Where do I find the reading materials listed in the D2G handbook?

Document Name          www.LDScatalog.com Item#    Price 

 Gospel Principles          31110000               $3.00 

 Strength of Youth          36550000               free 

 Endowed From On High       235322000              $0.75

(Temple Prep Seminar Teacher's manual; Note: May be out of print.  Substitute "Preparing to Attend the Holy Temple" or "The Holy Temple").

 Preparing to Attend        36793                  $1.00

   the Holy Temple

 The Holy Temple            30959                  $1.00

(This is the student manual for Endowed From on High)

These manuals are also available right here in text format.

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 How can I successfully motivate the parents, the youth, and their leaders about D2G?

Stk Pres & Bishopric: Talk about D2G. Talk about D2G. Talk about D2G. Present the awards timely in sacrament meeting--make a big deal out of it. Recognize the young men that receive D2G certificates in stake youth firesides and other events. Make sure everyone realizes that scouting is no longer the sole "activity arm of the church" (this is difficult for many to accept because they can't see scouting and D2G coexisting--personally, I think this is only a vision problem ... 

Leaders: Talk about D2G. Talk about D2G. Talk about D2G. We also held a short training meeting, reviewed the handbook for Parents and Leaders, then handed them the D2G guidebooks and said, "follow this list of activities for Mutual night, no other activities are acceptable". We have a very strong boy scout program, so it took the Scoutmaster and YM's 2nd Counselor the longest to get used to the new pattern. It takes more planning to coordinate scouting advancement activities with the D2G advancement activities, but using the D2G handbook as structure for planning reduces planning 500%. I have been in more pres mtgs where 80% of the discussion is related to "what are we going to do". With the D2G guidebooks, we can move past that wasted time and get straight to the "how".

Boys: Pull the 1st Assistant aside (assuming he is a strong leader and looked up to by the other boys). Work with him personally to advance quickly. Ask him to bring his D2G manual to quorum meeting each week and have him challenge the others to do the same. Ask him to report how he is doing every week toward his award. Sign off your previous mutual activity accomplishment in quorum meeting. When he earns the award, parade him around like a returned missionary. Put his picture on the D2G web site and tell everyone about it.

Parents: We held a short training meeting with the parents, and we continue attempting to train them to work on the family activities each week--the are great Sabbath activities for families. We have found that the same parents that promote scouting; promote D2G. As much as I believe parents are 100% responsible for their children, need to be trained, need to be primarily responsible for tracking advancement, etc.; I don't think they are the key to kicking off a successful program. In the long run, they need to be trained and converted because it is technically impossible to obtain the award without family sign off for that section.

Summary: (1) mandate the use of the D2G handbook for activities, (2) give the program visibility, (3) consistently promote and recognize.

Success Formula: Get the Stake and Ward YM leaders excited --> will get the young men excited --> will get the parents' attention and involvement.  (Back to Top)

Where can I get those cool D2G posters?

You can get them at www.DutyToGodPoster.com  (Back to Top)

How old can a young man be and still earn his D2G award?

If you discover the answer, please let me know. Wait, I do know the answer... it is... ask your bishop. Your bishop has the final word on all Duty to God policy and procedure in your ward; however, here are some interesting points about age and the award:

1. The D2G manual states that a young man must hold the Aaronic Priesthood to receive the award. 

2. The handbook of instructions states, "By age 19, all brethren should be affiliated with the elders quorum as elders or prospective elders". 

3. The YW Personal Progress manual specifically states that a YW must complete all requirements prior to her 19th birthday (which doesn't have anything to do with D2G, except that it is peculiar that an age is documented for YW and not YM).  

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What are the passwords to D2G.com?

There are no passwords to D2G.com.  Please reference the note under "No Passwords" in the right hand corner of the main D2G page, or click this link for more info www.dutytogod.com/help.htm You will need to update your version of MS Word. The version you have has a bug in it. In the interim, just click cancel and the open/download will proceed.  (Back to Top)

Where can I get the actual D2G certificates and awards?

