Teens & Seminary

The highest calling in the Aaronic Priesthood is that of a priest. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon Church as it is more commonly known, young men at the age of sixteen (up through seventeen, or until ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood) are ordained to the office of a priest upon being found worthy. If the young man has been a member of this Church for many years, the duties and responsibilities outlined in the Duty to God program will only add on to what he’s already accomplished as a deacon and teacher.

Even as a priest the young men must accomplish many different goals in order to receive his Duty to God Award. These goals vary in each area. In Family Activities there are ten goals in all, each of which must be completed and signed off by a parent. These goals may include reading the entire Book of Mormon, another testament of Christ, and discussing some of the main accounts, or perhaps the young man could talk to his parents about his career goals and his plans to achieve them.

The next area is Quorum Activities where seven goals must be completed under the guidance of a priesthood leader. Some of these goals include giving two 4-5 minutes talks each year when assigned by a leader, or to help teach at least two priest quorum lessons (a quorum is another name for the class). He could even learn the basic skills of conducting music and leading the music during a meeting.

Now we come to Personal Goals. Within this area are four new categories where eight goals must be completed in each one. The first category involves spiritual development, and is used to help strengthen testimonies, learn priesthood duties, and understand doctrines of the gospel. Some of these goals include speaking about the importance of honesty and integrity in daily life, participating in a baptism, and continuing to add to his missionary fund.

The next category deals with the young man’s physical development. It involves more than just physical activity, like running for 30 minutes 3 times a week. It also encourages him to learn teamwork perhaps by teaching the rules of a sport to another family or class member. He is also directed to practice safety by doing something such as studying the needs of people with disabilities, and planning and carrying out a camping trip (or other activity) that includes those with disabilities.

Next we look into educational, personal, and career development. All of these things can help to make a more confident, more self-reliant young man. Some of the goals included here involve obtaining part-time work (if he hasn’t already done so), obtaining a valid driver’s license (with parental approval), and participating in a church, school or community choir.

The last category looks at a young man’s citizenship and social development, particularly in helping him learn to serve others, improve his social skills, and becoming an involved member of the community. Some of these goals talk about personal hygiene, discussing good conduct in dating, or talking with a priesthood leader about different cultures where full-time missionaries are serving.

Each young man must also complete a Service Project to benefit his family or community. The priest is to plan it out, make any necessary preparations, and then carry out the project personally. These projects can double as Eagle Scout service projects for those who participate in both programs.

At last we come to keeping a Personal Journal. It probably sounds lame, but I can testify to the powerful influence of a journal. Not only is it a great record of your life, as well as spiritual impressions you may have forgotten, but it may become a treasure to your descendants.

If a young man has completed all the goals over the six years he attends the Young Men program in the Church, he is eligible to receive the Duty to God Award. Of course the real reward comes in every single wonderful trait and lesson he has learned over the last six years. These traits and lessons will continue to bless him as he moves on to become a missionary, a husband, and a father. I can testify of this.

When a young man of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon Church as it is sometimes called, turns fourteen years of age and is found worthy he will be ordained to the office of a 'Teacher.' This is the second office in the Aaronic Priesthood. As a teacher the young man will retain the duties and responsibilities he had as a deacon (12-13 years old) and will gain new ones.

At this same time he will be given a new Duty To God booklet, designed especially to help the teachers progress from their duties as a deacon.

One of these new duties is the opportunity to prepare the sacrament, just as the Savior did for His disciples (see Luke 22:19-20). The young man will also have the chance to become a home teacher in the Church, and with a partner will be in charge of visiting assigned families in their homes to ensure their well-being.

Each young man is required to accomplish a certain amount of goals in several different areas in order to receive a certificate at the end of his two years as a teacher. The first area involves Family Activities.

For a teacher there are a total of eight goals, and each one must be completed. These goals vary from memorizing the words and learning to conduct at least three hymns each year, to learning to prepare and use a simple budget, then keeping that budget for at least two months. Parents are asked to work alongside their young men in order to help them accomplish these goals, and must sign them off as they are completed.

The next area is referred to as Quorum Activities. A quorum is the individual classes for deacons, teachers and priests (all callings within the Aaronic Priesthood). There are seven goals in all, each of which must be completed under the direction of class leaders. These goals include participating in at least one quorum service project each year. They are also encouraged to give at least one 4-5 minutes talk in their class or in the Latter-day Saint Church’s main meeting (sacrament meeting).

In the next area, Personal Goals, four new categories are set up for the young man to work on himself. In each of these four categories a requirement of eight goals apiece is put in place, totaling 32 goals for this one area.

The first category is spiritual development. We believe every young man should focus on his spiritual side, to help strengthen it and, at the same time, him. Some of the goals set up to help in this effort are to write regularly in a journal for three months, to regularly add to his mission fund in preparation to become a full-time missionary, and to develop a list of ten qualities he admires in his father or another adult and then to discuss them.

The second category is physical development. Some of the goals here include hiking for nine miles in one day (can be combined with scouting), teaching a younger sibling or member of his congregation how to play an indoor game or sport, and maybe teaching first aid skills to a family or class member. Not only can these things help develop a young man’s physical health, but it goes a long way toward helping his mental and emotional health as well.

