Scouting Month & Sacrament Meeting

[amo]

From the Scouting Handbook for Church Units in the United States, Revised May 2012, we read :

8.11 Scouting Month

February has traditionally been designated Scouting Month in the United States. Leaders of Scouting units chartered by the Church may plan and carry out approved activities during the week to recognize this tradition. However, in keeping with the purposes of Sabbath observance, boys and leaders do not wear their uniforms to regular Sunday meetings or while administering and passing the sacrament.

Why then today, as I was told, the "troop" in my ward all came dressed in their uniforms ? Is it me who isn't reading well or Am I just being biased by my sort of "scouting-dislikement" ?

AMO

[ERayR]

You read well. Somebody else doesn't.

[Calm]

From the Scouting Handbook for Church Units in the United States, Revised May 2012, we read :

8.11 Scouting Month

February has traditionally been designated Scouting Month in the United States. Leaders of Scouting units chartered by the Church may plan and carry out approved activities during the week to recognize this tradition. However, in keeping with the purposes of Sabbath observance, boys and leaders do not wear their uniforms to regular Sunday meetings or while administering and passing the sacrament.

Why then today, as I was told, the "troop" in my ward all came dressed in their uniforms ? Is it me who isn't reading well or Am I just being biased by my sort of "scouting-dislikement" ?

AMO

They used to allow this, even encourage it. Someone has not been keeping up with the changes or is allowing fond memories to overrule actual policy.

[gkearney]

It's interesting that the policy is found only in the United States as that handbook is only issued in the US. So in other places this "rule" does not apply. My state president for example says that even while the church does not sponsor scouting in Australia if a boy has on his uniform in church, we sometime come directly to church from camp, he is still permitted to pass the sacrament. On occasion I do wear my uniform to certain priesthood leadership meeting, more to make a point than anything else.

[Scott Lloyd]

While I was growing up, it was pretty much standard practice to have the boys wear uniforms on what was called "Scout Sunday." I think it good that such a tradition has been officially discontinued. Scouting, for some, became a parareligion. Still is today for some, I suppose.

I think it inappropriate to use any portion of the three-hour meeting block to launch Friends of Scouting campaigns. And I disapprove of the practice in my and other wards of holding courts of honor on Sunday.

[ERayR]

While I was growing up, it was pretty much standard practice to have the boys wear uniforms on what was called "Scout Sunday." I think it good that such a tradition has been officially discontinued. Scouting, for some, became a parareligion. Still is today for some, I suppose.

I think it inappropriate to use any portion of the three-hour meeting block to launch Friends of Scouting campaigns. And I disapprove of the practice in my and other wards of holding courts of honor on Sunday.

And I still haven't found the priesthood office called eagle.

[cinepro]

From the Scouting Handbook for Church Units in the United States, Revised May 2012, we read :

8.11 Scouting Month

February has traditionally been designated Scouting Month in the United States. Leaders of Scouting units chartered by the Church may plan and carry out approved activities during the week to recognize this tradition. However, in keeping with the purposes of Sabbath observance, boys and leaders do not wear their uniforms to regular Sunday meetings or while administering and passing the sacrament.

Why then today, as I was told, the "troop" in my ward all came dressed in their uniforms ? Is it me who isn't reading well or Am I just being biased by my sort of "scouting-dislikement" ?

AMO

This must be a pretty recent change; when I was Cubmaster 6 years ago, I am pretty sure there was only a restriction on boys performing priesthood duties in uniform, but wearing them to meetings was okay (on Scout Sunday). I thought I had read the manual pretty carefully.

Ultimately, we have to realize that putting something in a policy manual isn't the best way to bring about change. There needs to be direct training and communication.

[ERMD]

Vain traditions of our fathers.

:)

[The Nehor]

And I still haven't found the priesthood office called eagle.

It is an Aaronic office that gives you the ability to light fires with your mind and to tangle rope whilst learning to tie knots. Like the real eagle those with this office also find food primarily through scavenging.

[JAHS]

We used to have church meetings at scout camp outdoors if we were there on Sundays and I am pretty sure we were wearing our scout uniforms while passing the sacrament.

[Saints Alive]

I usually wear my Eagle Scout medal on the lapel of my suit during scout month but with all the controversy and being in a new ward I don't think I will be wearing it this year.

[cinepro]

We used to have church meetings at scout camp outdoors if we were there on Sundays and I am pretty sure we were wearing our scout uniforms while passing the sacrament.

That's not going to happen anymore. LDS troops are not allowed to travel to camp on Sundays. Our local LDS stakes even tried to have a special "LDS Week" at scout camp two years ago where the entire camp would be LDS troops, and we'd go up on Saturday and have a special meeting on Sunday with our local Area Seventy (an avid scouter) speaking to us. A few weeks before the camp, we got word that we were to attend our regular meetings on Sunday and drive up on Monday morning.

Apparently the decision was made at the "highest levels."

Edited February 12, 2013 by cinepro

[silvermoon383]

Lame. That's all I can say.

We act like this and leaders wonder why the other troops call us "Scouting Lite".

[ERayR]

It is an Aaronic office that gives you the ability to light fires with your mind and to tangle rope whilst learning to tie knots. Like the real eagle those with this office also find food primarily through scavenging.

