Thank you for your kind support of Scouting and the young men it serves. Over 56,000 families contributed to the Church’s 2016 “Friends of Scouting Drive” for the Utah National Parks Council. A year has passed, and families may again respond to the First Presidency’s invitation to participate in the annual Friends of Scouting drive […]
1 Reply 
It’s always a bit of surprise to me where discussions of Scouting pop up. Last week it was in the gym. My new workout partner didn’t quite get what we were doing in class, so I asked Melanie, our yoga teacher, to stay after and help him. I mentioned that we both work for BSA, […]
Effective immediately, leaders in the Utah National Parks Council who have completed their online internet advancement can order their advancement awards through our online order form and have them shipped directly to their house or pick them up at their local Council Service Center just in time for their pack meeting or court of honor. […]
One of the highlights of Jamboree for me was attending the LDS sacrament meeting held at the same large amphitheater that housed the Jamboree shows. It was a quite a contrast to go from thousands of cheering, clapping Scouts on Saturday to 2,100 reverent young men in uniform setting up sacrament tables or sitting quietly […]
A few years back, one of our readers chided us by writing “Don’t use a quote from a GA 40 years ago, that doesn’t count.” For a long time we published just about any quote from the past regarding the LDS Church’s support of Scouting. So just for fun, I took a look at some […]
Mac McIntire is a dedicated Scouter who has posted more than 80 blogs at the LDS-BSA Relationship Blog. Each week I read his thought provoking articles with interest and I often repost part of something he writes. But this week you need to read his whole post, especially if you are still uptight about the future […]
God has given us the gift of agency, or the freedom to choose. We are faced with choices every day that require us to choose how we will act. In order to fulfill God’s plan for us and return to live with Him, we must learn to consistently choose the right. President Thomas S. Monson […]
We all find ourselves facing conflict. Conflict often comes from differences of opinion or personality, misunderstandings, anger, or miscommunication. We can follow the example of Jesus Christ and practice conflict resolution tools to ensure that conflict doesn’t become a lasting problem. President Thomas S. Monson teaches, “As we follow the example of the Savior, ours […]
Some readers wonder where we get all our ideas for blog posts here at The Boy Scout. Many come from our own experiences and those around us, but others also come from these keystone sources: Harris, Bradley D. Trails to Testimony: Bringing Young Men to Christ Through Scouting. Bradley D. Harris, associate professor of recreational management and […]
The goal of every gospel teacher is to teach the pure doctrine of the gospel, by the Spirit, in order to help God’s children build their faith in the Savior and become more like Him. Gordon B. Hinckley taught, “Effective teaching is the very essence of leadership in the Church. Eternal life will come only […]
The best leaders understand that they must serve those they lead. Jesus Christ taught, “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister. And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.” Christ is the greatest example of what it means to be a servant leader. We also see examples […]
In May, Mt Nebo District Roundtable featured guest speaker, Alan Rogers who is a Senior Safety Manager in LDS Loss Prevention Church Risk Management and is a Great Salt Lake Council Risk Management Committee Member. He began by asking us to consider a four step plan to improve safety (see right). Then he build his presentation around […]
I received this email from a former staff member who is currently serving a mission in Arizona. Dear JJ staff, Our main purpose [here in Arizona], as I’m sure you have already heard a hundred times, is to make people happy. Honestly, it’s hard sometimes. There were days at JJ and on the mission where […]
Leadership in the Church has always been about helping others understand the gospel until they are enabled doers. “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest” Proverbs 6: 6–8. Prepare yourself spiritually Family and church […]
A few weeks ago I had a conversation with some of my school colleagues. For one reason or another, the Boy Scouts came up and I found myself for a few moments as a listener. Personal sentiments were shared about the Eagle program not accomplishing what it used to. I recall the phrase “it’s not […]
Growing up, I lived very close to my elementary school, so every weekday I found myself walking to school. My mom told me it was good for me, but I was not a fan. I walked to and from school every day, head down, feet moving as quickly as possible.This was my routine for many […]
Does your Scout need some extra help getting to the rank of First Class? Tatanka First Class Quest at Tifie Scout Camp is a unique blend of an 11 year-old overnight camp with an introduction to a Scout summer camp. This year quest dates are July 31-August 1, 8 am Monday to 4 pm Tuesday. Register […]
Have you heard of the wonderful service website called JustServe? Found at www.justserve.org, this website exists throughout the United States and recently began publishing volunteer service projects in the state of Utah. Through this website, Scouting units and individuals can easily find projects where they can help civic, religious, and other organizations needing volunteer service. […]
Una lección sobre la autosuficiencia de Ven, Sígueme explica: “La autosuficiencia incluye la capacidad de encontrar soluciones a nuestros propios problemas y desafíos. Muchas de estas soluciones se encuentran en el evangelio restaurado de Jesucristo. Nuestro Padre Celestial es consciente de los desafíos que enfrentamos. Nos ama y quiere ayudarnos.” Presidente Thomas S. Monson nos […]
A Come, Follow Me lesson on self-reliance explains, “Self-reliance includes the ability to find solutions to our own problems and challenges. Many of these solutions are found in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Our Heavenly Father is mindful of the challenges we face. He loves us and wants to help us.” President Thomas S. […]