what they need to do to help the
youth accomplish that purpose. . . .
"During the preparatory period of their lives it is so important that
young men and young women cultivate spiritual growth, physical growth,
education, personal development, career preparation, citizenship, and
social skills. These qualities are all part of their duty to God and
will help them in the decisions that lie ahead for the next decades of
their lives" (in "Helping Youth Develop Faith, Courage," Church
News, Oct. 27, 2001, 3).
"The Duty to God Award will assist young men to meet the future
challenges of life and to achieve the purposes of the Aaronic
Priesthood. . . .
"If you will fulfill the requirements for these priesthood duties and
personal attributes, you will prepare yourselves for the Melchizedek
Priesthood responsibilities and future challenges in your life. I
promise you that your achievement of the Duty to God Award will provide
you with a living testimony that will sustain you throughout your life.
"Where available, Scouting can also help you in this effort. We
encourage you to participate in Scouting. Many of the Scouting
requirements can fill goals and requirements of the Duty to God
certificates.
"Scouting is part of the Aaronic Priesthood activity program. The
Duty to God Award is a priesthood award, having requirements that will
help you develop spiritually and fulfill your priesthood duties.
"Some of the great blessings of these programs that have been
developed are that as the youth of the Church, you will have a clear
understanding of who you are, you will be accountable for your actions,
you will take responsibility for the conduct of your life, and you will
be able to set goals so that you might achieve what you were sent to
earth to achieve. Our plea is that you strive to do your very
best. . . .
" . . . By fulfilling your duty to God, you will bring blessings not
only to your own life but to the lives of others.
"Giving service to others is one of the purposes of the Aaronic
Priesthood. As a requirement for the Duty to God Award, at least once
each year you will have a service project that will provide an
opportunity for significant service to your family, the Church, or the
community. As you help and serve others, you will learn that the
following scripture is a very essential part of the gospel: 'Inasmuch as
ye do it unto the least of these, ye do it unto me' (D&C
42:38).
"I hope the parents, and the bishops—who are the presidents of the
Aaronic Priesthood—will understand that the young men and young women
for whom they have responsibility have been prepared to come to earth at
this particular time for a sacred and glorious purpose. It is a great
blessing to be able to qualify for and then receive the Melchizedek
Priesthood. You young men have noble callings to become righteous men,
to grow in strength, and to influence others for good. You young men are
the future of the Church. . . .
"Brethren of the Aaronic Priesthood, set your goals now and start
working toward earning your Duty to God Award and Eagle Scout Award. You
will be blessed for your efforts. . . .
" . . . I promise you that you will be blessed for your faithfulness
and declare with the prophet Alma, 'I have said these things unto you
that I might awaken you to a sense of your duty to God, that ye may walk
blameless before him, that ye may walk after the holy order of God' (Alma
7:22)" ("Fulfilling
Our Duty to God," Ensign, Nov. 2001, 39–41).
Elder Cecil O. Samuelson
"The Duty to God Award program will help you achieve [the] purposes
of the Aaronic Priesthood. To qualify for the Duty to God Award, you
will need to achieve and complete Aaronic Priesthood purposes and also
participate in family activities, specific quorum activities, a Duty to
God service project, keeping a personal journal, and completing personal
goals. . . .
"Where Scouting is available, you will note that many of the Scouting
requirements can fill necessary expectations for the Duty to God Award.
Both Duty to God and Scouting activities teach us to 'be prepared' in
'every needful thing' (D&C 88:119). Achieving the Duty to God and Eagle
Scout Awards . . . are complementary, not competitive. . . .
"You know that receiving the Duty to God Award is not the ultimate
goal in itself, but rather the incorporation into your lives of
attributes that will help you focus more clearly on your duty to God.
These characteristics will keep you on track to be worthy and able to
meet the sacred tasks and opportunities before you. They will help you
to be happy, clean, and strong now and also to prepare you for eternally
important events such as receiving the blessings of the holy temple,
serving missions, and ultimately being sealed to a worthy companion in
the house of the Lord" ("Our
Duty to God," Ensign, Nov. 2001, 42–43).
Charles W. Dahlquist, II, Young Men General President
"The First Presidency has said, 'We desire all young men to strive
to earn the . . . Duty to God Award.' This program helps you grow
through setting and achieving worthy goals. You will work with Aaronic
Priesthood leaders, your bishop or branch president, and your mother and
father. . . .
"When you have earned your deacon, teacher, and priest Duty to God
certificates, you will be eligible to receive your Duty to God
medallion. This is a great achievement, but the real blessing of the
program is that it will help prepare you to receive the Melchizedek
Priesthood and the temple endowment, serve a full-time mission, marry in
the temple, and become a faithful husband and father" ("Welcome
to the Aaronic Priesthood and Young Men," Friend, June
2006, 47–48; citation omitted).
"With the challenges that are bombarding young men today—Satan’s
attempts to weaken them and lead them astray—there has never been a
greater need for the blessings that come through achieving the Duty to
God Award. A young man who is dedicated to reading the scriptures daily,
memorizing the Article of Faith, and accomplishing the other
requirements will not only be more focused on that which is good and
right and true, but he will be more prepared to shun evil" ("Fulfilling
Our Duty to God: A Window of Opportunity," Ensign, Sept. 2006,
36).
