Below is a video for Young Men in the Mormon Church. The video talks about the important need for Young Men to be a Priesthood man and fulfilling your Duty to God. The Video is called “Becoming a priesthood man: Priesthood duty”.
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As many of you know, the Mormon Church has recently re-tooled the DTG (Duty to God) program.  We used to use spreadsheets to keep track of the Aaronic Priesthood’s progress but with the new system, we really didn’t have an electronic way to keep track of their progress.

So, I’m happy to say, there is a new way to track DTG progress online.  Simply go to http://lds.org/young-men/duty-to-god?lang=eng and click on “Click here to get started” in the middle of the screen.  Now, you should know that you will need a login to the LDS.org website.  Well, actually, each young man that wants to manage their DTG progress online will have to have their own login.  To create a login you will need your membership number and date of birth.  Once this account is created, you can start using the “Interactive Version of Duty to God“.

It has also been announced that an “Interactive Book” will be available early 2011. I’m not sure what the means but I really do hope that it will be a way that youth and parents will be able to keep track of their youth’s progress on the web. I used to use a website called http://www.ymyw.org to track my son’s and daughter’s progress but with the new Duty to God Program, the requirements have completely changed and the website I used is no longer helpful. So, I’m excited to see what the LDS Church has come out with in it’s “interactive book” announcement.

Here is a link directly to the “Materials” section of the Duty to God website on www.lds.org

http://lds.org/dutytogod/materials.html

This is a set of slides that someone put together for a presentation on the DTG program.
http://www.putonthearmoroflight.com/2010/08/new-young-men-duty-to-god-program.html

Here is another article written about the new Duty to God program. It breaks down each section and each activity very nicely. It talks about how the new DTG program focuses on plan, act and share.
http://bystudyandfaith.net/2010/08/new-duty-to-god/

The Mormon Church has also updated their website with a bunch of new Videos and a PDF Copy of the new DTG booklet.
http://lds.org/dutytogod/

This is a direct link to the “Materials” page of the LDS website for DTG. You will find the links to the PDF file, videos, Q&A.
http://lds.org/dutytogod/materials.html

This is a direct link to the “Implementation video for you men, parents, and leaders.  It is a WMV file.
http://broadcast.lds.org/aaronic-priesthood/duty-to-god/2010-05-1010-overview-128k-eng.wmv

This is a direct link to the “Implementation video for Quroum presidencies.  It is in WMV format.
http://broadcast.lds.org/aaronic-priesthood/duty-to-god/2010-05-1010-overview-128k-eng.wmv

The LDS Church just came out with a NEW Duty to God Program. I’m just now starting to read through the requirements. The New DTG booklet is way different than the old booklet. As I read through the requirements, I’ll let you know if the similarities and the differences.

The first major difference I found was that all 3 sections of the Duty To God program are all bound together. There are no longer 3 separate books. The Deacons, Teachers and Priests sections are all bound together by a spiral binding. So, each young man will have one book for all 6 years of his Aaronic Priesthood years.

The Deacons Duty to God section is split up into 3 categories. Spiritual Strength, Priesthood Duties, For the Strength of Youth. In each category there are requirements to follow. For example for the Spiritual Strength category there are 3 requirements which include a “Learn” section, “Act” section, and “Share” Section. At the end of each category, there is a “Review” section that allows the Young Man to talk about what they have learned while working on these items in their lives. For example, the first requirement is entitled “Pray and Study the Scriptures”. The Deacon is then given several scriptures to read and advised to make a list of words and phrases that describe how he should approach studying and what blessings will come from studying the scriptures. He would then “ACT” and develop a habit of regular prayer and scripture study. There is a section where he can write down this goal. Then, at the end of this section the Deacon is invited to “Share” what he has learned with a family member of church leader to strengthen his testimony.

One of my first questions was, “What do we do with Aaronic Priesthood holders that are more than half way through the old program?” A number of questions just like this one have been answered in a memo that was sent out several months ago. This memo is also available on the LDS website. Here is the link to Commonly Asked Questions. In general, the answer is that young men can continue in the old program until the program has been fully implemented in their Ward or Stake. From what I understand, if they are close to finishing, they can continue with the old program and finish what they were working on and then move into the new DTG program. That is not the official church policy but it is what I understand. You will need to go to the DTG website to get the exact wording.

As I learn more, I’ll post more information.

The boys were all brought together at the Stake Center and split up into 4 groups. There were two business professionals that had setup stations in the church, and two business professionals that were setup in their actual business offices. There was an Optholmologyst, Physical Therapist, Local TV Station Salesman, and a Taxidermist. Each of them talked about their careers and gave the boys a look at what it would be like to enter that profession. All of the boys had a good time and everyone that attended the clinic was able to pass of that requirement in their Duty to God books.

Not only was it a very fun time to sing with 100 men, but both of my boys were able to pass off one of their requirements for their Duty To God program.

My son that is a Teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood was able to pass off a requirement that states, “Sing the National Anthem alone or in a group. Explain its origin to parents / leaders.”.

My son that is a Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood completed the following requirement, “Sing with a church, school, or community choir.”

It was a nice “guys night out” event. We were able to spend some valuable time together learning the song and singing it before a huge audience.

Below is a video of our 100 Man Choir.

For those of you that would rather watch it on YouTube, you can follow this link.

