Transition Update

There are just under 14 months until The Church leaves Scouting. How are things going? What are you doing? I have been hosting a monthly merit badge class at my house. We do required merit badges. Amazingly, I haven't had to teach all of them. One of the teachers is on again, off again, on again and off again, but other than that my only issues are low attendance and poor follow through by the boys. It seems most of them are basically checked out. I wonder where this comes from. Troop leaders are driving as hard as ever. 

I suspect it is from the families. One scout, age 15, 2nd class rank, home schooled, sleeps til 11 am everyday just doesn't have time. Another Scout turns 18 in January, has not even thought about his eagle project despite frequent discussions with his scoutmaster. I've even sent him a name and contact info for a man who is the eagle project coordinator for a a local non-profit. He has about eight incomplete merit badges. On the other hand I have a 13 year old life scout who has figured his project out. I have a 12 year old scout who is in two troops and has 24 merit badges as just became a Star. 

It may be from the ward leaders. They have called people in to scout positions who work on Saturdays. Hard to camp if you have to be at work. They schedule events that conflict with regular scout nights. Hard to plan camp outs or teach skills when you can't even have a meeting. 

Maybe it is because of a lack of support from the stake. A group of stake scouters was brought together to formulate a plan on moving forward and having events to help scouts rank up and to offer merit badge events. The only thing that came out of all of that was the annual 11-year-old camp out. Ant that was cancelled (not rescheduled) due to rain. I get that, but to not even reschedule?

For my part, I'm trying to do everything possible. In addition to the monthly classes at my house, I am planning the District Merit Badge College. I'm working withe the Council Religious Relations committee. I'm a commissioner and on district committees. I'm working my Wood Badge Ticket, and going to University of Scouting. 

All of this shows that one person can't do it all. They can do a lot, but without an organization, it just won't come together. 

I'm glad that The Church is leaving. After generations of having little to no skin in the game, we are seeing that the members, by and large, do not value the program. The transition will allow those who are supporters or who are truly interested, to work with like minded people. It is draining to claw and fight for the opportunity to better a young person's life. It is invigorating to find people who are heading in the same direction. I was at a Court of Honor the other night for an outside troop. Six eagle scouts awarded. Two Wood Badge beadings. A retiring Scoutmaster and a new one installed. It was so exciting. It was energizing. I revel in these events. They have become few and far between in The Church. 

2020 can't come soon enough. 

A Whimper

Remember in Revenge of the Sith, there was a line about democracy dying to thunderous applause? I wish. 

Scouting is dying in my stake with a whimper. No final push. No big send off. None of that. This is not common knowledge yet, but the word will soon go out from the Stake Young Men's Presidency that if you have boys who don't want to do scouting, you don't need to. Instead you can do skill development, like camping or cooking, but don't call it scouts. Or you can just do fun stuff. Whatever it takes to keep the young men coming to church stuff. Scout type activities will not be held on our normal mutual night. If something we plan accidentally meets some requirements of scouting that is fine, but don't advertise it. 

I get it. Keeping them involved and coming is more important. But how is it that scouts isn't considered fun? Shooting, camping, campfires, Archery, hiking, swimming, knots, knives, axes, none of that is considered fun by our youth. What do they think is fun? Video Games and basketball. That is it. That is the sum total of what they want to do. They aren't even focused on cars and girls, I can understand that. 

So, those boys that need merit badges will have to find a way to get them done outside of scouts. Campouts? Maybe we will have to piggyback on other troops, because the rest of our boys won't want to do that. 

They will be sending out a second email asking whether anyone wants any help meeting rank advancement requirements. But since hardly anyone responded last time, it probably won't get much response this time. 

Maybe there will be some interest in cobbling together a stake troop that will have activities on the occasional Saturday or Thursday night. I'd love to be part of it. But I can't. I have Community troop Tuesdays, ward youth night Wednesday, District or Council scouting activities on Thursdays, and I will not drag my son to yet another lame scout-ish activity. He barely has time to do homework as it is. 

Have you ever had a moment where a switch was flipped in your head ant it was over, flat out done, fell out of love with a former passion? For me that was on a phone call about an our ago. 

-Caligratis

Final Countdown

With the Final Countdown happening, I'm seeing two extremes. 

Some people are panicked, and others have checked out. 

