Duty to God Award

Duty to God Award
Medal
Presented by LDS Church
Website DutyToGod.LDS.org

The Duty to God Award honor is presented to young men who participate and excel in their duties in the Aaronic Priesthood within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The Duty to God program for young men is roughly equivalent to the Personal Progress program for young women 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. The concept of the current award was first introduced by 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."[1]

Award requirements

The current award program officially began in January 2002 and was revised in 2010. 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.[1]

Award name and design

The Duty to God Award as it appeared when used in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America prior to 2002

The award and its qualifying program is named from a passage in the Book of Mormon: "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).[2] The award, a circular medallion, was designed by Douglas Coy Miles. Before 2002, the award was a buffalo skull-shaped medal designed by Avard Fairbanks.[3]

Worldwide youth initiative

Although the Duty to God award never required participation in the Scouting programs of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), the BSA recognized it as evidence of a Scout's commitment to its principles. In May 2018, the LDS Church announced that in January 2020 it will launch a new worldwide initiative for children and youth. As a part of this change, the church will no longer be a chartered organization with the BSA.[4] It is not known what impact may have on the BSA's view of the award.

The future of the Duty to God award is not known. The new church program will replace "all existing activity programs for girls and boys, young women and young men beginning in January 2020." The focus will be on one worldwide program that is same in all countries. It has been in development for years with the goal to "teach and provide leadership and development opportunities to all children and youth, to support families, and to strengthen youth everywhere as they develop faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."[5]

The new program will focus on one's "eternal identity, build(ing) character and resilience, develop(ing) life skills" in order to guide boys and girls as they "fulfill their divine roles as daughters and sons of God". The initiative is also designed to allow greater customization, while providing unique service opportunities and activities.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Program ‘will improve their lives,’" Deseret News, October 27, 2001 (fee-based article)
  2. ↑ "Young Men Learn Their Duty," MormonTimes.com/Deseret News
  3. ↑ "Obit: Douglas Coy Miles helped create CTR ring and other famous LDS artifacts," The Salt Lake Tribune, July 10, 2008
  4. ↑ "Church Announces Plan for Worldwide Initiative for Children and Youth", Newsroom, LDS Church, May 8, 2018
  5. ↑ General Authorities. "Statement to Members". LDS.org. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
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