Silent Night

It was December 23, 1818, in the small town of Oberndorf, in the Austrian Alps near Salzburg. That the organ in the small Church of St. Nicholas' wasn't working and would not be repaired before Christmas. (Note: some versions of the story point to mice as the problem; others say rust was the culprit) Because the church organ was out of commission, the assistant pastor Josef Mohr wondered what they could do for the Christmas Eve Service. 
He pondered about the problem that night as he trudged through the forest to visit a woodchopper’s wife who had just had a baby. It was late when he arrived at this humble home & in the light of the fire he saw the young mother with her new born babe. This reminded him of Mary and her Baby who was born in a stable in Bethlehem. On the way home he saw from the hilltop, the peaceful silent snow-covered town. It was so beautiful in the majestic star light of that wintry night. He pondered on the scripture found in.

Luke 2:8-11
⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Words of a poem began to form in Joseph Mohr’s mind: “Silent night, holy night
He decided that these words might make a good carol for the Christmas Eve service just hours away. Even after he arrived home, the words continued to flow. It was almost daybreak when he finished writing them down.
The problem was that he didn't have any music to go with these graceful words. So, after he awoke, Mohr went to see his best friend Franz Gruber, who taught school and played the church organ. Gruber only had a few hours to come up with a melody which could be sung with a guitar. However, by that evening, Gruber had composed the holy music that would complement the poem. They now had a Christmas carol that could be sung without the organ.
On Christmas Eve, the little Oberndorf congregation heard Gruber and Mohr sing their new composition accompanied by the guitar.

Weeks later, well-known organ builder Karl Mauracher arrived in Oberndorf to fix the organ in the old church. When Mauracher finished, he stepped back to let Gruber test the instrument. When Gruber sat down, his fingers began playing the simple melody he had written for Mohr's Christmas poem. Deeply impressed, Mauracher took copies of the music and words of "Silent Night" back to his home in the Alpine village, Kapfing. There, two well-known families of singers — the Rainers and the Strassers — heard it. Captivated by "Silent Night," both groups put the new song into their Christmas season repertoire.

The Strasser sisters spread the carol across northern Europe. In 1834, they performed "Silent Night" for King Frederick William IV of Prussia, and he then ordered his cathedral choir to sing it every Christmas Eve.

Twenty years after "Silent Night" was written, the Rainers brought the song to the United States, singing it (in German) at the Alexander Hamilton Monument located outside New York City's Trinity Church.

In 1863, nearly fifty years after being first sung in German, "Silent Night" was translated into English (by either Jane Campbell or John Young). Today the words of "Silent Night" are sung in more than 300 different languages around the world and is perhaps the most well-known Christmas song.

Stille Nacht (GERMAN) 
1. Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht! Alles schläft; einsam wacht Nur das traute hoch heilige Paar.
Holder Knab' im lockigen Haar, Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh! 
2. Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht! Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'. Jesus in deiner Geburt!
3. Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht! Die der Welt Heil gebracht, Aus des Himmels goldenen Höhn,
Uns der Gnaden Fülle läßt sehn, Jesum in Menschengestalt! 
4. Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht! Wo sich heut alle Macht Väterlicher Liebe ergoß,
Und als Bruder huldvoll umschloß. Jesus die Völker der Welt!
5. Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht! Lange schon uns bedacht, Als der Herr vom Grimme befreit
In der Väter urgrauer Zeit, Aller Welt Schonung verhieß! 
6. Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht! Hirten erst kundgemacht  Durch der Engel Alleluja,
Tönt es laut bei Ferne und Nah. "Jesus der Retter ist da!

Growing a Troop

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation's largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations. The BSA provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.  For over a century, the BSA has helped build the future leaders of this country by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. The Boy Scouts of America believes — and, through over a century of experience, knows — that helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.  The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

We desire all young men to participate in Scouting and to receive the benefits associated with this great organization.  In a recent basic training for Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters, there were several questions about how to run the patrol method in smaller troops.  That discussion naturally led to recruiting.  While many of our Scout troops are geographically limited, there are usually several boys who are not participating in Scouts.  Maybe they aren't members of the local Church sponsoring the troop, or haven't been involved previously through Cub Scouts.  These young men are often an untapped resource and would benefit from all that Scouting offers. 

