FAITH

IN GOD
F O R BO Y S

That they might know thee

the only true God, and Jesus Christ,
whom thou hast sent.
John 17:3

My name is

I AM A CHILD OF GOD
I know Heavenly Father loves me, and I love Him.
I can pray to Heavenly Father anytime, anywhere.
I am trying to remember and follow Jesus Christ.

Our Dear Young Friend,

You are a child of God. He is your Heavenly Father. He
loves you and cares about you. He wants you to have faith in
Him and pray to Him oftenanytime, anywhere.
He hopes you will keep the covenant you made when you
were baptized and follow the teachings and example of Jesus
Christ. He has given you the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide
you, a family to love and teach you, and Primary leaders and
teachers to help you.
You are now preparing to receive the Aaronic Priesthood.
Use these years to learn about the priesthood and to be
worthy and ready to receive it.
We encourage you to learn and live the gospel, serve
others, and use the talents Heavenly Father has given you to
learn and do many good things. Earning the Faith in God
Award will help you become the kind of person you would
like to be and the person Heavenly Father knows you can
become.
We love you and pray for you.
The First Presidency

MY BAPTISMAL
COVENANT
When I was baptized I made a covenant
to take upon me the name of Jesus Christ
and to serve Him and be obedient.
Heavenly Father has given me the Holy Ghost.
Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ,
I can be forgiven of my sins when I repent.
If I keep my baptismal covenant,
I can return to live with Him.

When I take the sacrament, I renew my covenant

to take upon me the name of Jesus Christ,
to always remember Him,
and to obey His commandments.
When I do this, I can feel the Holy Ghost guiding me.
(See Mosiah 18:810 and D&C 20:37.)

FAITH IN GOD
AWARD REQUIREMENTS

ou may begin to work on the Faith in God Award when

you turn eight years old. To earn the award, complete
the requirements in this guidebook before your twelfth
birthday. Your parents and Primary leaders can help you
with the activities.
Basic Requirements
An important part of faith in God is keeping your baptismal
covenant and staying spiritually strong. To help you develop
faith and resist temptation, do the following things:
Pray daily to Heavenly Father.
Read the scriptures regularly.
Keep the commandments and live My Gospel
Standards (see back cover).
Honor your parents and be kind to your family.
Pay your tithing and attend tithing settlement.
Attend sacrament meetings and Primary regularly.
Other Requirements
Doing the following activities will help your understanding
and testimony of the gospel grow:
Write your testimony.
Memorize the Articles of Faith and explain what
they mean.

 Complete activities in the guidebook for:

Learning and Living the Gospel (page 6)
Serving Others (page 8)
Developing Talents (page 10)
Preparing for the Priesthood (page 12)
Have an interview with your bishop or branch
president.
Some ideas for activities to earn the Faith in God Award
are listed in this guidebook. With help from your parents
or Primary leader, you can also plan and do other activities.
Use the chart on page 20 to track your progress.
If you are a Cub Scout, you
can also earn the Scouting
Religious Square Knot
patch. To do this, complete
all the activities with the
next to them.

LEARNING AND LIVING THE GOSPEL

Learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth

to keep the commandments of God.
Alma 37:35

Complete at least two of the following activities each year:

Explain how taking the sacrament helps you renew your
baptismal covenant. In a family home evening, teach
others about things we can do to remain faithful.
Give a family home evening lesson on Joseph Smiths
First Vision (see Joseph SmithHistory 1:120). Discuss
how Heavenly Father answers our sincere prayers.
Mark these verses about the Holy Ghost in your scriptures: John 14:1617, 2 Nephi 32:5, and Moroni 10:5.
Discuss ways the Holy Ghost helps you.
Read a recent conference address given by the prophet.
Decide what you can do to follow the prophet, and do it.
Give an opening and a closing prayer in family home
evening or at Primary. Share your feelings about how
prayer protects us and helps us to stay close to Heavenly
Father and the Savior.
Tell a story from the Book of Mormon that teaches
about faith in Jesus Christ. Share your testimony of the
Savior.
Read D&C 89. Discuss how Heavenly Father blesses us
when we faithfully live the Word of Wisdom. Help plan
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and conduct an activity to teach the Word of Wisdom