The panicked seem to want to cram it all in and make up for lost time. I say better late than never. I am all for pushing the boys down the path. BUT, and its a big but, we run the risk of pencil whipping or getting boys signed off who didn't really do the work. It is tempting. But it contributes to the overall weakness of the LDS program. We are notorious for having weak eagles. In fact, I've heard a derogatory term "Seagull" Scouts (Seagle Scouts?) to refer to LDS eagles. I have a scout who just turned 18, but he definitely meets that description. As much as we want to push, I hope we do things correctly and not just to get the boys advanced. 

Another discussion are the folks who have the best intention, but have become rules police. I have no problem with following the rules, but if you are going to be a self-appointed cop, make sure you know what you are talking about. Remember the green book is gone, we aren't using it anymore and we aren't held to its rules. 

On the other side are those who have checked out. If you are in that position and have no desire to do scouting anymore, please get out. Ask to be released. The boys deserve more from you. If you are willing, but unable to fulfill your calling, please ask to be released. The boys deserve a full program. 

The church's statement is diplomatic: (https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/english/young-men/Principles-and-Guidelines-for-Boy-Scout-and-Cub-Scout-Units-eng.pdf?lang=eng&cid=email-MC_SG19_061218_button) 

I'm not. To quote what ever genius first said it, "Lead, Follow, or get out of the way." These boys deserve the best program we can deliver. Anything less is theft. 

-Caligratis

Creating a Plan - What is your LDS Unit doing to get boys to Eagle even if it is after 2020?

I generally share these posts on Facebook and Twitter so I will be sure to check there if we are not Facebook friends.

• What is your unit planning on doing between now and 2020 to get boys to Eagle? The more details you can provide, the better. We need to be networking this issue.
• Is your unit going to even try to get Scouts to Eagle?
• What is the plan if the Scouts don't get to Eagle by 2020?

Mormons Should Be Ashamed of Themselves

I have been quiet for too long.

Mormons should be ashamed of themselves. In the “split” with the BSA, I have absolutely shook in actual anger as I have heard how excited Mormons are to leave the BSA. Let’s make it very clear for those reading – if the Church believes it is time to provide a program that they feel better prepares the youth of the Church to be better missionaries, spouses and people, I am all for it. What I am not for is trashing the program we are leaving in a final hooray or trashing the fact that we were participating in the BSA, for over 100 years I might add, under the same dang inspiration that brings the new program to us in 2020. If this new program truly was given and inspired of God, then guess what? So was using the BSA, no matter their membership changes. It was and is inspiration that we participated in the BSA. And now it is inspiration that we are leaving. We don’t trash the past just because we are making changes.

Some might say we are leaving because of the membership changes but I say the changes came because we told the BSA we were leaving.  They are looking to replace soon to be missing membership. Homosexuals were already in the BSA but closeted. Might I also remind my Mormons that homosexuals are in the Church as well and can participate fully, just like a heterosexual, if they follow the standards of the Church. They can hold callings and attend the Temple. They can pay tithing. The standards for both are the exact same. Plus the BSA allowed organizations to set their own standards of membership. So what is the big deal? And the addition of girls………are we seriously freaked out by girls especially when they were already involved in Scouting in Venturing Crews? They have been involved since the 1970s. I have heard so many times that boys and girls would be sleeping in the same tent yet that hasn’t happened in current Venturing Crews. Can I again remind my Mormons that on Trek, boys and girls camp together multiple days and somehow, some way girls don’t end up pregnant or sleeping with boys? You all look like idiots for even bringing this up.

A couple other things that have been bugging me.

1. The BSA has been called a breeding ground for pedophilia. I have been told because I am white, a man, I am older and because I am a Scout leader, I fit the profile of a pedophile. What in the HELL is going on that I am being judged because I am trying to help train and lead young men to be better people. Not only have I never been accused of anything but never done anything I shouldn’t have. It is very closed minded to think because a man wants to help, he is doing something wrong. We are killing the reputation of men in this world for having done nothing but being born a man but that is a post for another day. If you are worried about the BSA leaders you should be worried about every place your child goes and you should keep them at home in a bubble. I would also like to remind you that predators come in both sexes.
2. This opportunity of the LDS Church leaving the BSA should have been an awesome send-off. Something where we express how great the last 100 years have been together, how we wished them luck, how if they needed our help to let us know what we can do to help (you know, the Christ-like thing to do….), how much we will miss them and then a parting hug as we rode off to our next destination. Instead, some have attempted to burn bridges and trash the BSA. I won’t stand for it. I won’t stand for your assumptions on why we are leaving and the joy you feel when 90% of you haven’t bothered to do the right thing and get trained. This is not the right attitude for a missionary church. This is not the right attitude of the followers of Christ. This is not the right attitude of a soon to be ex-Scout (thought I might again argue that once a Scout, always a Scout). Just like I am ready for the Old School Scouters to be out of Scouting, I am also ready for Old School Mormons to be out of the Church or in a retirement home. Enough is enough. The Mormon’s worst enemy is themselves and this situation has proven that is true. Shut up, shake the BSA’s hand and move on if you are so dang excited.