The best way to identify these young men is to ask your patrol leaders' council to help you identify those who live in the area who aren't coming to Scouts.  You may be surprised who they know from school, from playing in the neighborhood, or from participation on sports teams.  Once potential recruits are identified, there are several approaches to inviting them to participate.  Adult leaders can go and visit with the young man and his parents, discuss the local troop's upcoming events, and invite participation.  Another approach is to have members of the patrol leaders' council invite the young man to start attending troop meetings and campouts.  This is often more effective and can be followed up by adult leaders visiting with the parents.  Either way, don't hesitate to reach out and continue to reach out to all boys in your area.  This will help your troop grow in numbers as well as leadership experience.  And may provide an opportunity to a boy that will change his life.

Cub Corner December 2014

For those who don’t know, there are changes coming to the Cub Scout program. Beginning in June 2015, all cubs will begin using a new program designed to bring out the adventures in scouting. This month, I want to highlight the things that are staying the same. Let’s start with the familiar and then we can move from there.

First, we are keeping the same uniforms. Boys will still wear blue shirts, Webelos can still wear either blue or khaki, and leaders will wear khaki. Ladies, if you prefer the yellow shirt, you can still wear the yellow shirt. Pants, belts, hats, neckerchiefs, etc. will all still be around. I think we can all be grateful that we don’t need to go spend a bunch of money on a new uniform.

Second, we are keeping the same ranks. There will still be a Bobcat, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and Arrow of Light rank. The requirements are changing, but we’ll get into that another time.

Third, cubs will still use the Cub Scout salute, the Cub Handshake, the Cub Scout Sign, and the Cub Scout Motto. We are still trying to “Do Your Best” in everything we do in Cubs.
Fourth, ages and den/pack structure will stay the same.
Lastly, the FUN will still be there.

See, the program isn’t completely different. We have our comfort zone. Next month, I’ll dive into some of the new things.
I plan to highlight parts of the changes each month in my Cub Corner. This is going to be a fun new adventure for all of us. Let’s get on board!

Upcoming Events

• 12/11/14 - Cookie Exchange Roundtable @ 12242 S 2700 W
• 1/8/2015 - BLUE & GOLD Roundtable @ 13768 S 6400 W (Dinner Provided)
• 1/20/15 - Council Cub Country Preview Meeting at Camp Tracy Lodge
• 2/1/15 - Cub Camp registration opens
• 2/12/15 - Roundtable @13768 S 6400 W
• 3/12/15 - Roundtable @13768 S 6400 W
• 3/14/15 - Utah Scout Expo ticket sales kickoff

Shooting Sports - What Your Must Know

Important things all scout leaders must know before planning a Shooting Sports related activity:

1: File a tour plan!  The only time a tour plan is not required for a shooting activity is if it is council or district event.  Otherwise a tour plan is required even if it is happening within council boundaries. If a council office staff member says you do not need to file a tour plan, they are wrong.  See scouting.org and search for Tour and Activity Plan FAQ. 

2: Each youth must have a permission slip signed by a parent or guardian.

Cub Corner November 2014

For those who don’t know, there are changes coming to the Cub Scout program. Beginning in June 2015, all cubs will begin using a new program designed to bring out the adventures in scouting. I know, a lot of people hate changes. It isn’t fun to change. Why do we need to change this program? Membership in the Boy Scouts of America is down nationwide. Here in Salt Lake, things are a little brighter as we are growing, but we need to capture the attention of boys in a world where there are a lot of distractions.

Did you know that there have been changes to the Cub Scouts about every 10 years since the program was introduced? In 1930, the Cub Scout program started with 9 year-old Wolves, 10 year-old Bears, and 11 year-old Lions. Women were only allowed to serve as “Den Mothers” and the Cub Promise included the phrase “to be square.” In the 1940’s, we changed ages, allowing 8 year-olds to join. In the 1950’s, the Webelos rank was added (for Wolf, Bear, Lion, and Scout), as was the pinewood derby. In the 1960’s, the Lion rank disappeared and was replaced by a new Webelos program. The 1970’s added the Arrow of Light rank. The 1980’s added the Tiger Cubs, drastically changed the Bear rank, and introduced knots for the leaders. In the 1990’s the Academic and Sports Belt Loop Program was added. The 2000’s brought the latest batch of changes introducing the books that we use now in Cubs.