We came across a wonderful website that shows all of the different LDS schools that are available. It shows how many students attend the school, the different colleges that are available, tuition costs, admissions standards. It was just great. So, if you have any kids looking at going to college at one of the LDS Colleges, you definitely want to visit this site.  It has information on BYU Provo, BYU Idaho, BYU Hawaii, College Prep, LDS Business College and the Institute of Religion.

http://www.besmart.com/

I thought I would also mention that by doing this little assignment for school, he was able to complete a Duty to God requirement. The requirement is on page 22 of the Teachers DTG program item number 7. It was nice to use one of the School assignments to pass this one off. And, because the website is so cool, it was entertaining.

Required Merit Bages

Along with these merit badges, we are encouraging the young men to also pass of some of the Duty to God requirements. DTG should go hand in hand with the Scouting program. To demonstrate this, I have put together a list of “similar” requirements in each that match. Here is what I have put together.

Communications

Requirement #3 = Page 14 Deacons DTG #3 “Give a talk in Priesthood or Sacrament Meeting”

Requirement #5 = Page 21 Deacons DTG #3 “Visit a government office. After your visit, explain to a parent or priesthood leader the function of the office.”

Requirement #9 = Page 21 Deacons DTG #2 “Choose 2 careers you may be interested in doing someday. Find out what educational or other requirements you would need for them, and interview someone in each position to learn what you must do to prepare for these careers.”

Requirement #4= Page 24 Deacons DTG #3, “3. Show a parent or a priesthood leader that you know how to use proper manners while eating, greeting acquaintances in formal and informal settings, greeting a person of authority, and introducing a speaker at a public event”

Citizenship in the Community

Requirement #7 = Page 14 of Deacons DTG #2 “Participate in 2 Quorum Service Projects”

Requirement #1 = Page 24 Deacon DTG #5. “Explain to a parent or priesthood leader what it means to obey, honor, and sustain the law.”

Requirement #3 = Page 21 Deacons DTG #3 “Visit a government office. After your visit, explain to a parent or priesthood leader the function of the office.”

General information = Page 21 Deacons DTG #2 “Choose 2 careers you may be interested in doing someday. Find out what educational or other requirements you would need for them, and interview someone in each position to learn what you must do to prepare for these careers.”

Citizenship in the Nation

Requirement #1 = Page 24 Deacon DTG #5. “Explain to a parent or priesthood leader what it means to obey, honor, and sustain the law.”

Requirement #2b,c = Page 21 Deacons DTG #3 “Visit a government office. After your visit, explain to a parent or priesthood leader the function of the office.”

General information = Page 21 Deacons DTG #2 “Choose 2 careers you may be interested in doing someday. Find out what educational or other requirements you would need for them, and interview someone in each position to learn what you must do to prepare for these careers.”

Citizenship in the World

Requirement #1 = Page 24 Deacon DTG #5. “Explain to a parent or priesthood leader what it means to obey, honor, and sustain the law.”

Requirement #7e = Page 21 Deacons DTG #6 “Attend a cultural event such as a church, school, or community play, music program, or musical.”

General information = Page 21 Deacons DTG #2 “Choose 2 careers you may be interested in doing someday. Find out what educational or other requirements you would need for them, and interview someone in each position to learn what you must do to prepare for these careers.”

Family Life

Requirement #1 = Page 16 Deacons DTG #2, “Read “The Family: A Proclamation to the World, Review them with a parent or priesthood leader.”

Requirement #5 = Page 13 of Deacons DTG #7 ” Perform at least 2 service projects for your family each year.”

Requirement #3 = Page 13 Deacons DTG #5 “With the help and permission of a parent, prepare at least 2 meals for your family. Where possible, also wash and iron your clothes for 1 month.”

Requirement #6 = Page 13 Deacons DTG #3, “Under the direction of your parents, organize and teach at least 4 family home evening lessons each year. You may want to consider using topics from For the Strength of Youth.”

Requirement #7 = Page 16 Deacons DTG #2, “Read “The Family: A Proclamation to the World, Review them with a parent or priesthood leader.”

General information = Page 21 Deacons DTG #2 “Choose 2 careers you may be interested in doing someday. Find out what educational or other requirements you would need for them, and interview someone in each position to learn what you must do to prepare for these careers.”

Personal Management

Requirement #2 = Page 22 Deacons DTG #9, “Develop and follow a financial budget for 3 months.”

General Information = Page 17 Deacons DTG #9, “Set up a plan to be spiritually and financially prepared to go on a mission at age 19.”

Requirement #10 = Page 21 Deacons DTG #2 “Choose 2 careers you may be interested in doing someday. Find out what educational or other requirements you would need for them, and interview someone in each position to learn what you must do to prepare for these careers.

My Dad always said that when giving a talk, you need to “Speak Loudly and Distinctly”. I don’t know where he got this phrase, but I use it with my kids as well. They are probably just as sick of hearing it from me as I was hearing it from my Dad, but it stuck in my brain and it is good advise.

My Daughter gave a talk in Primary. My wife helped her put together a short talk about the Proclamation on the Family. She talked about how she liked it when we had family home evenings. One of her favorite FHE’s is when we paint our windows for Halloween. I think I posted something about us painting the windows last year. If I find it, I’ll post the Link Here.

Both my Daughter and Son did a great job speaking. I’m proud of both of them. I love the fact that the Church encourages our youth to learn how to speak in public. I know that it helps their confidence and prepares them for speaking assignments when they are older.