Role of Boy Scouts in Mormon Life

[JHow]

I don’t want to hijack jharek’s thread on theosis / exaltation ( forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=611609 ) , so I am starting this thread.

In jharek’s thread several ex-mormon posters included “Eagle Scout” in their summary of a Mormon lad’s expected catechesis. For example:

I did everything but the Eagle scout…

Strictly-speaking, Scouting is non-sectarian, it’s not Mormon per se (For example, my Cub Pack includes many Roman Catholics, some Presbyterians and other protestants, two Jewish kids and one Hindu, just that I know about).

I am a little curious how scouting came to be viewed as integral to the Mormon religion, as these posters appear to understand it? Is it simpy because troops and packs are chartered by churches in many cases, and therefore church members are “drafted” to participate? Does every boy have to join up, for instance? Scouting is fun, but it’s not for everybody, particularly the camping aspect of it (city-girls like Mrs. JHow know what I am saying here ). Is there something about the scouting program that makes it particularly mesh well with Mormon thought or teaching?

 

[Joe_5859]

I’m not Mormon (obviously), so I probably cannot answer your question, but I thought I’d chime in nonetheless.

I think the Boy Scouts handle religious issues very well, especially considering the wider culture. They are intentionally non-sectarian (as you pointed out), but they allow for religious groups to charter packs and troops and even earn religious emblems. They foster things like responsibility and other virtues that most any religious group would value.

 

[SonCatcher]

Replying as an old scout here… I think there is a lot of synergy between the Boy Scout ethos and Mormonism (value of work, preparedness, morals, etc). Because of that, there often seems to be greater encouragement for boys to get involved. I think that some LDS-sponsored troops are even better-coordinated in providing resources needed for advancement.

 

[blueadept]

Because the way the BSA is chartered, the LDS program for scouting, can easily be molded for their Young Men’s (YM) program and meet the goals the church places on their YM.

This also explains why the LDS church does not embrace the GSA program for their girls since they can’t mold it the way they wish for their Young Women (YW) program. To compensate this discrepancy, the LDS church developed the ‘Achievements Program’ that they can incorporate into their YW program that is suppose to accomplish the same thing for the girls as the BSA does for the boys.

Looking at the activities that the BSA offers versus the ‘Achievements’ program, I personally do not see much of a comparison.

So in the LDS system, it is expected that most boys complete their Eagle Scouting badge. But with the bashing the BSA has taken in regards to having SSA leaders in the organization, the LDS church may be slowly backing away from pushing their boys in finishing their Eagle Scout badge and may eventually replace the role of the BSA plays in their YM program with something else. We shall see.

I always found it interesting that being a Scoutmaster is an actual calling in the LDS church. You don’t have an issue of a LDS troop suddenly being leaderless.

 

[Captain_America]

I like the Boy Scouts and help them out.

I didn’t realize achieving the rank of Eagle Scout was an expectation. That’s a high expectation, and one that is difficult for a youth to achieve.

 

[blueadept]

I like the Boy Scouts and help them out.

I didn’t realize achieving the rank of Eagle Scout was an expectation. That’s a high expectation, and one that is difficult for a youth to achieve.

One would think it would be difficult for LDS to send their 19 y.o. sons to go on a mission either, but that is an obvious goal. Making these same young men (practically required) to get their Eagle badge so they could be better prepared to go on a mission, is not a unreasonable expectation.

Scouting within a LDS troop versus another BSA trip is a different experience IMO due to the expectations of achieving your advancements. Church leadership as well as parents are pushing the boys.

 

[JHow]

…So in the LDS system, it is expected that most boys complete their Eagle Scouting badge. But with the bashing the BSA has taken in regards to having SSA leaders in the organization, the LDS church may be slowly backing away from pushing their boys in finishing their Eagle Scout badge and may eventually replace the role of the BSA plays in their YM program with something else. We shall see…

Interesting. How do you see the issue of SSA leaders relating to whether boys make Eagle or not? Do you mean that the LDS church fears that BSA might eventually allow SSA leadership and the LDS church will not accept that?

I get your point about always having leadership. I think it also works for membership: The LDS units in my neck of the woods don’t seem to do much if any recruiting, yet of course they always have lots of boys.

