The Mormon Male Ideal

Mormonism is a culture of high expectations. Like the fabled Jewish mother (Is one Nobel Prize so much to ask from a child, after all I've done?) we hold our young men to a high standard. After 57 years in the culture, this is my take on the Mormon Ideal for Males:

Newborn to Age 7

• Born in the covenant. This means your natural parents were married (sealed) in the Temple.
• Named and blessed by your father as an infant.
• Learned to pray as a toddler at your mother's knee.
• Paid tithing (10%) on allowance & birthday money.
• Attended family home evening on Monday nights.
• Participated in family scripture study around the dinner table.
• Took your turn offering the blessing on the food at meal times.
• Began being voice for family prayer soon after you learned how to talk.
• Shielded from vulgarity by your family members.
• Sang Primary songs in your home.
• Attended Nursery at 18 months.
• Attended Primary at age 3.
• Participated in Primary activity days.
• Went on father's and son's outings, typically an overnight camp out.
• Helped clean the Church.
• Bore your testimony at the pulpit on Fast Sunday.
• Gave talks in Primary.
• Participated in the annual Primary Program in Sacrament Meeting.
• Witnessed baptisms of older siblings, cousins, family friends, etc.
• Began a mission savings account.

Age 8

• Got baptized by immersion by your father or older brother.
• Got confirmed a member of the Church by your father.
• Received the gift of the Holy Ghost.
• Began feeling the Spirit.
• Joined Cub Scouts.
• Earned Bobcat badge.
• Wore your first scout uniform.
• Received your own personalized copies of the scriptures.
• Attended den meetings & pack meetings.
• Built your first pinewood derby with lots of help from your father.
• Began to fast for 24 hours (2 meals) on Fast Sunday.
• Began paying fast offerings in addition to tithing.
• Graduated from Junior to Senior Primary.
• Began memorizing the Articles of Faith.

Ages 9 - 11

• Attended scout day camp.
• Earned Bear & Wolf badges.
• Earned lots of Cub Scout belt loops.
• Joined New Scouts.
• Memorized the 13 Articles of Faith.
• Began earning merit badges.
• Earned Tenderfoot, Second Class & First Class badges.

Age 12

• Graduated from Primary.
• Joined Young Men.
• Began giving youth talks in Sacrament Meeting.
• Received the Aaronic Priesthood.
• Ordained to the office of Deacon.
• Passed the Sacrament.
• Began collecting fast offerings.
• Earned Star badge.
• Began working on Duty to God award.
• Attended overnight scout camps.
• Began doing baptisms for the dead in the Temple.

Age 13

• Earned Life badge.

Ages 14 - 15

• Ordained to the office of Teacher.
• Prepared the Sacrament.
• Went home teaching as the junior companion to your father.
• Earned Eagle Scout award.
• Began attending Seminary.

Ages 16 - 18

• Ordained to the office of Priest.
• Blessed the Sacrament.
• Baptized someone.
• Built up mission savings account.
• Earned Duty to God award.
• Went on group dates.
• Began attending mission preparation.
• Remained morally pure.
• Submitted mission papers.
• Received mission call.
• Received the Melchizedek Priesthood.
• Ordained to the office of Elder.
• Went through the Temple for the first time.
• Began wearing garments.
• Completed one year of higher education.

 Age 19

• Was set apart as a full-time missionary.
• Entered the MTC (Missionary Training Center).
• Began serving in one of the 340+ missions around the world as a junior companion.

Age 20

• Served a faithful mission.
• Became a senior companion and trainer.
• Called as a district leader, zone leader, or assistant to the president

Age 21

• Returned with honor from the mission field.
• Began dating individual girls.
• Returned to college.
• Attended institute if not at BYU Provo, BYU Idaho, or BYU Hawaii.
• Spoke in Sacrament Meeting(s) as a returned missionary companion to a High Councilor.

Age 22 - 24

• Got married in the Temple.
• Graduated from college.
• Entered graduate school or the workforce.

Ages 25 - 39

• Stayed married.
• Had children.
• Purchased a home.
• Became economically self-sufficient.
• Established righteous routines & holy habits personally and with your family.
• Scripture study
• Prayer
• Family Home Evening
• Church attendance
• Temple attendance
• Home teaching
• Advanced in your career.
• Continued serving faithfully in the Church.
• Raised a righteous family.

Ages 40 - 60

• Ordained to the office of High Priest.
• Witnessed your children serving missions, marrying in the Temple.
• Had grand-children.
• Began to be serious about family history.
• Retired from the workforce.

Ages 61+

• Served one or more senior missions with your wife.
• Performed lots of Temple work.
• Presided over a growing, righteous posterity.
• Endured to the end.