A Mother's Sacrifice

After the Earthquake had subsided, when the rescuers reached the ruins of a young woman's house, they saw her dead body through the cracks. But her pose was somehow strange that she knelt on her knees like a person was worshiping; her body was leaning forward, and her two hands were supporting by an object. The collapsed house had crushed her back and her head.

With so many difficulties, the leader of the rescuer team put his hand through a narrow gap on the wall to reach the woman's body. He was hoping that this woman could be still alive. However, the cold and stiff body told him that she had passed away for sure.

He and the rest of the team left this house and were going to search the next collapsed building. For some reasons, the team leader was driven by a compelling force to go back to the ruin house of the dead woman. Again, he knelt down and used his hand through the narrow cracks to search the little space under the dead body. Suddenly, he screamed with excitement, "A child! There is a child!"

Boy Scouts - Tracking

“I wish I could go West and join the Indians so that I should have no lessons to learn,” said an unhappy small boy who could discover no atom of sense or purpose in any one of the three R’s.

“You never made a greater mistake,” said the scribe, “for the young Indians have many hard lessons from their earliest days – hard lessons and hard punishments.  With them the dread penalty of failure is ‘go hungry till you win,’ and no harder task have they than their reading lesson.  Not twenty-six characters are to be learned in this exercise, but one thousand; not clear straight print are they, but dim, washed-out, crooked traces; not in-doors on comfortable chairs, with a patient teacher always near, but out in the forest, often alone and in every kind of weather, they slowly decipher their letters and read sentences of the oldest writing on earth – a style so old that the hieroglyphics of Egypt, the cylinders of Nippur, and the drawings of the cave men are as a thing of today in comparison – the one universal script – the tracks in the dust, mud, or snow.

The Mountains Are the Means, The Man Is The End

In August of 2006 four determined Scout leaders and seven anxious boys set out with big plans to backpack 55 miles across the spine of the High Uintas.  On day two it became painfully obvious that lack of adequate conditioning, experience and preparation would cut the distance far short of the intended goal.  With disappointment the leaders resorted to one of their bailout strategies and arranged for a pickup at a closer, more accessible trail head on the same planned exit day, but 25 miles shy of the original destination. The leaders' hopes for earning the "50 Miler" award were quietly dashed, however, they kept their discouragement from the boys.  The rest of the trip was focused on fishing, exploring, outdoor skills and camp firesides. The leaders initially felt they had failed the boys -- until they overheard those young men sharing stories and recalling with joy and satisfaction the events of that trip.

Walter Bonatti, the famed Italian mountain climber, explorer and journalist who was the first to climb the North Face of the Matterhorn in winter wisely said: "The mountains are the means, the man is the end. The idea is to improve the man, not to reach the top."  As we plan and execute our "Super Activities" for next year, keep Bonatti's words in mind.  Our activities might not always go as planned, but the plan really should be improving the young men.

Written by: J Ralls - District 18 Ventures

Magnifying Your Calling as an Aaronic Priesthood Leader

“There is no more significant work in this world than the preparation of boys to become men of capacity, of strength, of integrity, who are qualified to live productive and meaningful lives.” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, April 1985, p. 76)

You have been called to an holy calling—to serve as an Aaronic Priesthood leader. Through your calling you are in a position to influence for good the future missionaries, husbands, fathers, and leaders of the Church. You can ignite the spark of testimony within a young man that will light his path for the rest of his life. Your righteous influence can be felt for generations. Many people will be blessed when you magnify your calling in the Aaronic Priesthood.

When properly cultivated, you have within you two immense powers that can soften every heart, uplift every soul, and enlighten every mind of the young men under your stewardship. When it comes to working with your boys these powers will help you see what otherwise you may not have seen, hear what you may not have heard, and know what you would not have known without these gifts.