As for training with the new program, bad leaders will still be bad leaders. It will be easy to fall back into a basketball program for the young men. I hope there is some kind of training program for adults and youth in the new youth program. I hope Bishops hold their Primary Presidents, their Young Women leaders and their Young Men leaders accountable for being trained. Training should not be on the job training. Training should not be assumed through “inspiration”. It can’t be. When callings are extended, they should be explained fully. Vision should be explained. Training should be expected. And by golly, when members don’t hit the mark they should be given the opportunity to fix their mistakes or given the opportunity to be released. These youth’s lives are depending on dang good leaders who realize a calling in the youth is not a one hour class on Sunday but an invitation to get involved in their lives for forever, to be a mentor for the rest of their life.

I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by Him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not. This has been my exhortation continually. Journal of Discourses, 9ː150 (January 12, 1862)

Between now and 2020, the BSA program better be used. You better work the dang program but I am pretty sure with the announcement you have already planned your very soon exit plan. On the other side, I know a Scoutmaster friend who is going to extra effort to make sure one of his Scouts has the opportunity to be Eagle. The Scout must just put in the effort if he wants it. Others are already looking at non-LDS units to put their kids – this is an idea I have pushed for a long time because most of the boys would have gotten a better program because Scout leaders outside of the Church actually get trained for the most part. They run the program as it is written instead of the “LDS version” of the program. And the BSA will not fail because we are not there. We, Mormons, are not that great and powerful. Get off your high horse.

To my non-Mormon friends in the BSA, some of us are staying. Some of us will continue to help because we understand a Scout is always a Scout and because you are our brothers and sisters and you need us as much as we need you. 


The Change Resources:

• https://mylifebygogogoff.com/2018/05/3-reasons-why-as-an-eagle-scout-i-fully-support-the-lds-church-leaving-the-bsa.html
• https://www.lds.org/youth/childrenandyouth

Guest Post: Where does the LDS Scouting program go from here?

My last guest post was doomy and gloomy, but since a Scout is cheerful, this one is more upbeat. Everyone in LDS scouting that I have had a chance to talk to believes it is just a matter of time until the church formerly separates from scouts. Here are some crazy ideas about what could happen:

1.     Done. Bye. It’s over. The church walks away completely.

a.      They cut all ties and walk away (I don’t see that happening)

b.     They do an alimony payment for a time similar to what they did for the 14+ scouts in 2017, and give the families who want to continue, a number of months to explore and find other troops. Maybe they fund dues for the first year.

2.     A slow phase out. Maybe scouts for deacons goes away in      2019, and Cubs in 2020.

3.     Things stay as they are as of right now. Possible, but unlikely.

4.     What if something crazy happens?

That is what I’d like to explore. I had a crazy idea of combining the stake into one troop. If only two or three scouts are excited about scouts per ward, and if each stake has seven to 10 wards this would be a troop of 20-30 boys who actually care. This would allow the stake to call a Scoutmaster and multiple Assistants. It would allow our Eleven Year Olds to be a larger and let’s face it more fun program.

A variation of that is to combine troops within a building. On average we have two or three wards in each building. We often combine with the other ward anyway. This would reduce the number of leaders and classrooms needed. The church seems to be reluctant to lose any unit numbers and the concept of the quorum being the troop would have to be thrown out.

Another variation of this is to separate scouts from the young men’s program. Have scouts be on a different night. Have the ward act like almost every other chartering organization that provides space and support. This would allow those that want to do scouts to step up and not wait to be called. LDS troops would be more aligned with every other troop in the country. The Church could still decide not to have female participation. This would also however cause scouts to become just as expensive for those who participate as it is in the rest of the country. One of the things that was helpful was that there was little cost to LDS families. This of course is a double-edged sword and a cruel kindness. The church would probably not be as prominent on the National Board as in the past.

Of course, this is all wild speculation (and probably a little pointless) but it is the kind of stuff that occupies my brain when driving or trying to fall asleep. This exercise however brings me a bit of optimism because I think scouting is worthwhile. I think LDS scouting needs a shot in the arm. As much as I’m trying in my troop, I can affect only a dozen or so boys. A national approach to avoid throwing the baby out with the bathwater would still allow for boys to feel encouraged to participate. This would have the benefit of avoiding the mental conflict for those families that really don’t support Scouting. Maybe we can turn things around and make a program that our leaders will want to support. Rather than banging our heads against a wall, perhaps it will become attractive to boys.

