[Ripliancum]

As the Mormon Church is the largest charter organization in scouting, this line in the sand should make things interesting.

[darkangel82]

I’ve been purposely avoiding this story all day but it seems BSA is really in the tank now.

[IronJack]

What exactly are young boys supposed to learn from Scouting now? Moral uprightness? Integrity? Self-reliance? Courage? From a whiny metrosexual poof?

Anyone have any figures on how much membership in Scouting has declined since they went fag?

[HiTech RedNeck]

That’s a compromise of sorts, but it still has a shadow hanging over it. The parent organization is still the dog that can wag the tail if it wants.

[faithhopecharity]

The lds church certainly doesn’t need bsa. Watch to see them enroll their boys in a good new or alternate scouting type organization.

[two23]

If the churches have no say, the should leave BSA behind and start a church-members only scouting group.

[smokingfrog]

The Boy Scouts are history.

[RetiredTexasVet]

Boy scout leaders “grooming” boys to become leaders takes on a whole new meaning now!!!!

[Zakeet]

As a chartering organization, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has always had the right to select Scout leaders who adhere to moral and religious principles that are consistent with our doctrines and beliefs. Any resolution adopted by the Boy Scouts of America regarding leadership in Scouting must continue to affirm that right.

Is the Mormon Church saying that they intend to (1) somehow veto that resolution (perhaps by withdrawing, if necessary), or (2) that they intend to continue to support the Boy Scouts but pick their own non-homosexual scout leaders?

---

In any case, it is interesting to compare and contrast the LDS statement with the Resolutions adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention more than two years ago. Among other things, the Baptists stated the following:

WHEREAS, For more than a century, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has been a values-based boys organization designed to “prepare young people for a lifetime of character and leadership,” equipping them “to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law”; and

WHEREAS, The Scout Oath contains language that is consistent with belief in God and biblical precepts that serve as the basis for Christian faith: “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight”; and

WHEREAS, The leadership of the Boy Scouts throughout its history has restricted from membership and leadership those persons who would affect the group’s ability to advocate its viewpoints in regard to belief in God and His moral precepts; and

WHEREAS, In 1992, and again in 2000, the Southern Baptist Convention adopted resolutions affirming the Boy Scouts in their stand that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the obligations of the Scout Oath, encouraging the BSA “to maintain its historic commitments” (1992) and “to hold fast to its traditional ideals” (2000)

[Snip]

WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message states that “Christians should oppose . . . all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography,” and Southern Baptists consistently have expressed their opposition to the normalization of homosexual behavior in American culture through more than a dozen resolutions over the past thirty years; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That we express our well-founded concern that the current executive leadership of the BSA, along with certain board members, may utilize this membership policy change as merely the first step toward future approval of homosexual leaders in the Scouts; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we call on the Boy Scouts to remove from executive and board leadership those individuals who, earlier this year, sought to change both the membership and leadership policy of the Scouts without seeking input from the full range of the Scouting family; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we affirm the right of all families and churches prayerfully to assess their continued relationship with the BSA, expressing our support for those churches and families that as a matter of conscience can no longer be part of the Scouting family; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage churches and families that remain in the Boy Scouts to seek to impact as many boys as possible with the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ, to work toward the reversal of this new membership policy, and to advocate against any future change in leadership and membership policy that normalizes sexual conduct opposed to the biblical standard; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage churches that choose to sever ties with the Boy Scouts not to abandon their ministry to boys but consider expanding their Royal Ambassadors ministry, a distinctively Southern Baptist missions organization to develop godly young men; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we declare our love in Christ for all young people regardless of their perceived sexual orientation, praying that God will bring all youth into a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

---

The LDS Church has a long history of changing key doctrine to align with public opinion ... its stances on polygamy, Blacks in the Priesthood, rewriting portions of its temple ceremony, and numerous "revisions" to the Book of Mormon being obvious examples.

Returning to the question I initially posed, given the Church's record of vacillation, I suspect that the latter option of tolerating homosexual scout leaders as long as they indoctrinate only non-Mormons will prevail.

[Salman]

This is very likely the end of the Boy Scouts.

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

BSA pounds the final nail into their own coffin....

[steveyp]

Our Pack folded with the membership decision. The troop is closed and only supporting existing youth. We are in terminal decline.

Scouting is dead.

[Sequoyah101]

Bravo!!

What is the position of the church on queer marriage?

[SZonian]

SLC helped open the door back in 2013 when the last BSA president, Wayne Perry, a mormon, made a trip to SLC just before the convention was called to vote on the matter.

He even wrote an editorial supporting the policy change...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/05/22/boy-scouts-president-let-in-gay-boys/2351907/

SLC had a chance then to make a stand and failed to do so.

The vast amounts of ghost memberships that SLC pays for holds a lot of sway...”free” money for the BSA in the form of dues paid, but no program or support required from National.

SLC pays for every youth of Scouting age on the church rosters regardless of participation/activity either in church or Scouting...that’s a lot of $$.

And a key word in National’s statement should give anyone remaining in the BSA pause...”allow”. For now.

[Washi]

Fist chance I’ve had to catch up on the news today.

Can’t say I’m surprised about the latest BSA stance. We all knew it was coming.

The Mormons will try to protect the children as long as they can.

I’m sure Colofornian will be along shortly to bash the Mormons for some reason or another.

[editor-surveyor]

BSA will be all queer, all the time within a year.

It took the Girl scouts two years.
.

[Elsie]

“As a chartering organization, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has always had the right to select Scout leaders who adhere to moral and religious principles that are consistent with our doctrines and beliefs. Any resolution adopted by the Boy Scouts of America regarding leadership in Scouting must continue to affirm that right.”

You'd think these smart folks would know the difference between a 'right' and a 'privilege'.

“As a chartering organization, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has always had the privilege to select Scout leaders who adhere to moral and religious principles that are consistent with our doctrines and beliefs. Any resolution adopted by the Boy Scouts of America regarding leadership in Scouting must continue to affirm that privilege.”

[Elsie]

... leaders who adhere to moral and religious principles that are consistent with our doctrines and beliefs.

It appears that SOME have not gotten the memo...

[StormPrepper]

As you know it’s kind of a moot point as long as the BSA doesn’t try to force on us who we have to chose to be a scout leader and who isn’t.

Scouting leaders are called to that position by the ward Bishop. No one can apply for that position.

[1010RD]

Very good reply. Other churches have been carefully breaking the rules.

[EternalVigilance]

The heavy lifting for scouting is done by parents, predominately Moms. Watch for them to bail out. No Mom with any sense wants her boy being trained - or shall we say ‘groomed’ - by a flaming homosexual.

Guess what Moms and Dads? YOU DON’T NEED THE BSA ANYHOW! Teach your kids yourself, in concert with other decent families in your church or community!

Shoot, that’s what you’re already doing anyway...