to others.
Prepare a pedigree chart with your name and your parents and grandparents names. Prepare a family group
record for your family and share a family story. Discuss
how performing temple work blesses families.
Learn to sing Choose the Right (Hymns, no. 239).
Explain what agency is and what it means to be responsible for your choices. Discuss how making good choices
has helped you develop greater faith.
Plan and complete your own activity that will help you
learn and live the gospel (write the activity below).

SERVING OTHERS

And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom;
that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow
beings ye are only in the service of your God.
Mosiah 2:17

Complete at least two of the following activities each year:

Read and discuss the parable of the good Samaritan (see
Luke 10:3037). Plan and complete a service project that
helps a family member or neighbor. After completing the
project, discuss how it helped your faith grow stronger.

 Write a letter to a teacher, your parents, or your grandparents telling them what you appreciate and respect
about them.
Make a list of the qualities you like in a person. Choose
one quality to develop in yourself. Discuss how showing
respect and kindness strengthens you, your family, and
others.
Plan, prepare, and serve a nutritious meal.
Entertain young children with songs or games you have
learned or made yourself. Show that you know how to
care for and protect a young child.
Learn about and practice good manners and courtesy.
Plan and hold a parent-child activity, such as a dinner,
picnic, hike, day trip, or service project.
Read the twelfth article of faith. Discuss what it means to
be a good citizen and how your actions can affect others.
Help your Primary leaders plan and carry out an upcoming quarterly activity.
Plan and complete your own activity to serve others
(write the activity below).

DEVELOPING TALENTS

For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many
gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.
Doctrine and Covenants 46:11

Complete at least two of the following activities each year:

Learn how to budget and save money. Discuss why it is
important to faithfully pay our tithing and how Heavenly
Father blesses us when we do (see 3 Nephi 24:1011).
Pay your tithing and begin saving for a mission.
Learn to sing, play, or lead a song from the Childrens
Songbook. Teach or share the song in a family home
evening or at Primary. Discuss how developing talents
helps prepare us for service to Heavenly Father and others.
Write a poem, story, or short play that teaches a principle
of the gospel or is about Heavenly Fathers creations.
Make an item from wood, metal, fabric, or other material,
or draw, paint, or sculpt a piece of art. Display your finished work for others to see.
Visit an art museum or attend a concert, play, or other
cultural event. Share your experience with your family or
activity day group.
Read D&C 88:118. Discuss what it means to seek
learning, even by study and also by faith. Improve your
personal study habits by doing such things as learning

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how to choose and read good books or being prepared for

school each day.
List five things you can do to help around your home.
Discuss the importance of obeying and honoring your
parents and learning how to work.
Plan a physical fitness program for yourself that may
include learning to play a sport or game. Participate in
the program for one month.
Learn about and practice good nutrition, good health, and
good grooming, including modest dress.
Plan and complete your own activity that will help you
develop your talents (write the activity below).

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PREPARING FOR THE PRIESTHOOD

The Priesthood of Aaron . . . is an appendage to the greater,

or the Melchizedek Priesthood, and has power in
administering outward ordinances.
Doctrine and Covenants 107:1314

Complete the following activities while you are 11 years old.

They will help you prepare to receive the Aaronic Priesthood
and become a righteous young man.
Learn about the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood (see
D&C 13, 107:20, and Joseph SmithHistory 1:6873).
Read D&C 20:5760 and Aaronic Priesthood: Fulfilling
Our Duty to God [Deacon], page 7. Discuss with a parent
or leader the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood and what
it means to do your duty to God.
Talk with the deacons quorum presidency about the role
of the deacons quorum. Write in your journal how you
can serve the Lord as a member of a deacons quorum.
Read D&C 88:7780, 118 and D&C 130:19. Discuss with
a parent or Primary leader how important a good education is and how it can help strengthen you as a priesthood holder in your home and family and in the Church.