Ask me about my thoughts on girls in Boy Scouts sometime.

Tell me how wrong I am. Tell me if you agree. Either way I welcome your thoughts.

Cali-Gratis

Post Script: The high rate of turnover is a real issue in the church troops. I have a friend who was called as a Webelos Leader and his bishop told him that it would be for at least five years. That kind of blew my mind. I had the chance to meet Charles Dahlquist a couple of years ago, and he said scout callings should be considered tenure callings.  Only he called it "ten-year." In non-scout troops, a ten year scoutmaster is nowhere near unique. This might help bring stability and that really shouldn't be underestimated when implementing a complex program.  

FISHGUTTS: Stake Scouting is what should happen with volunteers and zero callings. I say Stake because that will give you the best possibilities for patrols. Make patrols out of boys who go to the same building and cross-pollinate them with boys that are not in their ward but in their building. My ONLY concern about this is that is if you allow the Stake Young Men's Presidency to "preside" over this you will fail. This program MUST report straight to the Stake President and Bishops as a whole. If you allow the SYMP to run this who are not Scouters you end up with the same problem as before. A crap program that will soon die. They would have zero idea what to do with it. 

Guest Post: The Church Should Leave Scouting

Fishgutts invited me to write a guest column. I had to think on it for a while. Firstly, because I don’t have a cool nickname, secondly because I’m not sure I want my rants to be identifiable. Scouting in most areas are very small groups and we can easily identify who is whom. LDS Scouters probably even more so. To combat this, I will be changing some of the identifiable facts. The stories will be true, the names will be changed to protect…well…no one is innocent. Names won’t be used. How’s that? Everyone on board? OK.

I feel like a hypocrite. A few years back when the BSA allowed gay leaders, I wrote an impassioned letter to The First Presidency. I wish I could find it. In it I pleaded with them to keep scouting as part of the church. I had heard for years of members not wanting to participate and wanting the church to leave. They had to have been wrong and must not have understood the program. At the time I was an outsider looking in. I was in scouts as a youth but hadn’t participated at all in the intervening years. Since then, I have been in cub scouts, I volunteered to help the troop by being on the committee and handle advancement, both my wife and I involved ourselves in the district and council and I am now in troop leadership.

As part of my calling, I’ve done a lot of reading. I learned about the derogatory term Seagull Scouts. I have heard the change in council and district people’s voices when I explained that I am in an LDS troop. I didn’t know or understand what a bad reputation the church has in scouts. We have low participation in council and district activities. We don’t respond to calls or emails from these volunteers. Our leaders are poorly trained and our scouts don’t seem to measure up. We seem to do a lot of pencil whipping of the requirements. Nationally the majority of injuries are with LDS scout troops.

How sad. Our leaders in Salt Lake spend tons of money on scouts. Apostles, Young Men and Primary presidencies and other General Authorities go to national meetings and trainings and build facilities and have ribbon cuttings while wearing uniforms. I can’t even get my stake young men’s presidency or bishopric to show up for a committee meeting. Why is there such a disconnect?

I think the lack of skin in the game is part of it. I have heard that if things are given for free you don’t appreciate it. That is proving true in my experience. But the parents and the boys are only reflections of the program they see. The true problem lies with our local leaders. My ward troop had five Scoutmasters in four years and I lost track of how many Assistant Scoutmasters. Some were due to people moving but much was due to the fact that after they were called they never showed up again. Did they understand the calling? Where they told it was more than one hour a week? Scouting is not a prep-for-an-hour-and-teach-out-of-the-manual calling. There is a lot to it. The scoutmaster is also in the Young Men’s Presidency and is a Quorum Advisor. When I was a youth, that was three separate callings. Before my wife and I started attending Roundtable, they hadn’t seen an LDS troop representative in years. One other Cub Scout Committee Chair comes from one of the other wards in the district, but no one else. My Stake leaders have never been to the LDS/BSA Relationships Committee meetings. Our Council has a Religious Relationships Committee. I showed up one day, but no LDS troop or pack leaders who were ever invited have.

In my ward, the scouting program takes a back seat to every other activity that pops up. Oh, you had that on the calendar for four months? Sorry, we want the boys to come to this other thing. Campout? No, the stake just set that day for the first basketball game.