READ MORE

Cub Corner October 2014

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Cub-O-Ree and Webelos Night last month. We had over 1,000 scouts and leaders combined at the two days. That is impressive! Thanks for making a fantastic event! We look forward to next year!

I want to share one of my favorite Cubmaster Minutes. This month’s Cub Scout Core Value is Citizenship and this Cubmaster Minute is about our flag. Our country’s flag is made up of thousands of individual threads and stitches. None of them separately is anything more than a thread or stitch, but put them together and they make a flag. Each tiny thread joins all the others to do its job. Our country is made up of millions of individual people, like you and me. Separately we may not accomplish much, but if we join together, work together, and stick together, we can move the world. Let’s work to be united and help our country.

Upcoming Events

·       10/9/14 Roundtable @ 12242 S 2700 W

·       10/27/14 - 10/30/14 Haunted Woods at Camp Tracy

·       11/8/14 College of Cub Scouting

·       11/13/14 Roundtable @ 12242 S 2700 W

·       11/21/14 Holiday Auction

·       12/11/14 Roundtable @ 12242 S 2700 W – Cookie Exchange

·       1/8/2015 Roundtable @ 12345 S 2700 W – Blue and Gold (Dinner Provided)

·       Sign up for email reminders and information. 

http://eepurl.com/wCQUX 

Putting the Magic in Scouting

If you had a magic wand, would you use it to make the Scouting program better and more fun for youth so they stayed in Scouting longer, so it had a larger impact on their lives? What if the same magic wand made leadership roles easier and more rewarding, and also led to better retention among adult volunteers? Would using that magic wand be a top priority?

Well, such a magic wand does exist—in the form of the training program for volunteer leaders in the Boy Scouts of America.

Common sense tells us training is important, and research shows the importance of trained leaders. In the early days of the Boy Scouts of America, our first Chief Scout Executive James E. West was asked what the three greatest needs of the new movement were.  He replied, “Training, training, and training.” That is still true today.

Joining the Exclusive Group of Order of the Arrow

We all enjoy being a part of exclusive groups.  If we graduated with 4.0 GPA or if we were on a championship sports team we tell everyone about it and we look back with pride.  One of the most exclusive groups in scouting is the Order of the Arrow.  Last year there were fewer new members of the Order of the Arrow than there were new Eagle Scouts.  The process of joining the OA begins by having an Election at your unit.  At an Election, current OA members come and explain the Ordere of the Arrow including the minimum requirements and the values of the OA.  The boy members of the troop or team elect who they feel qualify from their unit.  After being elected the new candidate must then attend an Ordeal.  The next Ordeal will be October 10-11th. Which is the last Ordeal of 2014.  

When we come to your unit to do the election, we’d like to add value and be of service to you and your unit by running your program for that evening with activities that will give your boys a flavor of what the OA is about and maybe teach some leadership skills.  The OA and district leadership are working on a special pin that will be given out to the boys of the units that allow us to do this.  There are only a few weeks before the October Ordeal so hurry.  My contact information is below. 

You can be of service to the OA.  The Order of the Arrow meets the same time and building as Roundtable, if you are coming to Roundtable and there are Arrowmen in your troop or team, give them a ride or encourage them to come on their own.  Our activities are a mix of fun, service and crafts.  This month we are playing dodgeball, in October we are planning a service project, in November we plan on a craft night where we will work on some indian regalia.   

Yours in Brotherhood,
Mark Kirkham
Order of the Arrow Chapter Advisor

801-604-5811
m-skirkham@msn.com

Varsity Scouts September 2014: Now She Is A Teacher

In September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a History teacher  at Robinson High School in Little Rock, did something not to be forgotten.  On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she  removed all of the desks in her classroom. When the first period kids  entered the room they discovered that there were no desks.  

 
'Ms. Cothren, where are our desks?'

She  replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.' They  thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.' 'No,' she said. 'Maybe it's our behavior.' She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.'

