Updated: Feb 18, 2020.
The LDS Church and Scouts
LDS Boy Scouts in front of the Church Offices, the drum saying “Boy Scouts of America, Salt Lake, MIA” (Mutual Improvement Association).
We did a little scouting. We did the Cub Scout program. But after Webelos — I wasn’t a big fan. Yep, no Eagles here. I’m sorry if I offended some of you. OK, so I’m a rebel. And I feel kind of bad because as a Mormon, I wanted to support the programs of the church. I often felt guilty for not being one of those scouting families in the ward. But for me, scouting beyond 6th grade was….well…those uniforms — Looks like the Hitler Youth to me. And there’s something about uniform mentality — sometimes good, sometimes not so good. I don’t know, it just rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it’s the requirement. Even Brigham Young told his father that he wouldn’t sign the temperance pledge because he didn’t want to be forced to do it. (see Hugh Nibley on Brigham Young).
Hitler Youth
As for my sons? They’ve done fine without their Eagle. There’s lot’s of great young men who serve missions, get their college degree, start their own business, get married, have children, are kind and compassionate — and did not get their Eagle. So if you’re worried. Don’t be. Do what works for your family. I homeschooled my last three kids, and that is rebellious. I loved it.
And… one of my dad’s favorite movies — The Treasure of Sierra Madre — “We don’t need no stinkin’ badges”
I really appreciated reading your article. I am struggling with this as well. I have sons that I fear will become inactive because the emphasis placed on scouts and not a spiritual program. Here our program is run militarily. I always thought when the boys turned 12 they had mutual for them as well? I didn’t realize it was only scouts. In our ward they talk about scouts during their Sunday YM class also. What about learning about the gospel? Is it just my ward that does that? I have been told the merit badges cover the duty to god program. How is that I asked? The response was that god is in everything. I looked thru the duty to god book and see certain projects, they are not the same as merit badges. Why can’t the boys have a program like YW except for the YM?
Deila, as your former home teacher, a lifelong friend and avid Scouter, I loved reading your post! I’m afraid many of our young men hate “Scouting,” not because they hate Scouting, but because they hate what is delivered to them in the name of Scouting. I’m trying to start my own little “rebellion” against the type of “Scouting” your sons were not interested in. If you read my 1st blog post on the LDS-BSA Relationships website, you will see what this rebellion is all about: (http://www.ldsbsa.org/blog/bills-blog-1-scout-led-troop-priesthood-god-introduction/). Good to hear from you again and keep up the good work!
Bill — so good to hear from you, and I read your blog post and loved it. I am glad you took the time to leave me a comment and I can’t wait to hear how your new approach to the LDS Scout troop goes — I can see where you might get a little resistance from parents and leaders, but I’m glad you pushed on with your personal inspiration. Your new troop is lucky to have you. I bet the boys were surprised to all of a sudden have more to say and lead and see you and the assistant sitting back against the wall! Amazing. I’ve always heard the non-LDS troops were different — in a good way.
The link to your post was not working, but I found it here: http://www.ldsbsa.org/blog/bills-blog-1-scout-led-troop-priesthood-god-introduction/
hahahaha… I learn something new about you every day, Deila! I saw you with the Troop 12 uniform I was so surprised. I was in Troop 12, too! I guess I didn’t realize that the troop covered Lincoln and Dunsmore. I remember it as a very big troop! Lots of fun Weird I didn’t remember you. The people I remember from Troop 12 were Suzy Carpenter, Susie Beirdneau, Cheryl Morrison, Terri Garson, Peggy Johnson… there were a lot more, too. I was a girl scout in another troop after troop 12 fizzled at the end of 6th grade — I went on to be a cadet scout and then on to be a mariner senior scout until 11th grade. I then became a Girl Scout leader for my daughter as a Daisy through junior girl scouting. I didn’t like being a
Girl Scout leader because the women were SOOOO catty and I hated that. I was also a leader in cub scouts, but not in a Church troop because they didn’t have “Wolf” dens, so my son started in the school troop. I was a bear den leader, Webelos leader, Pack Committee Chairman, and Cubmaster for the Pack. I loved it. Cub Scouts and heir leaders know how to have a great time. Daniel never got his Eagle when he went into scouting, but he received his Arrow of Light as a cub scout. When my daughter got tired to scouts, we quit — my son went on in boy scouting until he was 15 or so. I know nothing about the young men’s program at all because when my son was going through young men, all I ever heard about was scouting. I thought that WAS the YM program. I had no idea there was anything else. Usually just seminary and activities, like Pioneer Day things with the Stake. Scouting was such a fun part of life growing up, I wanted my kids to get a taste of it, too. Shannon started having problems with the other girls when she went into home school and was no longer around the girls more than one day per week. So we quit in 5th or 6th grade.