When the counselor extended the callings to be in scouts, I had a multi-hour discussion about what the bishopric wanted and expected. My wife was there. We asked tons of questions. We told them what I would do, and how I would do it. We asked them if they were sure that is what they wanted. Yes, it was. But every step of the way I am undermined and most recently was told that we have a budget of $0 and that we should reduce scouts to once a month to focus on Duty to God. Well, I work on Duty to God each week in my quorum meeting. It is working. For the first time in nearly a decade, a Deacon has earned the Duty to God Award. But, boys advancing is not as important as basketball on Wednesday nights.

We in the church don’t seem to care. But you know what? The BSA is the only third party the church has ever used to handle the activities of one of the auxiliaries. Think about that. Up until this past year the church has used the BSA as the activity wing for young men for over 100 years.

I work with a non-LDS Troop too. They have problems, but the boys have fun. The boys and leaders want to be there. They do service projects and the boys attend. They have uniforms and bring their handbooks. They have the contacts and resources to do cool stuff.

The previous Scoutmaster was not terribly effective. I always thought his tales of woe were exaggerated. It reminded me of Mormon Bids Farewell to a Once Great Nation, by Arnold Friberg. I have since apologized to him.

Over the past three and a half years I have seen how wrong I was. I no longer want the church in Scouts. I believe the time is short anyway and was accelerated with Pres. Monson’s passing. This brings me no joy, but I truly believe that scouting in general and LDS scouts who will choose to continue with outside troops will benefit. I will do my best to keep magnifying my calling. I will organize district events and will go to the district commissioner and committee meetings. I will be taking a week off work to go to summer camp. I will go back to the University of Scouting, and I will take the Wood Badge course and do everything I can to provide the best, most fun program possible for my little ward troop. I just wonder how futile it is.

Signed - Cali-Gratis

Post Script: I have never quite been able to pinpoint what "magnify your calling" means. But this comes close:   "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"

That and D&C 58:26 ... for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant...

I don't want step by step instructions, I just don't want my leaders to get in the way of my carrying out the assignment they gave me. If they run interference, I can't do my job. 

LDS Church Makes a Decision and Message to all LDS Bishops

The LDS Church finally made a decision about the staying or leaving the BSA. Like it, love it or hate it your opinion doesn't matter fair weather, fence sitting Mormon Scouters.

So here is my advice to all Bishops:

If your current Scout leaders don't believe in the program or this decision, release them here and now and call men who love the program and will accept the fact that the Church and our Prophet has made a decision. There are going to be a ton of members who disagree with this decision and we need them as far away from our Scouts and Young Men as possible. We don't need the boys second guessing the program being used because adults are trying to undermine the program semi-quietly from within or at the polar opposite extremely vocally.

And you can quote me on that.

Everything from this point is speculation. Who cares if the Church is secretly working on a program to replace Scouting. Who cares if this "gossip" about the Church has been around since the day I entered Scouting in 1984. Who cares what people say?

It is time to put molding young men first and foremost again without distraction or drama!!

Amen and amen.

BSA Executive Committee Decision

Alright, this is just some dude talking. I have no expertise. I only speaking for my heart and what limited stuff I know.

I first would like to address some LDS Scouters who FOR YEARS STILL have been talking about how the LDS Church is going to be leave the BSA for this reason or that reason and because of this myopic belief have delivered a less than stellar Scouting program - you are still accountable for your Scouting program until when/if the LDS Church leaves the Boy Scouts of America. Till then, zip it buddy. Spreading your Mormon gossip is shortsighted especially since I have been hearing the same garbage since I was in Scouts over 20 years ago. Until Tommy speaks, you have no clue what the Church is going to do.

I am sure in my 6 years of Scouting in a very large Council I have befriended a Scout or a Scout leader that is a homosexual. I don't think any less of them. I have met countless Scouts and Scout leaders through Wood Badge and District Round Tables. If I like you, I like you - it has nothing to do with your sexual orientation or even your belief that the BSA Executive Committee Decision is right or wrong. Whatever side of this you fall on, we can be civil. A difference of opinion isn't a bad thing.

The Executive Committee has put a ridiculous amount of stress on local units now putting them in the cross hairs of anyone who wants to sue because "their standards are different than mine".  As a statement on society as a whole - I continue to be mystified about how we continue to preach how we must be diverse but still can't seem to understand that some want all the same "blessings" others have. Life will never be fair. We should never withhold basic rights from anyone (and yes, we probably disagree on what are basic rights) but admittance into a program isn't a basic right whether it be because of sexual orientation or whatever other reason. Why would anyone want to be a part of an organization that they feel is trying to exclude them anyways? If I wanted to be a Priest I surely wouldn't expect them to change the rules for me just because I disagreed on this belief or that belief.

