Reader comments: MormonTimes.com: Being prepared is important for Scout leaders, too.
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Buckeye Ute | 12:43 p.m. May 11, 2008
It is true that the LDS Church sponsors BSA troops, but as a young men's president and asst. scoutmaster who grew up in a "traditional" BSA troop I know that there are differences in how the LDS Church runs scouts and how the "regular" BSA troops run. So for those differences there would need to be a seperate meeting. Even here in Ohio our council runs seperate meetings to account for those differences. Its not because the LDS church doesn't want to associate, but because there are changes in the BSA program for LDS troops.
Cougar | 1:56 p.m. May 11, 2008
The best thing that could happen for Scouting is to rigorously emphasize SEPARATE meetings and domains from the LDS Church. The LDS Church has diluted, downgraded, and ruined Scouting by insisting on Scouting adapting to the Church's MUCH LOWER standards rather than raising the Church to the BSA's standards.
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Tom | 5:41 p.m. May 11, 2008
small but important point: The church does not have "Latino" wards. We have Spanish-language wards. They are meant to provide spanish language services, not separate services for Latinos. Nit-picking, I know, but semantics make a difference here. "Latino Wards" makes it sound like we're segragating or something.
Fritz | 11:02 a.m. May 12, 2008
My experience has been that most wards do Cub Scouts (8 to 10) and Boy Scouts (11 to 13) fairly well. Some do better than others. But, at 14 the Scouting program usually dies despite the fact that the LDS Church has recently reemphasized that Scouting IS the Young Men program. If you don't have your Eagle by 14 you are on your own. I don't understand it, and it is very frustrating as a parent to young men.
Unfortunately, part of the problem is that leaders are called instead of volunteering. Somehow it is not taken as seriously if you are called of God through the bishop. Does this make sense?
Unfortunately, part of the problem is that leaders are called instead of volunteering. Somehow it is not taken as seriously if you are called of God through the bishop. Does this make sense?
re: Cougar | 12:45 p.m. May 12, 2008
You should do your research. As a current scout leader, I can tell you the LDS Church has higher standards and makes advancement harder than the BSA standards. Check your facts.
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This seems to divide rather than unite in my opinion.