Bishops and Ward Clerks have a special login (assuming they have applied for one) to www.ldscatalog.com where they can obtain these and other no-charge items:

36419000, Duty to God Award, certificate 

36418000, Fulfilling Our Duty to God, Priest certificate 

36417000, Fulfilling Our Duty to God, Teacher certificate 

36416000, Fulfilling Our Duty to God, Deacon certificate 

81334000, Duty To God Medallion

32818000, Duty To God Award Tie Tack/Lapel Pin

32817000, Duty To God Award Ribbon Badge (obsolete)     (Back to Top)

Is there a one-year shortcut for D2G?

There is not a "simplified version" of the Duty To God program, but there are "transition instructions" for young men in your situation. You may want to check out the following link www.dutytogod.com/faqs.htm#transition and download the official letter www.dutytogod.com/downloads/transitionLetter.jpg

After reading the official policy, discuss this with your Bishop. He is the only one that can make a final determination.  (Back to Top)

Does the D2G program work in small branches also?

I believe D2G it is the inspired program of the church (no other program, no matter how seemingly more exciting, can replace what the prophets have asked us to do): 

1. Read the materials posted at www.dutytogod.com/training.htm 

2. Scour the "Guidebook for Parents and Leaders of Youth 

3. Consume the "Aaronic Priesthood: Fulfilling Our Duty to God for Priests " and Teachers, and Deacons. 

4. Get together with your youth and create a plan like the ones found here www.dutytogod.com/downloads/priests_plan.xls and here www.dutytogod.com/downloads/deaconplan.doc 

5. Track the young men's progress with a tool like this www.dutytogod.com/downloads/DTGDeacons1p.PDF or this www.dutytogod.com/downloads/D2G-Req%20SetDeacon.xls 

6. Recognize the young men frequently for their progress and update your D2G books weekly in quorum meetings. 

7. Watch your activity increase and other young men be invited to participate (it happened to me, that's why the web site was created).

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Do you need any help with this site?

Absolutely, let's talk, email me, I like people like you!  (Back to Top)

What is different about the new Duty to God program?

"We want to help young men come to Christ," adds Elder F. Melvin Hammond, Young Men general president. "The main emphasis is to develop their spirituality. It is not simply an activity program. We hope that every young man will come to appreciate the true depth of the priesthood." The prophet Alma's words reinforce the new emphasis: "And now my beloved brethren, 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 Duty to God award requirements have been designed to help young men prepare for the Melchizedek Priesthood, the temple endowment, a full-time mission, marriage, and fatherhood. The new emphasis replaces the Duty to God program the Church has sponsored for almost 50 years and is separate from the On My Honor award. The guidelines for Duty to God may be found in three guidebooks available at no charge, one for deacons (item no. 36412), one for teachers (36413), and one for priests (36414). Three achievement certificates may be earned, and if a young man qualifies for all three certificates, he becomes eligible to receive the new Duty to God award. The requirements include the completion of (1) priesthood duties and standards, including the living of ideals from For the Strength of Youth, (2) family activities, (3) quorum activities, (4) personal goals, (5) a service project, and (6) keeping a journal. The priesthood duties consist of such personal spiritual habits as prayer, scripture reading, meeting attendance, tithing payment, and fulfilling basic priesthood responsibilities such as sacrament assignments and home teaching. Living these standards helps young men be worthy of priesthood advancement and temple attendance. The family activities have been organized to strongly encourage young men to serve in the home and thus prepare for fatherhood. For example, deacons are to prepare two family meals, teachers are to prepare and use a simplified budget, and priests are to submit the name of an ancestor for temple work. "We've tried to develop the requirements based on the maturity of the young men," says Elder Hammond. Quorum activity requirements help prepare a young man to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and serve a full-time mission. These goals involve each boy in discussions with his priesthood leaders. For example, a deacon must explain the law of the fast, a teacher must describe how to be a good home teacher, and a priest must expound the meaning of the oath and covenant of the priesthood to a priesthood leader. Each young man is also to set and accomplish eight or more personal goals in each of the following four categories: (1) spiritual development; (2) physical development; (3) educational, personal, and career development; and (4) citizenship and social development, for a total of 32 goals every two years. Each guidebook contains dozens of ideas to help in setting these goals. Young men are to discuss their interests and goals with parents and a priesthood leader and record them in their guidebooks. Each young man is also to complete quorum and Duty to God service projects. Duty to God projects are to be done every two years-deacons for at least 10 hours, teachers for 20 hours, and priests for 30 hours-before earning each certificate. Service done for the Eagle Scout Award or similar awards may also be counted toward earning the Duty to God award. The last assignment in each guidebook is for the young man to record his spiritual impressions and feelings. (Back to Top)

How does a young man transition from the old Duty to God program to the new?