 
I also understand the side of loving something and not being included. Those who have been vocal about who they believe they are and being cut off surely can't be an enjoyable experience. I just don't know if there is a middle ground to make everyone happy. Is that even possible? I tend to think not. Just my very purblind thoughts.

Whether the LDS Church will leave the BSA is for the Church to decide. I no longer lead a local unit and work at the District level so I am more inclined to stay in the BSA but until I know what everyone is doing and why, I won't decide. I will keep my head down, help my Scouts in my local unit and continue to help boys with their Eagle Projects and do their Eagle Board of Reviews. After all, it is about the boys - helping them be better men.

This I also believe. There are good people on each side of this. From the Boy Scout Handbook 11th edition: [A Scout] respect the beliefs of others. From the Interfaith Worship Service class I taught at Wood Badge 107: [We should] create an environment where all feel free to worship and share the way they worship.

Let us all be civil.

The Scout Cave - Brad Harris

Brad Harris, author of Trails to Testimony, has some interesting insight on LDS Scouting in an LDS Building and all the many distractions in the building here.

A Century of Honor - 100 Years of LDS Scouting

Last night was the awesome celebration of 100 years of LDS Scouting called A Century of Honor.  I encourage you if you have not seen it, to take the time and watch it.  It was AWESOME!!!  As I have watched it for the second time this morning I can't help but still feel inspired and believe that the Scouting program should still be a part of the LDS Young Men's Program.

What really set me in the mood was this Scout........  Do you see what he is wearing on his uniform???

That is right.  It is the Denali Award.  While he was still wearing Boy Scout loops, a Senior Patrol Leader position patch and a merit badge in a weird position, it was a great sight for me personally.  In fact, I saw a lot of orange loops last night.

There were lots of examples of bad uniforming last night including the Primary General President who looked like she had just bought her shirt for this event (plus we all know her 2nd Counselor is in charge of Cub Scouting).  It was "straight out of the box".  One thing I think this ceremony missed is an opportunity to encourage training for "know it all" Scout leaders.  But that is beside the point.  It was just still AWESOME!!  Here are some of my Tweets.

Yes my hash-tag was wrong.

These 5 Scouts became the storytellers for last nights event and they did an AWESOME job!!

I really enjoyed the stories from the older men who were Scouts who talked about how they helped the efforts of WWII, the songs they sang and how they enjoyed eating as Scouts.  The story of the Scouts with artificial legs who hiked even with bloody stumps who wanted no shortcuts to Eagle brought me to tears.

I had three Varsity Scouts in attendance with me (that is half my Team).  It was a late night as the program started at 8 PM for us and I promised ice cream afterwards.  I asked the boys what they learned and after we all joked about wanting to see rappelling and mid-air kayaking at next General Conference, my Varsity Captain put me on the floor with his reply.  "Scouting is more than just a program.  It is a way of life."  Couldn't have been said better myself.

The all Eagle Scout Choir sang part of my favorite hymn - Nearer My God to Thee.   It was great to see all those Scouts.  Our Stake had many Scouts watching too.

Scouting was and still is inspired.  Plain and simple.  No matter what troubles the BSA has gone through, this program is still trying to make the young men that participate better men prepared for life.  Values are timeless.

Benefits of Scouting - Thomas S. Monson

This is a great article by The Church on the benefits of Scouting on Utah National Parks Council.

Learning Your Duty to God and Scouting are ETERNALLY Connected

When parents of LDS Scouts Church wide finally learn that Scouting and learning your Duty to God are ETERNALLY connected, our Scouting program will angelically change for the better.  Parents will get more involved.  Better leaders will be asked to serve.  Scouts will take it more seriously while realizing that Scouting is also fun.

Below is a conversation on Facebook after sharing this video with one of my parents who has two sons one of which is an Eagle Scout.  I totally understand that being a parent can be overwhelming.  The amount of CRAP kids have to do these days makes my head spin.  My daughter this year after rededicating herself to her grades spends countless hours studying.  I get it.  Parenting doesn't pay enough.  We just have to find the Good, Better, Best and make sure we are getting and making the most bang for our buck!  Learning our personally duty to God is on of those ways.