[Scott Lloyd]

Lame. That's all I can say.

We act like this and leaders wonder why the other troops call us "Scouting Lite".

What rules or regulations require that to do Scouting in earnest one has to elevate it to the level of liturgy?

"Scouting Light" indeed! If the time comes when it starts to encroach upon the reverence and decorum of Sabbath Day worship, that's the very time it needs to be reined in.

Edited February 13, 2013 by Scott Lloyd

[silvermoon383]

Where have I ever said that Scouts needs to be on the same level as worship? All I've been trying to get across is that if the Church wants to keep up a BSA program they need to take all of it. In no way does wearing a uniform to Church one day a year and going camping through Sunday one day in the summer impinge on the sanctity of Sacrament Meeting. I'm not calling for a whole-hog "Scouting is life" program on Scout Sunday complete with flag parade and campfire hymns, just a simple, basic acknowledgement of the program the Church has chosen to use to train its young men.

I talked at length with my Institute teacher about this tonight (he's been in both High Councils and Stake Presidencies so I figured his input would be valuable.) While he's with many of those who wouldn't shed a tear to see the Church drop Scouting, but at the same time he agrees that it really needs to be handled better. I believe the verse about being lukewarm is appropriate here.

[ERayR]

Where have I ever said that Scouts needs to be on the same level as worship? All I've been trying to get across is that if the Church wants to keep up a BSA program they need to take all of it. In no way does wearing a uniform to Church one day a year and going camping through Sunday one day in the summer impinge on the sanctity of Sacrament Meeting. I'm not calling for a whole-hog "Scouting is life" program on Scout Sunday complete with flag parade and campfire hymns, just a simple, basic acknowledgement of the program the Church has chosen to use to train its young men.

I talked at length with my Institute teacher about this tonight (he's been in both High Councils and Stake Presidencies so I figured his input would be valuable.) While he's with many of those who wouldn't shed a tear to see the Church drop Scouting, but at the same time he agrees that it really needs to be handled better. I believe the verse about being lukewarm is appropriate here.

Where in the scriptures does it say that scouting should be embraced to that extent? I find something about keeping the Sabbath day holy but nothing about camping on Sunday Unless you are part of the Israelite tribes. Then that would be a 40 year camping trip.

[Scott Lloyd]

Where have I ever said that Scouts needs to be on the same level as worship? All I've been trying to get across is that if the Church wants to keep up a BSA program they need to take all of it. In no way does wearing a uniform to Church one day a year and going camping through Sunday one day in the summer impinge on the sanctity of Sacrament Meeting. I'm not calling for a whole-hog "Scouting is life" program on Scout Sunday complete with flag parade and campfire hymns, just a simple, basic acknowledgement of the program the Church has chosen to use to train its young men.

I talked at length with my Institute teacher about this tonight (he's been in both High Councils and Stake Presidencies so I figured his input would be valuable.) While he's with many of those who wouldn't shed a tear to see the Church drop Scouting, but at the same time he agrees that it really needs to be handled better. I believe the verse about being lukewarm is appropriate here.

Ironically enough, you might find that I agree with your sentiment in some respects. I have felt for a long time that Scouting is taken too casually in the Church. By that, I mean I observe too much cutting of corners in rank advancements and merit badges, that sort of thing. I don't think our young men get the full benefit that more rigorous observance of program requirements would bring.

But I maintain that taking it seriously in no way requires having the regalia and trappings of what is essentially a secular program impinge on the reverence and worshipful decorum that should characterize our Sabbath day meetings. The "basic acknowledgment" you call for could be accomplished by a simple expression of appreciation in sacrament or priesthood meeting by the one conducting the meeting.

Edited February 13, 2013 by Scott Lloyd

[bluebell]

I think the way that the church does scouts-making scout leaders a calling for example, causes a lot of problems for the program in the church.

For scouts to really work, the leaders have to be dedicated and extremely willing to learn a whole new culture, and they have to give up weekends and vacation days and other financial resources to make sure a program operates correctly. That's a lot to ask someone who might not have any love for the lifestyle of the program and no idea what a real scout is.

My father is heavily involved in scouts and has always been, because he is one of the few who was willing to take the responsibility seriously (and i don't mean that as an insult to those who didn't). He's thoroughly burnt out in scouts and would love to pass the torch but is a higher-up leader because there is no one else in the area who is LDS and willing to do what it takes to serve the progam and the boys in it.

When there is no one who wants to do it, or people are called who don't want to do it, then the program is a trial for the boys rather than a blessing. But with the way that the church has structured the YM's program, there is little recourse for boys who are trapped with leaders who have no idea what they are doing and worse, don't really care.

[amo]

This must be a pretty recent change [...]

; Is May 2012 recent ?

when I was Cubmaster 6 years ago, I am pretty sure there was only a restriction on boys performing priesthood duties in uniform, but wearing them to meetings was okay (on Scout Sunday). I thought I had read the manual pretty carefully.

And there was. And you did, indeed...

Ultimately, we have to realize that putting something in a policy manual isn't the best way to bring about change. There needs to be direct training and communication.

Of course, but then again...?