And so,  they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom. Kids called their parents to tell them what was happening and by early afternoon television news crews had started gathering at the school to report about this crazy teacher who had taken  all the desks out of her room.

The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the desk-less classroom. Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he or she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.'

At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniform, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.

Martha  said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. They went halfway around the world, giving up their education and interrupting their careers and families so you could have the freedom you have. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.' 
 
By the way, this is a true story. And this teacher was awarded Veterans of Foreign Wars Teacher of the Year for the State of Arkansas in 2006. She is the daughter of a WWII POW

Author: Unknown

Commissioners Corner: Accountability & Responsibility

“A people that values its privileges above its principle soon loses both”

This is a speech given by President Dwight D. Eisenhower back in 1953

“My friends, before I begin the expression of those thoughts that I deem appropriate to this moment, would you permit me the privilege of uttering a little private prayer of my own. And I ask that you bow your heads,

Almighty God, as we stand here at this moment my future associates in the executive branch of government join me in beseeching that Thou will make full and complete our dedication to the service of the people in this throng, and their fellow citizens everywhere.

Give us, we pray, the power to discern clearly right from wrong, and allow all our words and actions to be governed thereby, and by the laws of this land. Especially we pray that our concern shall be for all the people regardless of station, race, or calling.

May cooperation be permitted and be the mutual aim of those who, under the concepts of our Constitution, hold to differing political faiths; so that all may work for the good of our beloved country and Thy glory. Amen.

My fellow citizens:

The world and we have passed the midway point of a century of continuing challenge. We sense with all our faculties that forces of good and evil are massed and armed and opposed as rarely before in history.

This fact defines the meaning of this day. We are summoned by this honored and historic ceremony to witness more than the act of one citizen swearing his oath of service, in the presence of God. We are called as a people to give testimony in the sight of the world to our faith that the future shall belong to the free.

Since this century's beginning, a time of tempest has seemed to come upon the continents of the earth. Masses of Asia have awakened to strike off shackles of the past. Great nations of Europe have fought their bloodiest wars. Thrones have toppled and their vast empires have disappeared. New nations have been born.

For our own country, it has been a time of recurring trial. We have grown in power and in responsibility. We have passed through the anxieties of depression and of war to a summit unmatched in man's history. Seeking to secure peace in the world, we have had to fight through the forests of the Argonne, to the shores of Iwo Jima, and to the cold mountains of Korea.

In the swift rush of great events, we find ourselves groping to know the full sense and meaning of these times in which we live. In our quest of understanding, we beseech God's guidance. We summon all our knowledge of the past and we scan all signs of the future. We bring all our wit and all our will to meet the question:

How far have we come in man's long pilgrimage from darkness toward light? Are we nearing the light—a day of freedom and of peace for all mankind? Or are the shadows of another night closing in upon us?”

Our boys aren’t going off to war in foreign county to fight, but we are at war. A war of good vs. evil, light vs. darkness, right vs. wrong.Scouting can help our young men by following the Scout Oath, with the Scout Oath a Scout is engaged to do his best to obey the Scout law. The main principles are;

Duty to God

Duty to others

Duty to self

 

The Scout Oath

On my honor I will do my best 

To do my duty to God and my country 

and to obey the Scout Law; 

To help other people at all times;

To keep myself physically strong, 

mentally awake, and morally straight.

 

Living each day by the 12 points of the Scout Law: 

The Scout Law is a personal code of living to guide the way each Scout lives his life. It is not a repression of faults, so was not framed as a list of prohibitions. It states what good form is and what is expected of a Scout. The Scout Law is at the heart of the Scout method

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, 

courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, 

brave, clean, and reverent.

The Scouting Slogan “Do a good turn daily”  

The good deed is a key component of the law and promise. Baden-Powell felt this is the main duty God asks for, and fulfilling our duty to others makes us happy, which fulfills the duty to ourselves. The point is not so much the deed itself, which could be minor, but to teach the Scout to always pay attention and recognize if he could help someone. As we help and serve others we are reminded of the ultimate example of service by Jesus Christ. When we serve others unselfishly we are truly rewarded for that service.

