Neal Christianson -- The handbook has always said Scouting was not obligatory, but in reality and in practice a boy was considered less active if he didn't. He was considered a rebel against the Gospel. I have seen priesthood advancements held up due to a boy's lack of interest in scouting (in a ward where the scouting program consisted of play basketball and nothing else.). Too many local leaders have considered scouting a priesthood duty; that it was scouting that trained a boy for the Melchizedek priesthood -- when in truth it is Aaronic priesthood activity that trains boys to become elders. For this reason, I am not sad to see us parting ways with scouting. Local leaders will have to shift their efforts back to the Aaronic priesthood quorums, which requires no merit badge and no basketball.
PerriMay 24, 2018
I live in Utah and was a scout master for a hispanic LDS ward. The boys enjoyed the scouting program here in the U.S. but they explained how bad it was for them in their various countries because the LDS church did not run the program. We really need to lose our short-sighted stance on church programs. We are a worldwide church. The scouts were not filling their needs and frankly the scouts are not filling the needs of the boys in most wards. As LDS members, we need to put our hearts and minds into the new program to help it to succeed. Otherwise, we our a bit like Lot's wife.
Neal ChristensenMay 24, 2018
Obligatory? As far as I know, it has never been obligatory for LDS boys to participate in scouting; encouraged, yes, but not obligatory.
Robert StarlingMay 23, 2018
Another thing that has not been discussed is that perhaps a substantial number of LDS boys and young men (and their parents as well as other adults) will want to still be involved Scouting, even though after Jan. 1, 2020 it will be something optional in their lives rather than obligatory as part of their Church attendance. The great need -at least in predominately LDS communities- will be to find new sponsoring organizations and leaders to give those boys a place to go who still want to be Scouts. In the Salt Lake area anyone interested can visit *** allinScouting.org *** to get more info.
Bobbi PetersonMay 23, 2018
James Francisco, what is the source of your 80%+ & your 70% loss rates?
James FranciscoMay 23, 2018
The sole criterion for success for this new program will be the retention rate of children baptized at eight years old at the time they reach 18. If the 80%+ loss rate outside the US decreases significantly and the 70% loss rate in the US does not increased, then this program will be "successful".
sidMay 23, 2018
Very true. Also, they missed that the BSA said that it's membership standards were no longer sustainable, so they needed to lower their standards.
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Father of Five BoysMay 24, 2018
Neal Christianson -- The handbook has always said Scouting was not obligatory, but in reality and in practice a boy was considered less active if he didn't. He was considered a rebel against the Gospel. I have seen priesthood advancements held up due to a boy's lack of interest in scouting (in a ward where the scouting program consisted of play basketball and nothing else.). Too many local leaders have considered scouting a priesthood duty; that it was scouting that trained a boy for the Melchizedek priesthood -- when in truth it is Aaronic priesthood activity that trains boys to become elders. For this reason, I am not sad to see us parting ways with scouting. Local leaders will have to shift their efforts back to the Aaronic priesthood quorums, which requires no merit badge and no basketball.
PerriMay 24, 2018
I live in Utah and was a scout master for a hispanic LDS ward. The boys enjoyed the scouting program here in the U.S. but they explained how bad it was for them in their various countries because the LDS church did not run the program. We really need to lose our short-sighted stance on church programs. We are a worldwide church. The scouts were not filling their needs and frankly the scouts are not filling the needs of the boys in most wards. As LDS members, we need to put our hearts and minds into the new program to help it to succeed. Otherwise, we our a bit like Lot's wife.
Neal ChristensenMay 24, 2018
Obligatory? As far as I know, it has never been obligatory for LDS boys to participate in scouting; encouraged, yes, but not obligatory.
Robert StarlingMay 23, 2018
Another thing that has not been discussed is that perhaps a substantial number of LDS boys and young men (and their parents as well as other adults) will want to still be involved Scouting, even though after Jan. 1, 2020 it will be something optional in their lives rather than obligatory as part of their Church attendance. The great need -at least in predominately LDS communities- will be to find new sponsoring organizations and leaders to give those boys a place to go who still want to be Scouts. In the Salt Lake area anyone interested can visit *** allinScouting.org *** to get more info.
Bobbi PetersonMay 23, 2018
James Francisco, what is the source of your 80%+ & your 70% loss rates?
James FranciscoMay 23, 2018
The sole criterion for success for this new program will be the retention rate of children baptized at eight years old at the time they reach 18. If the 80%+ loss rate outside the US decreases significantly and the 70% loss rate in the US does not increased, then this program will be "successful".
sidMay 23, 2018
Very true. Also, they missed that the BSA said that it's membership standards were no longer sustainable, so they needed to lower their standards.
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