• • Parent of Scout and Eagle Scout:  So Fishgutts .... how do you do this? I know your family is as busy as anyone else. What specifically, nuts and bolts, do you do in order to make --- Scouts - Duty to God - Football - Grades - Family - Misc. all happen? All are equally important. I just struggle to get it ALL in.
  • Fishgutts:  I share your frustration as a leader AND as a parent who has busy kids. I think the answer is out right teaching our kids to learn their Duty to God (not the actual book and program) and teaching a boy how to personally ask the Lord what his personal duty to Him is. And then by learning that duty, that boy can set about it while at Scouts, by doing the actual Duty to God program, while being an example on a football team, while studying, while actively being a member of his family and all the other crap that tries to distract us. This wasn't mean as a stab at my Scout's parents. It is hard to balance life and I know from first hand experience. Life has us busy. But the minute we learn our Duty to God and see the vision He has for us, the easier it is to serve Him in all the things we do.

What advice do you have for this parent?

Varsity Coach no more..........?

I was asked today by the COR if I would like to be released as my unit's BSA Varsity Coach.  My over 5 years has definitely had its ups and downs - inheriting a less than loved by leaders program is a down; seeing boys lead an up.  Another huge thing I love is that my boys know I love them and they love me back (future post from current missionary coming).  I complain a lot to my wife about issues and I, embarrassingly, have asked to be released at times because I was tired of beating my head against the wall due to the HUGE lack of parental support, dealing with other leaders/different ideas and my most favorite - doing it the same way we have done it before because of "tradition" or "We do it the LDS way instead of the BSA way..."

I am more of a half empty guy (with a healthy sense of humor) but let me be clear.  I LOVE the Scouting program.  I would never want to be in any other organization the Church uses.  I love my Scouts!  Their ups and downs are my ups and downs.  Our Scouting program is better than ever before.  We have more trained leaders than EVER before.  We are on the upswing.  I love the youth of our Church!

I told the COR even if I am released I would like to stay in the Young Men's program/Scouting program as an assistant.  I don't really want to ever leave but removing some pressure from my shoulders isn't a bad idea either.  I have burned through assistants like no other - 10 in 5 years and am glad to have an assistant that I can actually miss a meeting to attend to my family.

I am still the Varsity Coach.  I am not going anywhere..........for at least two years.  Or until the COR is tired of me and they fire me at any time.

Fulfilling Your Duty to God through Scouting, New Era, Sept 2013, page 36

Obviously the LDS Church believes that Scouting will prepare a young man for his mission, his career, his wife and his children.  Otherwise we would be using another program.  So what makes the Scouting program so great as to fulfill this purpose of preparation?  In my opinion, the program(s) are extremely versatile and a boy can do anything he is interested in from merit badges to writing and performing his own Varsity Program.  I also believe that the programs of the Scouting program at times asks a boy to take huge steps outside of his comfort zone to accomplish things he normally would think he could not accomplish.  Learning to be comfortable with the uncomfortable is a huge badge of courage in my eyes.
The LDS Church is coming up on their 100th year of using Scouting as one of our programs.

The above listed article includes these ideas as ways Scouts can encourage others to join them in Scouting:

• Talk about your Scouting activities with friends, classmates, and neighbors.
• When you’re studying a particular merit badge, share your excitement with your friends and ask if they’re interested in learning about that topic with you.
• Help plan quality troop and patrol activities so that other youth will want to attend. Have a calendar of upcoming activities to share.
• Invite other young men to attend unit meetings, activities, and courts of honor with you.
• Look for ways to expand your Scouting activities to include others.
• Use Scouting as a tool to involve less-active young men who may not be interested in attending Sunday meetings.

So this creates an interesting issue with units who have good Scouts but bad Scout leaders.  I always think like Ask Andy that boys, whether LDS or not, should be able to decide how a unit is doing through their feet - if the program stinks, walk away and find another one.  This also creates an interesting issue for Bishops (COR) to make sure that these units are up to speed and are able to "capture" these boys and keep them in the program.  This capturing mainly has to do with having good leaders who know how to run a true BSA program.

In a discussion with a gentleman that I went to IOLS so many years ago, I brought up the fact that I wonder what would happen if an LDS Stake were to create a super Troop, Team and Crew and ask current GOOD leaders to come and volunteer.  His comment was that he thought the local units within the Stake would wither and die.  Probably true but those boys who were to join a super Troop, Team and Crew would have the experience of a life time with dedicated leaders and activities that rival some non-LDS groups.  

So I celebrate with the Church our 100 years in Scouting but I also know we have a long way to go before we are where we probably should have already been.

