LDS Freedom Forum

Wow... didn't know this was going on after the BSA announced in 2013 that they would allow homosexual young men... of course, I'd like to know what part of the Scout oath that says 'to keep myself morally straight' the BSA now doesn't understand?

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/02 ... o-decline/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Alternative Scouting Group’s CEO Reveals His Group’s Secret to Success — and the Message He Believes It Should Send to the Boy Scouts

Trail Life USA, the faith-based organization founded as an alternative to the Boy Scouts of America following the Scouts’ 2013 decision to adopt a new policy allowing openly gay youths to join, has experienced monumental growth over the past year.

The new organization, which has already attracted 20,000 members in its short 12-month lifespan, describes itself as an “adventure, character, and leadership movement for young men” — one that aligns itself with traditional Christian and conservative values.

And Trail Life USA CEO Mark Hancock revealed to TheBlaze last week what he believes has been his organization’s secret to success: refusing to value “popularity over principle.”

:ymhug:

Wow. They have done a lot. I would like to read their handbook.

Good for them!
If it's a good program as it sounds, I hope the church switches over to it.

If it's as good as I think, by reading this intro, my boys will be doing this instead of BSA at the Ward. And I'm an Eagle Scout.

What I like about it is associating scriptures with all of the various principles and such.

Statement of Values

Purity // God calls us to lives of holiness, being pure of heart, mind, word and deed. We are to reserve sexual activity for the sanctity of marriage, a lifelong commitment before God between a man and a woman.

Service // God calls us to become responsible members of our community and the world through selfless acts that contribute to the welfare of others.

Stewardship // God calls us to use our God-given time, talents, and money wisely.

Integrity // God calls us to live moral lives that demonstrate an inward motivation to do what is biblically right regardless of the cost.
- See more at: http://www.traillifeusa.com/who-we-are/ ... f7bek.dpuf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

From their website. I really appreciate this. I remember passing through boyscouts and being so worried about memorizing the oath and other such things that I really paid little attention to the meaning. I don't know if Trail Life USA operates the same in that manner, but understanding the values outside of a memorized oath would be greatly benificial. I especially like the part about integrity "regardless of the cost".

I like everything, except this:

All adults in leadership roles—whether staff or volunteer at any level—must agree to sign and adhere to the Statement of Faith. Youth members are not required to sign this statement.

And the Statement of Faith is:

We believe there is One Triune God – God the Father; Jesus Christ, His one and only Son; and the Holy Spirit – Creator of the universe and eternally existent. We believe the Holy Scriptures (Old and New Testaments) to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God. We believe each person is created in His image for the purpose of communing with and worshiping God. We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Who enables us to live godly lives. We believe each of us is called to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We believe God calls us to lives of purity, service, stewardship and integrity.

One thing I liked about the BSA was the acknowledgement of God, but the refusal to get into theology. It may not be a big deal to some, but I wouldn't sign such a statement of belief, excluding myself from being a adult leader. This statement also seems to exclude extrabiblical acceptance of scripture, again, something I won't sign.

Drats. I really like the concept Trail Life has forged as a "activity arm" for faith-based organizations and the adherence to tenets of faith, but it does seem like they are catering to a pre-digested niche of Christians, a la the Bible Belt.

AGalagaChiasmus wrote:I like everything, except this:

All adults in leadership roles—whether staff or volunteer at any level—must agree to sign and adhere to the Statement of Faith. Youth members are not required to sign this statement.

And the Statement of Faith is:

We believe there is One Triune God – God the Father; Jesus Christ, His one and only Son; and the Holy Spirit – Creator of the universe and eternally existent. We believe the Holy Scriptures (Old and New Testaments) to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God. We believe each person is created in His image for the purpose of communing with and worshiping God. We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Who enables us to live godly lives. We believe each of us is called to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We believe God calls us to lives of purity, service, stewardship and integrity.

One thing I liked about the BSA was the acknowledgement of God, but the refusal to get into theology. It may not be a big deal to some, but I wouldn't sign such a statement of belief, excluding myself from being a adult leader. This statement also seems to exclude extrabiblical acceptance of scripture, again, something I won't sign.

Drats. I really like the concept Trail Life has forged as a "activity arm" for faith-based organizations and the adherence to tenets of faith, but it does seem like they are catering to a pre-digested niche of Christians, a la the Bible Belt.

