Excerpts from a letter to a dear friend and parent of Scouts 7/14/1995

Dear Friend

I’ve had the privilege (and the pain) to work continuously in the youth ministry for almost 15 years. Scouting as a structure, is the method God chose to perform his ministry to the youth. Just as the US constitution was ordained of God and bares His imprint, so was Scouting inspired. The LDS church was the first church to sponsor a scouting unit and continues to be its’ leading supporter. Some have used terminology like “Scouting is the activity arm of the Aaronic priesthood”. This statement, while true, does grave sin through omission. Scouting is the very embodiment of priesthood principles. It is the Saviors guidelines to life condensed to a few phases that the boys can memorize. It is the Zion’s Camp for refining the Lords youth.

I might be accused of some hyperbole by those not familiar with the many sermons to this affect by the brethren. It is no mistake that our Bishops and Stake Presidents over the years have been invited to Philmont Scout ranch as a setting for their leadership training. If this sounds like “preaching to the choir”, then join in melody, but do read on.

I was once critical of those, who in speechmaking, sited statistic showing the very high correlation between boys attaining the rank of Eagle Scout and spiritual strength and commitment to God. This is measured by Missionary service and temple marriage. Some well meaning parents push their boys along the advancement ladder hoping that some of that statistical correlation will rub off on their son. My concern was in the misinterpretation of the statistic. It was the same process that brought a boy to the rank of Eagle that builds the spiritual basis for a lifelong devotion to serving God. In other words, the badge should be a result of the same process that builds the spiritual foundation we are seeking. That is the fundamental basis for the Lords interest in the “program” of Scouting. No Scout leader should ever comfort himself by thinking his job as providing activities to entertain the youth. His job is first to teach the love of the savior. The program, the activities, the fun and games and yes the advancement provide the setting and mood. This teaching cannot be done effectively once a year in a big flurry at a Scout camp. While miracles in boys lives do occur, often its the steady buildup of rapore over months that enables those miracles.

I said I was once critical. This was because I found parents and boys misunderstanding the real statistical correlation and doing “end runs” around the heart and sole of scouting; Boys who I pinned the badge of Eagle on whom I had never had the chance to kneel around the campfire with. Boys who are so wrapped up in the worlds counterfeit youth programs, that they have no time to be in the places the Lord ordained yet feeling all the while that the important goals were being met. This criticism is more valid now than ever. This may sound odd coming from one that promotes advancement as much as I, but its just mistaking the real goals from the tools that concerned me. I was

mulling this over when a new insight between advancement and the spiritual goals crystallized.

Boys that don’t advance loose interest. Boys who don’t advance don’t feel a real part and may even feel alienated and resentful. These boys loose interest in activity soon. Activity and advancement gives the Scoutmaster a chance to praise the boys publicly. The boy will more likely value the relationship when these opportunities to receive awards come around. Its is the relationship between Scoutmaster and Scout that enables the spiritual growth and the building of citizenship in the home and community. Advancement is a tool with positive spiritual feedback because of the interaction it provides with men and women of good citizenship and spiritual focus. Advancement is critical!

We all have high aspirations for our boys. But I have learned that these young men do not usually come to scouting with the Scout Oath tattooed to their chest. It is by long term participation in growth experiences that we help the boys attain that potential. The stakes are rather high. A small change in the direction of an arrow when released can make a big difference in where it lands. I want to be there to try and make that difference.

My valued friends,

Steve