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The Duty to God Award draws its name from the portion of the BSA Scout Oath which states "...to do my Duty to God...". Until the introduction of the On My Honor award in the late 1970s this was the only LDS Scouting award available. The award consists of a medal depicting a buffalo skull on which is superimposed a picture representing John the Baptist ordaining Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdrey with the Aaronic Priesthood. Above and below the picture appears the motto "Honor Priesthood Serve God". The ribbon for the medal is dark green on either side with a yellow band down the center. Buffalo skulls were often used as trail markers in the times when the LDS pioneers were crossing the plains to Salt Lake Valley, and the use of the skull in the medal for this award commemorates the courage and achievements of these pioneers.

Although the Duty to God award originated as a scouting award, there is no longer a Scouting component to earning this award. The award has had a change of status so that now it only applies to Aaronic Priesthood duties rather than scouting. It is presented in Sacrament meeting, and in addition to the medal a lapel pin and smaller mother's pin are also presented.