Hi,
A few years ago I re-planted this seedling I found in the front of my house and moved it to the backyard. It was growing very fast and was nice and healthy. Currently, I noticed these rust color marks on the branches. What do I need to do to help it survive? This tree was planted in honor of my old dog that past away. Thanks for your help. see pic....

It may be the beginning of one of the rust fungus diseases. The rust fungus is unusual in that it spends part of its life cycle in a juniper or cypress and the other part in an apple, quince or hawthorne. Your tree looks most like the Cedar-Quince Rust photos but without knowing the other host plant, that's a guess.

If the plant looks healthy, I'm pretty sure you don't need to do anything about that.

Thank you very much for the replies. Should I purchase a fungicide spray?

I would try pruning them out first. Then maybe use a fungicide next summer if it comes back. The plant still looks healthy, right?

Yes, it looks healthy. I'm not sure what kind of tree it is. My wife loved it when she saw it growing up front...See pic....

Years ago after a rain I had an outbreak of cedar-apple rust gall on my cedar trees. Called the forestry department to ask what it was...that's what they told me. Also said nothing serious and not to worry about it. The trees were all fine until hurricane Michael roared through.

Cedar-Apple Rust and the others mentioned above are endemic and ubiquitous diseases that exist where Eastern Redcedar aka Virginia Juniper (Juniperus virginiana) grows - which is over a great majority of eastern North America. This is pretty much a cosmetic condition, THOUGH it is a very interesting pathogen when you are able to observe all the parts of its life cycle.

Since you are paying very close attention to have noticed this diminutive level of discoloration along the stems, you will really be excited when it achieves its "creature from outer space" gelatinous orbicular horned mass phase. That's fun. If you have children, these are among the grossest nontoxic toys that nature can produce in your own backyard.

I would not prune anything off your healthy young tree. Powers of observation are worth everything. Photodocument all the changes you see, and as the pathogen reaches its culmination you may want to pick off the dried brownish black blobs that will form on the branches.

Enjoy your local native conifer.

Thank you all!!