This does not mean that you should do just one Good Turn during the day and then stop. It means you should always be looking for extra opportunities to help others, quietly and without boasting. Remember that a Good Turn is an act of kindness, not just something you do because it is good manners. Good Turns should be done for family, friends, adults, children, and especially for those that are not able to do the task themselves.

We need to prepare these young men for life, and the responsibilities that will come their way. Leaders plan and prepare your actives that follow the Scouting Aims and Methods,  

Scouting Aims:

Character Development

Citizenship Training

Mentall and Physical Fitness

 

Scouting Methods:

The Ideals

The Patrol Method

The Outdoors

Advancement

Association with Adults

Personal Growth

Leadership Development

The Uniform

All Scout Masters, Varsity Coaches and Venturing Advisers as you follow the Scouting Aims and Methods you will become a hero to the young men you serve and this is for everyone involved in Scouting: A Hero is an ordinary person who sees a need, and is willing to sacrifice and suffer for another person who is willing but unable to do it for himself. There are many heroes around us. Many of these heroes are ordinary people who unselfishly give of themselves to provide comfort and aid to those in need.

HEROES

Men of the mountain, Men of the plain

Who drink of fountain, Of suffering and pain.

Men of valor, And men of might

Who live every hour, To do what is right.

Men of wisdom, And men of strength

Who cherish freedom, And guard it at length.

Men who talk, And men who do

Who show by their walk, That their word is ture.

With there I care, To place my name

But I must dare, To live the same

 

 

 

Western Skies District Supports Non-Denominational Scouting with Wasatch Front Scouting

Do you have a son starting First Grade? Did you know that he can start cub scouts right now? Do you have a son or daughter that wants to camp almost every month of the year? Wasatch Front Scouting supports non-denominational scouting units for boys from First grade and up (Cub Scouts & Boy Scouts) and for girls and boys ages 14 – 21 (Venturing crew Co-Ed scouting unit).

Please join us at our Open House at The Rising Church on September 16th at 6:30. We will be having games and activities for the kids and information for the adults.12411 S 365 W, Draper, UT. If you can’t make it or want more info, please contact us via email at debifluckiger@msn.com or Brian Young at brianyoungscouting@hotmail.com.

Why Scouting Matters to LDS Leaders

A few months ago, Rushford Lee, owner of Research Emotion Design (RED) started asking himself some questions centered on the subject of Scouting and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. How did Scouting relate to Church objectives for youth? Was there a spiritual side to Scouting? Is there really any link between the trail to Eagle and a mission?

After pondering these and others, Lee asked his own stake president some of these questions and was surprised by the answers. This prompted him to embark on a large research project for the Utah National Parks Council, Boy Scouts of America that included focus groups (he called them “love” groups—turns out not all the Scouters who like Scouting, love the Boy Scout Council), including broad surveys to hundreds of LDS Church leaders, who had plenty to say. What followed were many meetings with the council officers to discuss the findings, and in the end, Lee was appointed to Vice President of Marketing for the Council.

Findings

When guessing what the most important outcome of Scouting to LDS Church leaders, many thought that becoming Eagle Scouts was at the top of the list. RED found that while having a young man receive his Eagle Scout Award was on the list, it was far from number one.

He also found the most effective way to champion the message of Scouting was through stake presidents and bishops, 80% of whom were Scouts when they were younger and 44% earned their Eagle. Many of these key leaders had been in the trenches as Scout leaders and 61% had been in young men presidencies.

From his research, Lee explained, “Our young men need heroes to look up to. They need role models in their lives, at home and as they grow. Our goal is to help them become men such as the great leaders and teachers around them.”

From this finding, the Utah National Parks Council, BSA responded by incorporating the theme “Becoming such as These.” Which was later turned into an original song composed by R. Ross Boothe which premiered at the Celebration of Eagles this last July.

Lee explained that we need to tie church leaders to Scouting and, “encourage our boys to become men like the key leaders in the church, stakes, wards and Scouting troops; to become men like Christ.”

Lee further clarified “This is what Scouting is meant to be; bringing God into Scouting in a large way and making this tie together. It’s time to make the purpose of Scouting clear.”