well, I was actually troop 127 — I guess I am hiding the 7. That’s why you don’t remember me. Our troop was not that big. It was pretty small, I think only Lincoln stinkin school. I had fun, and with my type A personality I got as many badges as I could. But it was much easier than Boy Scouts, cuz my mom could sign me off.
I enjoyed reading perspective on this, and I can definitely understand some of your frustration. I’ve told my wife many times I in many ways would rather send our kids to a troop outside of our church. Personally I loved scouts, and have a lot of great memories with my family and many old friends. It was a very beneficial/growing experience for me in multiple ways. My experience was unique though because I started cub scouts at Catholic school, and continued to Boy Scouts through Methodist church Troop (after I visited meetings and talked with scout masters from 3 different troops in the area). My troop had on average 60 kids at every outing and about 120 members of the troop. I didn’t get involved with an LDS troop until I was baptized LDS as an adult, and I was called as an assistant scout master. I earned my eagle when I was a freshman in high school, and that’s because I was motivated and my troop was very organized. Kids didn’t simply take turns in leadership roles, they had to run and be voted in.. Adults weren’t “called” to be leaders, they volunteered and wanted to be there. It just provided an atmosphere that I have not yet found in an LDS troop. Most LDS troops I have worked have seemed disorganized and lazy in their weekly meetings, as well as on scout outings. I noticed their dissorganization before I knew what a mormon was. The lds troops would always show up later than everyone else to boy scout camp and they didn’t seem to be as into it as other troops by their appearance and action. I think there are more kids forced to do scouts that are lds because it is the young mens program, as well as leaders who are juggling multiple things in life and simply are doing the bare minimum to fulfill their callings. All combined I’m not sure what I’m going to do when I get called into scouts again…
I have always heard that the Boy Scout Organization outside of the church thinks the church leaders as scouters are not committed and the troops are disorganized. And I would have to agree with that — hearing your experiences. It really has to be a love of the scouting program that brings you in, instead what we have in the church, is the established program that all boys are signed up as scouts — they have no choice. I guess it’s like the draft. The military is happier when they have men and women who want to be there and have made the choice to be there. The draft brings in those who don’t want to be there and that spoils the atmosphere and the whole experience. My husband sometimes had no help from any other adult and would be out there on these high adventures with a bunch of crazy teens– he had them on a boat that belonged to my dad, and they took it to Catalina. The boys snuck off the went ashore and saw Conan the Barbarian. They have good memories I’m sure, but it wasn’t really the scouting program. I think the Boy Scouts appreciate the LDS money, but I’m afraid we don’t show well in the ranks. I know we have been asked to leave certain scout camps in the past. Well, maybe you can find a way to share some good experiences with your own kids one day. You’ve got some time to think about it! Thanks for sharing your story, I found that very interesting.
Very interesting blog, Cousin! Love, Jan
thanks Jan — don’t you love that Girl Scout uniform??
Yes! I remember wearing the same one. That’s a really sweet photograph, too. I was even a Den Mother when I was a student at Dartmouth. It was pretty funny because all we did was meet once a week, do something crazy fun with 16 little cub scouts, complete the bare minimums for their ranks, and ate a lot of ice cream. Girl Scouts was less fun than Brownies, but it got me out of the house! I liked my leaders and had some good friends from school in our “troop.” Leslie Wozniak and I were the humorists of the Brownie troop—her mother was our leader. We sold the fifty-cent boxes of Girl Scout Cookies together, and when we got hungry, we charged some guy a dollar for his box, ate an entire box, and we still broke even. This is how we learned about capitalism and profit margins. I know some pretty messed-up “Eagle Scouts” who did the program but were not the happiest of young men. It’s a matter of choice, I suppose, and it’s a place to go after school for some of us who did not want to be home.