Duty to God Award honor presented to young men who participate in the Aaronic Priesthood training within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The Duty to God program for young men

Young Men (organization)

The Young Men is a youth organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...

 is roughly equivalent to the Personal Progress

Personal Progress

Personal Progress is a goal-setting and achievement program within the Young Women Organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...

 program for young women

Young Women (organization)

The Young Women is a youth organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...

 in the LDS Church.

Award history

Prior to 2002, the award was presented to young male LDS Church members in recognition of their fulfillment of religious duties. Although the award did not require participation in the Scouting

Scouting

Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....

 program of the Boy Scouts of America

Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...

 (BSA), the BSA recognized it as evidence of a Scout's commitment to Scouting principles. The concept of the current award was first introduced by Elder F. Melvin Hammond at the church's October 2001 general conference. "Young men who have achieved this new Duty to God Award will be better prepared than ever to go to the temple, serve missions, marry in the temple and become good husbands and fathers,' said Hammond in announcing the program. "They will be better prepared to serve their families, their Church and their community."

Award requirements

The current award program officially began in January 2002. The Aaronic Priesthood candidates qualify for the Duty to God Award after completing specific requirements regarding priesthood duties. These were defined as involvement in family activities, participation in the Church’s quorum activities, the successful completion of a Duty to God service project, and reaching personal goals relating to education, spiritual and physical development, and social interactions.

Award name and design

The award and its qualifying program is named from a passage in the Book of Mormon

Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...

: "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 award, a circular medallion, was designed by Douglas Coy Miles. Before 2002, the award was a buffalo skull-shaped medal designed by Avaard Fairbanks.

Controversy

In the United States, some questions were raised as to whether or not the Duty to God program was created by the LDS Church to replace the focus on the Boy Scout program, especially if scouting were ever to embrace the changes advocated by gay and atheist activist groups. The LDS Church leadership has stated that the Church enjoys a good relationship with the Boy Scouts of America and has no plans to discontinue its use in their young men's organization's activity.

External links

• Duty to God Award web site