Before his research, it was not clear to him. The study surprised him on every turn and it became clear that many don’t understand the “Duty to God” connection that Baden Powell intended the program to have.

Scouting Pillars of Communication to Reach LDS Leaders

The research pointed the Utah National Parks Council, BSA in a new direction that centers around six pillars that connect with and communicate to LDS leaders the “why” of Scouting.

Through surveys of stake presidents and bishops, the six pillars are in order of importance to young men leaders as the youth go through their Aaronic Priesthood/Scouting experience.

1-   Be prepared by developing a testimony of Christ and of the gospel while doing our duty to God and our country.  In the survey one stake leader described it this way:  “Bearing our testimonies around the campfire: If we take our young men to outdoor activities and forget to have them bear their testimonies around the fire, we’ve missed the purpose of Scouting.”  

2-   Be prepared through personal growth and learning to serve others through charity and doing a good turn daily.  In the survey another stake leader said:  “There are life learning experiences in an outdoor environment with other boys and men that give the boys a unique experience outside of the home that support what’s going on inside the home.”

3- Prepare to go on a mission and teach others by preparing through the Scouting program as the activity arm of the priesthood. A stake leader described it this way:  “Life is full of difficult experiences. Teaching resilience in the early years is very helpful preparation for missions, marriage and parenthood.”

4-  Be prepared by learning to do hard things. A young man will gain confidence, learn leadership skills and prepare for the future as a son of God. One survey participant offered:  “Learning how to do hard things, gain confidence and preparing for the future.”

5- Be prepared to be good fathers and husbands by following the examples of men, such as our Scout leaders, the bishopric, our prophets and the Savior.  One Stake leader explained it this way: “To develop young men through faith in God, hard work, problem solving, achievement, and character-building activities.”

6- Be prepared by learning who we are as Scouts and sons of God by keeping ourselves physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight, understanding our true nature as a son of God. Finally to quote one more Stake leader: “Many young men don’t have the opportunity to connect with others. They don’t have strong family ties, they may not make friends easily, don’t fit in well at school. Scouting provides an atmosphere where the kids can fit in with their peers. Our leaders try and do a variety of activities that interest all of the boys. Gives leadership a chance to reach the one.”

The Utah National Parks Council, BSA is grateful to Rushford Lee and the team at RED; this research will shape the message and direction of Scouting for many years to come.

Author: Darryl Alder | Strategic Initiatives Director, Utah National Parks Council, BSA

Reprinted with permission of Darryl Alder. 

Venturing Update August 2014

Welcome back to the Venture’s Forum at Round Table after what should have been an exciting summer!  We look forward to hearing about some of the High Adventure Activities and achievements that your crews have accomplished.  You've all worked hard to create memorable character-building experiences for your boys.  Before those memories fade, take time with your crew to collect and assemble the photos, videos, and stories of your activities.  Make a crew photo album, journal, video, or scrapbook that everyone will be able to take with them on their journey through life and upon which they’ll be able to look back with fondness.  My own scout leader always reserved a small portion of the budget to make extra prints of photos that he took on each of our high adventure trips which we as boys placed into albums.  Today those albums are some of my most cherished possessions; they are the preserved memories of the events that shaped who I am today. Give your boys that same gift! As they face the challenges of adulthood they’ll have something that enables them to look back and remember those enriching experiences which should help to solidify the foundations of their testimonies.  

Varsity Update August 2014

We hope you all had a great summer with your Teams. And we hope that you were able to attend the Big Event. So our next big Adventure is going to be the Ultimate Varsity Challenge. If you haven't heard what this or when it is, you need to come to Huddle Night. Just MARK on your calendars for Oct. 11th.
Keep up the Good Work

Your Varsity Huddle Staff

Boy Scouts Update August 2014

August is a great month to focus on advancement.  Many boys earned multiple merit badges at summer camp and may now qualify for rank advancements.  Schedule Scoutmaster conferences and boards of review, followed by a Court of Honor.  Help your boys keep the fire burning by rewarding their hard work.