Any such program like this, in order to work for the church, would have to be structured by the church. I personally wouldn't have a problem with this faith statement as long as the organization understood that my acceptance of the Bible as the word of God doesn't exclude the Book of Mormon to be the word of God as well.

I don't think accepting such an organization as this by the church would be workable. The only solution I see is in D&C 78:14

That through my providence, notwithstanding the tribulation which shall descend upon you, that the church may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world;

We will have to stand independent from all others. Our calling (as the priesthood of this world) is to lead not follow.

I believe this is the group the conservative Catholics I work with have switched to. It is a great group, but it is definitely aimed at a particular group of conservative christians. I wonder how much their CEO gets paid. I like what the church does in Australia much better than BSA or other money grubbing groups.

OOOK? wrote:I believe this is the group the conservative Catholics I work with have switched to. It is a great group, but it is definitely aimed at a particular group of conservative christians. I wonder how much their CEO gets paid. I like what the church does in Australia much better than BSA or other money grubbing groups.

Can you start a thread about what the church does in Australia in place of boy scouts?

OOOK? wrote:I believe this is the group the conservative Catholics I work with have switched to. It is a great group, but it is definitely aimed at a particular group of conservative christians. I wonder how much their CEO gets paid. I like what the church does in Australia much better than BSA or other money grubbing groups.

Just what are you talking about? I lived in Australia for years before moving to the U.S. recently. The young men's program in that country is practically non-existant and in our stake the young men's activity rate was horrible. In effect the church stopped using scouting in Australia (with the exception of four groups that somehow managed to hold on) and replaced it with no program at all. Some ward do OK by by and large it has been a disaster.

Some LDS youth continue on with scouting and I served as the national Scouts Australia Chaplain, the first one in something like 25 years. You are the first and only person I have ever heard of holding up the young men's program in Australia as an example of anything. To say I am surprised is an understatement.

mes5464 wrote:

AGalagaChiasmus wrote:I like everything, except this:

All adults in leadership roles—whether staff or volunteer at any level—must agree to sign and adhere to the Statement of Faith. Youth members are not required to sign this statement.

And the Statement of Faith is:

We believe there is One Triune God – God the Father; Jesus Christ, His one and only Son; and the Holy Spirit – Creator of the universe and eternally existent. We believe the Holy Scriptures (Old and New Testaments) to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God. We believe each person is created in His image for the purpose of communing with and worshiping God. We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Who enables us to live godly lives. We believe each of us is called to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We believe God calls us to lives of purity, service, stewardship and integrity.

One thing I liked about the BSA was the acknowledgement of God, but the refusal to get into theology. It may not be a big deal to some, but I wouldn't sign such a statement of belief, excluding myself from being a adult leader. This statement also seems to exclude extrabiblical acceptance of scripture, again, something I won't sign.

Drats. I really like the concept Trail Life has forged as a "activity arm" for faith-based organizations and the adherence to tenets of faith, but it does seem like they are catering to a pre-digested niche of Christians, a la the Bible Belt.

Any such program like this, in order to work for the church, would have to be structured by the church. I personally wouldn't have a problem with this faith statement as long as the organization understood that my acceptance of the Bible as the word of God doesn't exclude the Book of Mormon to be the word of God as well.

I don't think accepting such an organization as this by the church would be workable. The only solution I see is in D&C 78:14

That through my providence, notwithstanding the tribulation which shall descend upon you, that the church may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world;

We will have to stand independent from all others. Our calling (as the priesthood of this world) is to lead not follow.

True... however, every Leader started out by following.

I think they are certainly making a great statement of integrity... It would be a more attractive organization if they centered on a "God Principle Foundation" based in "a character of godliness" without mentioning a particular scripture. There are many principles of truth in all forms of religion, cultures that have a moral goodness to them. The human character of nurturing a new born by godly parents regardless of religious associations is a more noble pursuit into "truth" than separating ourselves by doctrines of who is right or wrong.

Scouts has always had competition which is why the majority of Scouting is done at the Deacons and Teacher levels. Once they hit Teacher it's harder to compete with girls and video games. Once they hit Priest you are also competing with jobs and athletics. It's becoming more and more of a struggle to keep boys interested no matter what the program is founded on.