The next category involves developments in his career, his education and his personal life. These goals are intended to help a young man become more self-reliant, such as taking a vocational interest test to help him prepare for a potential career. Some goals encourage him to develop his talents, such as learning to play a musical instrument. Other goals help create leadership qualities, such as attending a career night where the steps he will need to apply for a job are described.

The last category focuses on his citizenship and social development. These goals attempt to bring a young man’s focus outside of himself and look toward his community. For example, he could visit a legal court, and share his impressions of the experience with a leader. Or he could discuss ways to help prevent crime in the area. A frequent favorite of youth is to plan and participate in an etiquette dinner.

The Duty to God Service Project can be doubled as an Eagle Scout project if the young man is participating in both programs. These service projects should benefit their family or community and should be planned and carried out by the young man.

Last we come to keeping a Personal Journal. Back in spiritual development one of the goals set there was to keep a journal. You can see how these goals can entwine, helping to accomplish more than one at once.

For example, one goal is to give a talk, while another is to use a computer to prepare a talk. Yet another goal is to give an assigned talk or give a speech at school. These three goals can easily be combined.

There may be times the thought of making and accomplishing all of these goals will feel daunting, but it can be done. With a good support system many young men of this Church have been successful in gaining the certificate at the end of their two years as a teacher. Not only that, but they feel better about themselves, about all they have accomplished, and know that many people out there want to see them succeed.

The first calling in the Aaronic Priesthood is that of a Deacon in the Young Men Program. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon Church, a Deacon is a young man of the age 12 and 13. If raised in the Church, he has already begun the practice of making and setting goals while attending Primary in the Faith in God program.

Upon entering the Young Men Program the deacons will receive a booklet titled,

Aaronic Priesthood
Deacon
Fulfilling Our Duty to God.

Throughout the booklet are various scripture references to help the deacons understand the spiritual nature of their calling, such as is found in the Doctrine and Covenants.

“Thou art called to assist; which thing if ye do, and are faithful, ye shall be blessed both spiritually and temporally, and great shall be your reward” D&C 14:11.

“To watch over the church, to be standing ministers unto the church” D&C 84:111.

Deacons are asked to accomplish goals under several different categories. Each of these goals is set up as a starting place, so that as they continue on to different positions in the Young Men (teachers, priests) they will be able to more readily complete more difficult goals.

The first category is Family Activities. There are seven goals in all listed, and each one is to be done with the family when possible. Some of these goals include developing a habit of reading the scriptures daily. The deacons are specifically asked to read in the Book of Mormon from 1 Nephi to Mosiah in two years. This can easily be done if the family sets up a regular time to read the scriptures.

Another goal to accomplish with the family can be preparing at least two meals for everyone. If he’s feeling really ambitious (and if Mom and Dad feel daring enough), he can even try washing and ironing his own clothes for a month.

Under the category of Quorum Activities, deacons are taught by priesthood leaders. There are seven goals in all, each intended to help them understand what their calling as a deacon requires, as well as the importance of holding the Aaronic Priesthood. One goal asks them to participate in at least two service projects each year with their fellow classmates. Another asks them to read Isaiah 58 as well as Doctrine and Covenants 59, then explain to their leader the law of the fast, and how fast offerings are used.

Next we come to Personal Goals. There are four different sections under this category, and in each section the deacon is to accomplish eight or more goals.

The first section focuses on spiritual development. Deacons are asked to bear their testimony at least once each year. They are asked to read an account of one of their ancestors and report on what they learned to their family or leader. They are asked to start a journal and write in it regularly for at least two months. Mormon men are encouraged to go on full-time missions (lasting two years) at the age of nineteen. To help them in this goal deacons can set the goal to be financially prepared.

The next section focuses on their physical development. More than ever this is becoming crucial in the health of our children and teens. Some of the goals a deacon can set are to learn a new sport, swim for 50 meters using two different strokes, or hiking for 6 miles in one day. They can prepare the equipment for an overnight camping trip by setting up a tent, cooking on an open fire or camp stove, and restoring their surroundings to what they were before the campout.

The third section teaches them way to develop personally, in their education, and career. Goals vary from making plans to improve basic reading and writing to learning emergency treatment for electrical shock, near drowning, or heat exhaustion among other things. They can learn to play a musical instrument, and follow it up by performing a musical selection in church.

Citizenship and social development round it out. Goals for this section can be explaining to a leader or parent what makes a good friend, including how to maintain that friendship as well as how to resolve conflicts. Another goal could be teaching the family to play a new game or sport. They could even clean up a part of the neighborhood.

Next we come to the Duty to God Service Project. Deacons are encouraged to choose a service project that will benefit their family or community. They need to be able to plan it out, prepare for it, and then accomplish it. All projects must be approved by both parents and leaders.

The last category promotes keeping a Personal Journal. This can be accomplished by setting a previous goal to keep a journal for two months.

It all probably seems like a lot, but remember they have two whole years to accomplish all of this. With the help and support of both parents and Church leaders, these deacons can accomplish every single one of these goals. I can testify it will only bless them in their lives, and in the lives of those they come in contact with.