President Ezra Taft Benson, 13th President of the Church
"Young men, take full advantage of the Church programs. Set your
goals to attain excellence in the achievement programs of the Church.
Earn the Duty to God Award—one of our most significant priesthood
awards. Become an Eagle Scout. Do not settle for mediocrity in the great
Scouting program of the Church. . . .
"Give me a young man who has kept himself morally clean and has
faithfully attended his Church meetings. Give me a young man who has
magnified his priesthood and has earned the Duty to God Award and is an
Eagle Scout. Give me a young man who is a seminary graduate and has a
burning testimony of the Book of Mormon. Give me such a young man, and I
will give you a young man who can perform miracles for the Lord in the
mission field and throughout his life" ("To
the 'Youth of the Noble Birthright,' " Ensign, May 1986,
44–45).
Elder F. Melvin Hammond, Former Young Men General President
"Every seminary and institute student should come to understand that
doctrinal knowledge of the gospel, when accompanied by the Spirit of
Truth and total commitment, will change their lives and prompt them
to . . . complete their Duty to God and, where Scouting is available,
achieve the top award. Too many teachers fail to see the link between
these inspired programs and spiritual living" (CES Satellite Training
Broadcast, Aug. 2003).
"The Aaronic Priesthood program, Fulfilling Our Duty to God, has
been prepared for you to awaken you to a sense of your duty (see
Alma 7:22) and to help you to progress in every way as one of God's
covenant sons. As a deacon, teacher, and priest you will be able to
establish goals, meet the requirements that God has given for young men
and move forward in your efforts to become more like the Savior. As you
complete your desired objectives, in each priesthood office, you will
receive a Certificate of Achievement, culminating in your obtaining the
coveted Duty to God Award. This is an award that you will keep all of
your life. You will work hard to earn it, but it will be worth the
effort. Even in your later life you will place it on your desk and it
will remind you of your duty to God" ("Fulfilling Our Duty to God"
[unpublished], Jan. 2002).
"The Duty to God program was instituted by the Brethren of the
Church to help the youth achieve the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood
and to develop the abilities and attributes that they need to have
success in life. There are four areas of development in this program:
Spiritual Development; Physical Development; Education, Personal, and
Career Development; and Citizenship and Social Development.
"The eight purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood are clearly specified
in each of the Duty to God guidebooks. They might be more easily learned
by putting them in a standard theme.
"The principal key to saving our young men is the involvement of
worthy parents in the development of their sons. Leaders, you can have a
great influence in helping parents to understand their divine role as
fathers and mothers. You can help them to see the potential of their
sons. You can help them to have fun working with their sons to achieve
their Duty to God Award and their Eagle Scout Award" (Area Auxiliary
Training, Oct. 8, 2003).
"Duty to God embraces Scouting, which is wonderful for our young
men. I see no conflict at all between Duty to God and Scouting. Duty to
God focuses more on the spiritual—bringing young men to Christ. Scouting
is primarily an activity program with some spirituality as well. They
are complementary to one another. . . .
"Most young men going through the Scouting
program . . .get their awards by the time they are 14–15
years old. After that, it becomes more difficult to excite young men
about Scouting. Duty to God will help bridge that gap" (in "Teaming
Up for Youth," Ensign, Jan. 2002, 9).
"[The Duty to God program] started some years ago internationally to
help young men through the Aaronic Priesthood years, to fill in where
Scouting was not available, and to help develop their testimonies and
understanding of the gospel and to help young men come to Christ. . . .
"We've tried to develop the requirements based on the maturity of the
young men. Completion of the goals is more difficult as they become
teachers and priests. . . .
"Our effort was to find something that would be compatible with
priesthood principles and also with Scouting. Duty to God embraces
Scouting, which is wonderful for our young men. . . . Duty to God
focuses more on the spiritual—bringing young men to Christ. Scouting is
primarily an activity program with some spirituality as well. They are
complementary to one another. . . .
"When we set goals personally and then try to achieve them, we grow
and develop. The value of this program is what it does to a young man's
character and spirituality. The main emphasis is to develop the
spiritual life of a young man" (in "Duty
to God," New Era, Jan. 2002, 13–15).
"I've never been so excited about anything that I've done with the
young men as I am about this program. It's just fantastic.
"The young men program will contribute in many ways to the progress
of a boy through Scouting and then on through all of his Aaronic
Priesthood quorum activities and duties.
"It's a challenging program. It will cause young men to be stretched.
It will interest them and it will improve their lives. We hope that as a
boy begins this program he will meet with the bishop and have his
parents at his side."
Elder Jack H. Goaslind, Former Young Men General President
"We encourage our leaders to put their energies into using Scouting
to help accomplish the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood, and in being
positive in their support of all young men. The Scout Oath, Law, Motto
and Slogan complement the achievement of the Aaronic Priesthood purposes
we feel are so important in the lives of the young men."
Elder Robert K. Dellenbach, Former Young Men General President
"In the Scout Oath, we pledge our 'Duty to God.' All Latter-day
Saint Scouters, whether young or old, have a duty and a responsibility
to defend the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are taught that our duty to God
supersedes everything else. . . .
"May we always be ready to do our duty to God and keep the
commandments in our Scouting and in our everyday life."
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"Choose
you this day
whom ye will
serve
but for me
and my
house we will
serve the Lord "