Wood Badge in Nevada and Wood Badge in General

Evenspor over at LDSScouter Blog is about to head to Wood Badge.  Her course (like the Course I am staffing) is having a hard time getting participants.  My personal feeling on why everyone seems to not want to sign up is the change in membership standards - this isn't a statement for or against the change and whether you agree or not our boys still deserve trained leaders.  LDS Scouters for some reason have been saying for years that the Church was leaving Scouting and this membership change has seemed to give them ammo.  So here it is in black and white - we ain't leavin'!  THE LDS CHURCH IS NOT LEAVING SCOUTING ANYTIME SOON!:

For the past 100 years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has enjoyed a strong relationship with Boy Scouts of America, based on our mutual interest in helping boys and young men understand and live their duty to God and develop upright moral behavior. As the Church moves forward in its association with the Boy Scouts of America, Church leaders will continue to seek the most effective ways to address the diverse needs of young people in the United States and throughout the world. 

The Church’s long-established policy for participation in activities is stated in the basic instructional handbook used by lay leaders of the Church: “young men … who agree to abide by Church standards” are “welcomed warmly and encouraged to participate” (Handbook 2: Administering the Church [2010], 8.17.3). This policy applies to Church-sponsored Scout units. Sexual orientation has not previously been—and is not now—a disqualifying factor for boys who want to join Latter-day Saint Scout troops. Willingness to abide by standards of behavior continues to be our compelling interest. 

These standards are outlined in the booklet For the Strength of Youth and include abstinence from sexual relationships. We remain firmly committed to upholding these standards and to protecting and strengthening boys and young men.
The Church appreciates BSA’s reaffirmation of its commitment to “duty to God,” which includes service to others and moral behavior—central principles of our teaching to young men. As in the past, the Church will work with BSA to harmonize what Scouting has to offer with the varying needs of our young men. We trust that BSA will implement and administer the approved policy in an appropriate and effective manner.    

A letter signed by the First Presidency of the Church is being sent to all Latter-day Saint congregation leaders throughout the United States. The letter will include the reaffirmation of Church policies and standards referenced in today's public statement.

LDS Scouters - get in the game!  We are here to stay and Wood Badge applies to more than just Scouting! Sign up and learn something!

It is time to do OUR DUTY and GET TRAINED.  Some closing statements from Presiding Bishop Gary E. Stevenson:

Duty—shall we drill down just a little deeper?  Thomas S. Monson, the leader of my church and a longtime member of BSA’s National Executive Board, said, “I love and cherish the noble word duty and all that it implies.”

Duty to God is the heart of Scouting. It is a founding principle as old and deep as the organization itself. What does it imply? The World Organization of the Scout Movement defines duty to God as “adherence to spiritual principles, loyalty to the religion that expresses them and acceptance of the duties resulting therefrom.” And a BSA duty to God task force said, “Spirituality, reverence, morality, [and] ethical behavior . . . are terms which reflect and demonstrate ways to fulfill duty to God.”

........... 

Some may not see the sacred gatekeeping role scouting plays. They may see only fundraising and not a foundation. Others may brand scouting activities as merely outdoor recreation, but it can and must be shown that BSA is not a camping club; it is a character university centered on duty to God. I quote again from Robert Baden-Powell: “The whole of [scouting] is based on religion, that is, on the realization and service of God.”  

I stand here today with a resolute belief that Scouting must never overlook this core principle. We still need duty to God. We always will.  When the societal and political winds come, and they surely will, scouting cannot unhinge itself from this foundational principle. This great organization cannot be deterred when we remain strong in our solid foundation, when we stand united for duty to God. 

MTC Bound.........in the morning

When a boy says on Sunday "I am leaving for the MTC on Tuesday and I would like my Eagle Board of Review on Monday night." what do you say to the kid?  With a dedicated Scout leader (not me) and some promises from me to Council (basically selling my soul) to fast track paperwork, this kid had his Eagle Board of Review 7 hours before he left on a flight to the MTC.  His paperwork was a mess but this boys Scoutmaster (and not his Venturing Adviser) helped him fix most everything and got it ready to present to me and an Eagle Board of Review

Only in an LDS unit would something like this happen...............

Cut it close often???

Great article at Accidents and Adventures

Please read Accidents and Adventures' article on not leaving the BSA.

Plain and simple, the more who leave the weaker we get.

LDS News Room

Interesting spin in the conversation on the new BSA Membership Standards.

Duty to God

Please read this article by Presiding Bishop Gary E. Stevenson on the morning of the BSA's big decision.  It is not about the decision though.  I have read it twice in 24 hours and I feel like I am reminded why I Scout - to do my Duty to God (no book required **wink to Eric Voluntold**)