TRANSITION INSTRUCTIONS -- Aaronic Priesthood Duty to God Deacons and teachers should begin the new Aaronic Priesthood Duty to God program immediately. Priests may proceed to the new program or continue to work on the previous Duty to God program. If a priest continues to work on the previous program, he will receive the former award. Normally, to earn the Duty to God Award, a young man must earn a Duty to God certificate as a deacon, teacher, and priest. For the transition only, teachers do not need to complete the requirements for the deacon Duty to God certificate. Priests do not need to complete the requirements for the deacon and teacher Duty to God certificates. (Back to Top)

What are the youth leader responsibilities in the new youth programs?

As a leader of young men and young women, you have a vital role in helping them learn the gospel of Jesus Christ, develop testimonies, and accomplish goals leading to the Duty to God Award and Young Womanhood Recognition. Your example, encouragement, and caring can be invaluable to youth at this important time of their lives. Learn about each young man and young woman and how you can best help them. Information about the Church's youth programs is found in the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2. This guidebook supplements that information by: 

*Outlining the Church's achievement programs for youth-the Aaronic Priesthood Duty to God program and the Young Women Personal Progress program. 

*Providing more detailed information about Mutual. 

*Providing information about how to develop leadership in youth. We encourage you to: *Read the information in this guidebook carefully. 

*Work together with parents to bless and strengthen young men and young women. When you first meet with youth who are entering the Young Men and Young Women programs, give their parents a copy of this guidebook and encourage them to read it. Keep parents informed about youth activities, and invite them to participate when appropriate. 

*Read For the Strength of Youth and apply the standards in your own life. Do all you can to teach these standards to youth. 

*If you are a leader of young men, become familiar with the Aaronic Priesthood: Fulfilling Our Duty to God guidebooks for deacons, teachers, and priests.

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What are the parents' responsibilities in the Duty to God programs?

Your sons and daughters are children of God who have great potential. Although the Church has many leaders and resources to help them, you as their parents have the primary responsibility to help them succeed. The Church's programs and materials for youth, described in this guidebook, are designed to assist you as you help your children develop the skills and attributes needed for success in life. Following are some ways you can help your sons and daughters receive the greatest benefit from the Church's youth programs and materials: 

*Become familiar with the information in this guidebook. 

*Review For the Strength of Youth with them. Review Aaronic Priesthood: Fulfilling Our Duty to God for deacons, teachers, or priests with your sons. Review Young Women Personal Progress with your daughters. 

*Help your sons and daughters set and accomplish goals that will appropriately challenge them as they work toward the Duty to God Award or Young Womanhood Recognition. With your approval, they can design many of the requirements to meet their personal needs and interests. 

*Talk with your sons and daughters about their progress. Each time they complete a goal or project, compliment their efforts and sign in the appropriate place in the Aaronic Priesthood: Fulfilling Our Duty to God guidebook or the Young Women Personal Progress book. 

*Talk with your children's Aaronic Priesthood or Young Women leaders. Learn what these leaders are doing in Mutual and in other quorum and class activities to help strengthen your sons and daughters. Encourage your children to attend Mutual each week. 

*Whenever possible, participate in Church youth events in which your sons and daughters are being recognized. 

*Encourage your sons and daughters to participate in seminary.

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How does the Duty to God program work with Scouting?

Elder Hammond emphasizes: "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. 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." Priesthood and Scouting leaders are encouraged to preserve and strengthen Scouting by blending the two programs. One way this can be done is to allow the completion of Scouting requirements to fulfill personal goals in Aaronic Priesthood Duty to God. For example, the activities a young man does to earn the physical fitness merit badge can also be used to fulfill a physical development goal in Duty to God. "Most young men going through the Scouting program," adds Elder Hammond, "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." The First Presidency has said, "We desire all young men to strive to earn the Eagle Scout [or similar awards where Scouting is approved and available] and Duty to God Awards." (Back to Top)

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