Our lesson was about the Duty to God program for the Young Men. Bishop Weber has made it a ward goal to support our Young Men as they work on the Duty to God program. (He also wants us to support the Young Women in the Personal Progress program. The overall objectives for the Young Men and the Young Women in the two programs are the same, and as parents and grandparents, we are encouraged to support our youth in both programs.)
This information would be a great topic for a Family Home Evening for anyone with children or grandchildren ages 12-18.
Pete Meyers gave the lesson. He also gave a talk in sacrament meeting, so kudos to Pete for doing double duty today--and doing such a fine job of it.
Pete emphasized that the main steps of growing in the gospel are to learn, act, and share. He pointed out that these are the steps followed by Lehi, the prophet Joseph Smith, and all prophets. They are also the steps of the Duty to God program. First you learn the gospel principle. Then you act on it. Then you share what you have learned with others.
The Duty to God program is not a checklist. The goal is for every Young Man to understand his duty to God. (There's a good article on duty by President Monson in the August New Era.)
For each area, the youth learn something about the gospel. Then they get to choose how they will act upon what they have learned. Then they are challenged to share what they've learned or how they've grown from the experience.
Here's a great video Pete showed about how the Duty to God program changed some people's lives. It's less than five minutes long and also includes brief remarks by President Eyring. Even if you missed the lesson, you can still watch the video.
The Duty to God program isn't just for Young Men. It's for families.
As parents and leaders, we need to listen to our youth. Elder Robert D. Hales shared the following instructions for us in his April 2010 General Conference message:
- Set a good example.
- Pay attention to the youth.
- Ask questions.
- Let them talk.
- Listen!
He reminded us that the greatest missionary work we will do will be in our own homes. It's an amazing talk for any parent. Totally worth your time to click the link and read it.
Going along with Elder Hales' comments, Bishop Weber challenged us to give our very best efforts to our youth. He wants the youth in our ward to have the gospel in their hearts. This can't be the 25th item on your priority list, or there will always be "too many things to do" that get in the way of helping our youth. Bishop Weber read 1 Nephi 20:1-2, and reminded us that our task is to "stay ourselves on the God of Israel." He promised us that when we hearken to the commandments, we will find peace in our lives. (See 1 Nephi 20:18.)