 

[SonCatcher]

Interesting. How do you see the issue of SSA leaders relating to whether boys make Eagle or not? Do you mean that the LDS church fears that BSA might eventually allow SSA leadership and the LDS church will not accept that?

I get your point about always having leadership. I think it also works for membership: The LDS units in my neck of the woods don’t seem to do much if any recruiting, yet of course they always have lots of boys.

Indeed. The only issues between BSA and SSA persons has been the former’s Supreme Court-sanctioned exclusion of the latter from their ranks. I don’t think the LDS church would have much issue with that.

 

[Captain_America]

As an Eagle Scout, I can tell you that there probably IS a difference between achieving the rank on your OWN initiative, versus having the work crammed at you.

It’s the difference between playing “for the love of the game” and playing because your parents made you!

 

[blueadept]

Interesting. How do you see the issue of SSA leaders relating to whether boys make Eagle or not? Do you mean that the LDS church fears that BSA might eventually allow SSA leadership and the LDS church will not accept that?

With the charter being such that LDS troops can dictate who their Scoutmasters and adult leaders are, there really isn’t an issue for them.

I believe the mindset is that since the BSA isn’t regulating to prevent SSA individuals to being scoutmasters, this doesn’t represent the LDS ideals of what scouting should represent; therefore, it’s considering in developing it’s own program to replace the BSA function within it’s YM program. That’s similar to what it has done for the girls.

In their minds, being an Eagle Scout doesn’t carry the same weight as it once did. To some degree, I believe that may be true and I am an Eagle Scout myself.

 

[Erich]

From this link:

In 1913, the [LDS] Church adopted Scouting as part of the activity program for Aaronic Priesthood quorums. By providing opportunities for young men to put into practice the gospel lessons they learn in the home and at Church, Scouting programs have supported the priesthood. Under priesthood leadership, Scouting can complement the purposes of Aaronic Priesthood quorums and the Aaronic Priesthood Duty to God program in building testimonies in boys and young men. Scouting can help boys and young men love and serve the Savior and honor their parents.

Basically, Scouting is the youth program for boys and young men 8-18 in the USA – much like many Catholic parishes have a LifeTeen and/or Edge program for high-school and junior-high age youth.

 

[blueadept]

From this link:

Basically, Scouting is the youth program for boys and young men 8-18 in the USA – much like many Catholic parishes have a LifeTeen and/or Edge program for high-school and junior-high age youth.

Scouting is one part of the larger Young Men’s program in the LDS church.

I guess I don’t see a similarity in regards to LifeTeen vs Scouting beyond the ‘Duty for God’ badge which is a minute part of the scouting program.

Our troops interaction with the LDS troop consisted of the once a year Camporee. You could always distinguish the LDS troop. They were the ones leaving Saturday night so that they could be back for church on Sunday.

 

[JHow]

From this link:

Basically, Scouting is the youth program for boys and young men 8-18 in the USA – much like many Catholic parishes have a LifeTeen and/or Edge program for high-school and junior-high age youth.

Thanks for the link. That’s a good summary. I think the connection is clearly more formal than in Catholic parishes (mine at least).

 

[Tony888]

I am a little curious how scouting came to be viewed as integral to the Mormon religion, as these posters appear to understand it? Is it simpy because troops and packs are chartered by churches in many cases, and therefore church members are “drafted” to participate? Does every boy have to join up, for instance? Scouting is fun, but it’s not for everybody, particularly the camping aspect of it (city-girls like Mrs. JHow know what I am saying here ). Is there something about the scouting program that makes it particularly mesh well with Mormon thought or teaching?

As was pointed out, Scouting is the young mens program. Obviously you are not required to participate, but it is the norm and I can’t see why one would object. On the whole, scouting teaches many constructive things, is fun, and is a good environment to make friends as well.

Since it is highly supported, I agree that it is much easier to make ‘Eagle’ in an LDS troop than on your own. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t valuable/educational.

 

[RebeccaJ]

What I remember of the Mormon boy scout program as a Mormon teen is the boys wearing jeans and playing basketball on Tuesday night, while us girls were required to wear dresses and pantyhose. We sat in a classroom listening to a lesson that taught us we should live to marry one of those boys, or one just like them.

My thoughts at that time were clearly, “I think not.”