Mormon Boy Scouting Program
How LDS Troops Differ frrom Those Sponsored by Other Organizations
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is known to be one of the largest supporters of the Boy Scouts of America. Penn and Teller's Showtime series did an episode on how the Mormons hijacked the Boy Scouts in the 1980s. The rewards are the same, but the leaders of the Mormon church have tightly integrated the Boy Scout program with the church's Young Men's Program.
Joining the Boy Scouts as a Young LDS Member
When the author joined Boy Scouts, in the troop at his Mormon church, the initial phase was the Blazer Patrol, where the Scouts who were not yet old enough to hold the Aaronic Priesthood automatically enter when they join the Boy Scout troop sponsored by their branch or ward. The patrol leaders for this patrol are chosen by the other members of that group, but this changes after Mormons Boy Scouts turn twelve and are ordained as Deacons in the Aaronic Priesthood. The next patrol the boy is placed into is led by Deacon's Quorum President and is chosen by the branch president or the bishop of the ward.
How Patrol Leaders are Selected in a Mormon Scout Troop
All leaders in the Mormon church are selected by the Bishopric. These callings, as they are known, are announced in sacrament meeting, but the person that receives a calling is usually contacted before receiving this information to confirm if the person called to the position is able to do the job.
A young Mormon male who is called to be the Deacon Quorum president automatically becomes the leader of his patrol. This differs from scouting troops sponsored by other organizations where the troop's patrol leaders are elected.
Not Every Aaronic Priesthood Holder is a Boy Scout
Although the Scouting Program and the Young Men's Program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are intertwined, not every Mormon has a desire or the inclination to join a Boy Scout troop, nor are they driven by a desire to get their Eagle badge. (Although many posters on Mormon and Ex-Mormon message boards state that it is a common cultural practice in Utah for parents not to allow teenagers to get their driver's license until they reach the rank of Eagle in their Boy Scout troop.) It is common for many Mormon congregations to have a Young Men/Young Womens night to provide activities for the Young Men who choose not to join Scouting.
Mormon Troops Produce More Eagle Scouts
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints produces twice the number of Eagle Scouts than those of other denominations. Speculations abounds that this is because the troops allow much easier service projects than what non-Mormon troops would allow, but this charge is speculation found on personal blogs.
Patrol Leaders Selected by the Clergy: Good or Bad?
The Mormon system does not allow the Boy Scouts to choose their patrol leaders, and occasionally selects patrol leaders who are not well-suited for the a leadership position. Because patrol leaders have little real power in boy scout troops, because the major decisions are made by the adult leaders of the both Mormon and non-Mormon Boy Scout troops, this does not create a problem.
The Boy Scouts of America let the Mormons modify the program to meet the needs of their church. Besides rules like no camping on Sunday and the fact that the members are Mormons, there is no difference between being in a Mormon Boy Scout troop and a Boy Scout troop sponsored by some other organization.
Resources:
Author's Note: The author was in a Mormon Boy Scout Troop for many years. The BSA grants the Mormon church the right to modify the Scouting program to meet the needs of the Mormon church.
LDS.org – Scouting for the 11 Year Old
LDS-Mormon.org – Mormon Scouting Discrimination