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 Read The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Make a

list of things you can do to help strengthen your family
and make a happy home. Share the list with your parents
or Primary leader.

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MY TESTIMONY
As you learn and live the gospel, your testimony will continue to grow. Use these pages to write your testimony
about Heavenly Father and the Savior. Also write what the
baptismal covenant means to you. You may also want to
add to your written testimony in your personal journal.

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15

THE ARTICLES OF FAITH

OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

1. WE BELIEVE in God, the Eternal

Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ,
and in the Holy Ghost.

9. WE BELIEVE all that God has

revealed, all that He does now
reveal, and we believe that He will
yet reveal many great and important
things pertaining to the Kingdom
of God.

2. WE BELIEVE that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for
Adams transgression.

10. WE BELIEVE in the literal gathering

of Israel and in the restoration of the
Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New
Jerusalem) will be built upon the
American continent; that Christ will
reign personally upon the earth; and,
that the earth will be renewed and
receive its paradisiacal glory.

3. WE BELIEVE that through the

Atonement of Christ, all mankind
may be saved, by obedience to the
laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. WE BELIEVE that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel
are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ; second, Repentance; third,
Baptism by immersion for the
remission of sins; fourth, Laying
on of hands for the gift of the
Holy Ghost.

11. WE CLAIM the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the

dictates of our own conscience, and
allow all men the same privilege, let
them worship how, where, or what
they may.

5. WE BELIEVE that a man must be

called of God, by prophecy, and by
the laying on of hands by those
who are in authority, to preach the
Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

12. WE BELIEVE in being subject to

kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and
sustaining the law.
13. WE BELIEVE in being honest,
true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous,
and in doing good to all men;
indeed, we may say that we follow
the admonition of PaulWe believe
all things, we hope all things, we
have endured many things, and
hope to be able to endure all things.
If there is anything virtuous, lovely,
or of good report or praiseworthy,
we seek after these things.

6. WE BELIEVE in the same organization that existed in the Primitive

Church, namely, apostles, prophets,
pastors, teachers, evangelists, and
so forth.
7. WE BELIEVE in the gift of tongues,
prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and
so forth.
8. WE BELIEVE the Bible to be the
word of God as far as it is translated
correctly; we also believe the Book
of Mormon to be the word of God.

JOSEPH SMITH

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INFORMATION FOR
PARENTS AND LEADERS
Parents have the responsibility to help their children learn and
live the gospel. Primary leaders and teachers assist parents in
this important responsibility. This Faith in God guidebook is a
resource to help boys and girls achieve their great potential as
children of God.
PURPOSE

The purpose of the Faith in God guidebooks is to help boys

and girls ages 8 through 11 live gospel principles, develop testimonies, build friendships, and prepare to receive the Aaronic
Priesthood or become a righteous young woman. Children
who complete the requirements in the guidebook can earn the
Faith in God Award.
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

Children participate in activities that help them develop gospel

habits such as praying, reading the scriptures, and living My
Gospel Standards (see back cover). They also participate in a
variety of activities in the following areas: (1) learning and living the gospel, (2) serving others, (3) developing talents, and
(4) preparing for the priesthood or for Young Women.
The activities for the program are outlined in two guidebooks:
Faith in God for Boys and Faith in God for Girls. Children may
work on the activities at home, with their family, or at Primary
activity days (see page 18).
In countries where Scouting is part of the Church program,
boys work on Faith in God along with Cub Scouting. Many of
the Cub Scout activities can fulfill requirements for the Faith
in God Award. Completion of all activities in this guidebook
marked with a
qualifies a boy for the Scouting Religious
Square Knot patch.
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PRIMARY ACTIVITY DAYS