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.

Duty to God Service Project

The young men are required to choose, plan, and carry out an approved service project that will benefit their family, their congregation, or their community. 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.

The Duty to God program was set up several years ago as a guide for the Young Men Program (boys age 12-17) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormon Church) to help in their spiritual progression. Specifically its purpose is to prepare them to obtain the Melchizedek Priesthood, the temple endowment, a full-time mission, marriage, and fatherhood. No pressure, right?

Fortunately we’re not talking about our young men doing all of this tomorrow. At the age of twelve, and if found worthy, all young men may receive the Aaronic Priesthood and are then ordained to the office of a Deacon. From this point on through the next six years they are encouraged to participate in the Duty to God program.

Each young man will receive a four by six booklet. Unlike the Young Women who will keep just one book in their own Personal Progress program for all six years, the Young Men will be given a new book every two years as they advance in their callings. The first book is for the Deacons, age 12-13. The next book is for those who are Teachers, age 14-15, and the last book is for Priests, age 16-17.

In all three books there is a message from the First Presidency, or the President and his 1st and 2nd counselors who preside over the entire Latter-day Saint Church. I’d like to share a portion of this message.

“You have been called to make a difference in the world. As a son of God, with the power of the Aaronic Priesthood, you can be a wonderful force for good… You have a responsibility to learn what Heavenly Father wants you to do and then to do your best to follow His will… The Lord believes in you and has an important mission for you to do. He will help you as you turn to Him in prayer… You will feel a great sense of accomplishment as you fulfill your duty and prepare for the exciting challenges of the future.”

Over the next few posts I hope to enlighten you who are unfamiliar with the program as to all it can do for the young men of our Church. It requires a lot in regards to time, energy, commitment, and personal study. There are many goals to be met in various areas. Some of these will be done with the help of parents, others with the help of church leaders. Most of these goals need to be done on a personal basis.

One of the wonderful things about the Duty to God program is how well it fits in with Scouting. For those who have access to the Scouting Program it may feel burdensome to add the Duty to God program as well. As we explore some of the areas in the program I hope you’ll see just how well the two areas compliment one another.

“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” (“Teaming Up for Youth,” Ensign, Jan 2002).

The Duty to God program blesses the lives of so many young men. It can help keep them grounded in the spiritual things at a time when the pleasures of the world are constantly being thrust in their faces. Brother Charles W. Dahlquist, current General President of the Young Men Program spoke of this very thing.

“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…will not only be more focused on that which is good and right and true, but he will be more prepared to shun evil” (Charles W. Dahlquist II, “Fulfilling Our Duty to God: A Window of Opportunity,” Ensign, Sep 2006).

As a young man proceeds through the program he may receive a certificate for every book in which he has accomplished all the required goals. If at the end of the six years he has received all three certificates he can receive the Duty to God Award. will help them remember to pray, listen for answers to prayers, keep the commandments, and prepare to become a worthy missionary, husband and father.

About fifteen years earlier Brigham Young, then president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints otherwise known as the Mormon Church), had set in motion the official organization of the young women of the Church. He saw in them a troubling trend in becoming too focused on the things of the world. After the Retrenchment Society was put together their community saw a wonderful transformation in the girls into productive, helpful members.

In 1900 he began to worry about the young men of the Church as well, particularly in the winter months when there was far too much time to fill up. When it came to the social aspect of their lives there really wasn’t anything to help direct them. It was then the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association was formed, which later became the Young Men’s Program.

The Young Men’s program is set up much like the other organizations of the Latter-day Saint Church. A presidency consisting of men of the Church is called. This includes the president, 1st and 2nd counselors, and a secretary. Teachers are also asked to come in and help lead.

The young men range in age from 12-17 years old and are split up into three different classes, or quorums. The names of these quorums will probably sound familiar to many of you. The youngest are the Deacons at 12-13. Next come the Teachers at 14-15, and then follow the Priests at 16-17. From the members of these quorums individual presidencies are then set up. The only difference is in the Priest’s Quorum where the bishop (leader of the congregation) is the president.

As the names signify, young men who are found worthy by the bishop and other leaders of the church are then given the Aaronic Priesthood (visit "What is the Aaronic Priesthood" for a more complete post). This is a heavy responsibility, and should not be taken lightly.

There are two separate programs the young men are involved in to help them set and accomplish goals. These goals will help to guide them in making better choices throughout these years. The first is the Scouting Program. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is actively involved in the scouting program beginning in Cub Scouts and following through to Boy Scouts. Many of the men in our Church at one time or another became involved in scouting, became Eagle Scouts, and even went on to continue as leaders.

The other program is specifically for the young men of our Church. It’s called the Duty to God program. It was created with the soul purpose of helping the young men prepare to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, the temple endowment, a full-time mission, marriage and fatherhood. It encourages the young men to set and achieve worthy goals geared towards meeting this end.

I can personally testify to what the Young Men Program can do to help guide the male youth into worthy men. I have a father, two brothers, and a husband who are remarkable living testimonies to this end.