Last night,
while I was serving in the temple and waiting for a few moments while someone I
was assisting was in the restroom, I was talking with a group of people and
someone asked what I did for a living.
When I told the group that I work for the Boy Scouts of America, I knew exactly
the question someone would ask next, “Do you think you will be able to keep
your job after the church leaves Scouting?” and sure enough they did. I said the same answer that I’ve been giving
for almost a year and a half now. “I sure hope so.” Then, again predictably,
the conversation turned to how the Boy Scouts have lost their morals, and
brought this separation on themselves, and how it is such a good thing that it
is going away. I’ve heard it many, many,
times. Not wanting to create anything even
resembling tension in the temple, I just waited quietly and then helped the
temple patron on to our next area, feeling a little sad. As I was walking, the thought came to my
mind “They haven’t seen what you’ve seen.”
So, the
point of this little blog post is to hopefully show anyone who might be
interested, a little bit of what I’ve seen during my almost four years working
for the Trapper Trails Council. This job
came along at a critical time for me, when I really, really needed it. It provided income I had been missing for
about six months, and the breath of fresh air and peace of heart and mind, I
had been missing in my professional life for years. It was remarkable to me to come into a place
where staff meeting began with prayer, where I had the freedom to say “Merry
Christmas” as much as I pleased during the Christmas season, and where I could
put a picture of the Savior up on my desk without anyone asking me to take it
down for fear it might offend someone.
Last year, all the employees of the council met in Ogden for a training
about the upcoming changes. On the
second day of the training, we all gathered outside the building around the flag
pole. Together, we said “The Pledge of Allegiance”
and then we all bowed our head together as one team of different people with
different backgrounds and different religions and we all prayed together to ask
for God’s help moving forward. How many
people get to say that they’ve ever had a work day that starts like that? It was one of the most rewarding moments in my
professional life.
Let me tell
you what else I’ve seen. One of my
assignments this year has been to digitize the Eagle applications. It is no easy task, believe me. As I’ve scanned thousands of applications, I
have thought about the fact that each one of those pieces of paper represents a
young man doing something challenging that changed him. It represents merit
badges earned by hard work, parents and leaders who believed in and supported a
young man. Collectively, I would say
that all the Eagle files represents tens of thousands of Eagle project hours,
each project making the world a little bit better of a place. Just think of that! It is amazing!
I have seen
an amazing young woman walk into the office with a light in her eyes and a
spring in her step that is truly inspiring.
She came because she wanted to join the Order of the Arrow in our council. She has already been active in Scouts where
she came from. She came here to go to
school at Utah State, and because she is only 17, parent permission was
required for her to join. An email from
her parents came to our office stating simply that they gave permission for
their daughter to join Scouts and any other organization that warms her
heart. She is an active part of her girl’s
troop (there are no co-ed troops) and also helps out when she can with the
younger boys in one of the community packs.
I have no doubt she will earn her Eagle Scout award. She isn’t taking away anything from any young
man, she isn’t trying to lose her feminity or anything of the sort. She is simply taking advantage of all the
wonderful opportunities she can to become the best person she can.
Just a few
weeks ago, I had the chance to observe one of the community den meetings. Only one little boy was there, and this
little boy is known for being a little hyperactive. Instead of canceling, the den leaders paid extra
special attention to this little boy, having him lead the leaders in saying the
Pledge and the Scout oath and law. They taught him how to fold a flag correctly
and throughout the night continued to praise his efforts. I observed that same little boy the next week
during the next den meeting. He had his
new scout book with him and he hugged it to him during the evening. When a question was asked, he was thrilled to
be able to look up the answer in his new treasure.
I have seen
a six year old boy raise up his two fingers and repeat the Scout oath and law
perfectly and beautifully. I have heard
a 90 plus year old gentleman tell me that he carries merit badge books around
in his briefcase simply because they are the best books and he loves to take one
out when he has the time and learn about something new. I could tell you lots more stories. I could tell you how I am a different and a
better person than I was four years ago because of the things I have seen.
I know The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. I know that President
Nelson is a prophet and I know without any question that the new Children and
Youth initiative is exactly what the Lord wants for his church right now. I know the Scouting and Personal Progress
were the perfect preparation for that inspired direction. Scouting has served its purpose in the
church. Its time as a church program is over.
But, I believe in Scouting. I
have seen the power that it has to change people’s lives
for the better. Come January 1st, everybody gets
to make a choice. If you choose to walk
away and never look back, then that’s just great! There are so many wonderful things out there
to do and enjoy. If you choose to
continue to make Scouting a part of your life, there are plenty of packs and
troops for you to continue to have grand adventures. Speaking for myself, “Scout me in!”