Primary activity days are designed to provide boys and girls

ages 8 through 11 with opportunities to work on activities in
the Faith in God program. Activity days are usually held twice
a month in a home or at the meetinghouse. The local budget
allowance should cover expenses for Primary activity days.
Activity days should open and close with prayer. Depending
on local needs and circumstances, an activity day may be held
at the same time as other Church activities on days other
than Sunday.
Occasionally, leaders may wish to invite younger Primary
children to participate with the 8- through 11-year-olds in an
activity day. This should occur no more than once each quarter. Activity days involving all the children are planned by the
Primary presidency. Many of the ideas in this guidebook could
be used to plan these activity days. The presidency may wish
to invite the activity days leader and children ages 8 through
11 to assist in planning and carrying out the activity.
PRIMARY LEADERS AND TEACHERS

Under the direction of the Primary presidency, a Primary

teacher or other worthy adult serves as the activity days leader.
Activity days for girls should be led by an adult woman. Where
Scouting is authorized, it is used in place of activity days for
boys. When planning activities, leaders should consider ideas
from this guidebook, My Gospel Standards, the Friend, and
the children themselves. Parents and others with specific skills
may be invited to help.
Parents may help their sons and daughters complete the
activities in the guidebooks, especially where it is difficult for
children to gather for Primary activity days.
PRIESTHOOD PREVIEW

Each year, the bishopric meets with all 11-year-old boys and
their parents to help them understand the importance of the
priesthood and strengthen their commitment to prepare to
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receive it. Members of the Primary presidency also attend

the meeting.
ORIENTATION AND RECOGNITION

When a boy or girl turns eight years of age, a member of the

Primary presidency and the activity days leader give the child
and parents a copy of the guidebook and explain the purpose
of activity days and how the Faith in God Award is earned.
Recognition for accomplishments should be ongoing, as
follows:
1. As children complete activities, they can track their progress
by marking the chart on page 20 of this guidebook.
2. At least twice a year, a Primary activity day (or a Cub Scout
Pack meeting) should include opportunities for the children to share what they have learned and accomplished.
3. When all required activities are completed, the Primary
president and the bishop or branch president sign the
Faith in God Award certificate on the last page of this
guidebook. A member of the bishopric, branch presidency,
or Primary presidency recognizes the childs accomplishment in Primary.
Parents and leaders should help the children understand that
the joy of living the gospel is the most important reward.

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FAITH IN GOD
ACHIEVEMENT RECORD
Use this page to track your progress toward earning the Faith
in God Award. Each time you complete an activity, mark one
of the boxes under the correct heading. When you have completed all the requirements, review your activities and what you
have learned with your leader.
LEARNING AND LIVING THE GOSPEL

SERVING OTHERS

DEVELOPING TALENTS

PREPARING FOR THE PRIESTHOOD

ARTICLES OF FAITH

I HAVE WRITTEN MY TESTIMONY.

I WAS INTERVIEWED BY MY BISHOP OR

BRANCH PRESIDENT ON ____________________________________.

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FAITH IN GOD
COMPLETION
OF
AWARD
FAITH
IN GOD

Name of child

has completed the requirements necessary

to receive the Faith in God Award
from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Signature of Primary president

Date

He has prepared himself to be ordained to

the office of deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood.

Signature of bishop or branch president

Date

MY GOSPEL STANDARDS

I will follow Heavenly Fathers plan for me.

I will remember my baptismal covenant and listen to
the Holy Ghost.

I will choose the right. I know I can repent when I make a mistake.
I will be honest with Heavenly Father, others, and myself.
I will use the names of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ
reverently. I will not swear or use crude words.

I will do those things on the Sabbath that will help me feel

close to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

I will honor my parents and do my part to strengthen my family.

I will keep my mind and body sacred and pure, and I will not partake of things that are harmful to me.

I will dress modestly to show respect for Heavenly Father

and myself.

I will only read and watch things that are pleasing to

Heavenly Father.

I will only listen to music that is pleasing to Heavenly Father.

I will seek good friends and treat others kindly.
I will live now to be worthy to go to the temple, serve
a mission, and do my part to have an eternal family.

ENGLISH

2003 by IRI. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA

English Approval: 9/02

02368 12000
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