August is also a fantastic time to begin planning for next year.  The steps you take to prepare and plan now will result in a successful program next year.  Come to Roundtable to learn how to conduct the annual program planning conference and how to prepare an annual calendar.  If you can't make it, check the Boy Scout section of the Western Skies District 18 web site for information on this and many other topics.

Commissioner Corner: ATTITUDE

A scout gives his best no matter what the situation. Sometime it’s not hardtop do our best, but other times it seems as if everything is working against us. Some of us have personal difficulties or challenges, yet the goal is to still the same, to always do our best. The story of Michael J. Dowling illustrates that people can present their best even when the challenges seem overwhelming.

     Michael J. Dowling was a young man of 14 when he fell off of the back of a wagon during a blizzard. By the time his parent found him, he was severely frostbitten. His right leg was amputated almost to the hip; his left leg above the knee; his right arm was amputated as was his left hand. It seems like Michael Dowling wouldn’t have much of a future, but he was determined to get an education and be successful. He went to the board of county commissioners and told them that if they would educate him, he would pay back every penny. They agreed, and he received his education, then repaid the debt. He worked hard in his career and eventually became president of one of the largest banks in the city. Michael Dowling also married and had five children.

      During World War I, Michael Dowling traveled to Europe to visit wounded American Soldiers. On one occasion, he stayed in a large London hotel and gave a speech to some injured servicemen. As he stood on a balcony overlooking several hundred soldiers sitting in their wheelchairs, he started to tell them how fortunate they were. The fact that one had lost an eye, and another had lost an arm were no grounds for complaints. He continued talking this way, and within a few minutes the soldiers became angry and started to boo him. He then walked over to the stairway and started down the stairs toward the lobby. Michael Dowling continued telling them how fortunate they were, and they continued to boo him. Partway down the stairs, he sat down and removed his artificial right leg. At this point the soldiers calmed down a little but they still resented his remarks. Michael Dowling then took off his artificial left leg, and the hall quieted immediately. Next, he took off his right arm, and finally removed his left hand. The soldiers then understood how fortunate they were.

     

We have little control over the gifts life gives us. We have even less control over the challenges we each must face. However, we have complete control over our ATTITUDE and how we decide to handle the hardships we must endure.

      Remember the promise in St. Matthew the Lord gave us in Chapter 11:29-30 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. When we do all that we can and turn to the Lord for help, he will lighten our load. Reminder Scouting will help our young men become the leaders for tomorrow.

The OA and Your Golden Fleece

Jason, the hero of Ancient Greece, sought a very valuable prize - the Golden Fleece.  In order to obtain the prize he had to overcome many challenging obstacles including a dragon that didn't sleep.  There are many valuable prizes that are awarded in the scouting organization that come only after overcoming challenging obstacles such as the Eagle Scout award and becoming a member of the Order of the Arrow.  To be a member of the OA, a scout must be chosen by his troop then he must attend an Ordeal.  The Ordeal, a challenging 24 hours spent in service and quiet contemplation.  Many boys did Ordeals at scout camp over the summer and they received the valuable prize of a white sash with a red arrow.  If you know a scout who earned this please take a moment to congratulate him.  Many other boys were elected by their troops to join the OA but haven't attended an Ordeal.  There will be two opportunities to attend Ordeals this fall, one in September and one in October.  If you have a boy who needs to attend an Ordeal have him go to the lodge website at www.elkutalodge.com for more information.  

So your scout has earned the prize of a nice shining sash now what?   The OA monthly activity is on the same night as roundtable and at the same location.  Invite the members of your unit who are arrowmen to come with you to roundtable so they can attend their chapter activity.  Also, make one of the arrowmen in your troop a Troop OA Representative.  This is a leadership position in scouting that counts towards rank advancement.  This person's responsibilities include attending the monthly chapter activities and keeping his fellow arrowmen informed of upcoming OA activities and to encourage attendance at these activities.

If you'd like the boys of your troop to have the opportunity to be elected to the OA please contact me to set up an appointment.

The OA sash is a valuable prize.  But hopefully by being a member of the Order of the Arrow they will earn the bigger prize of learning the life changing habit of being cheerful in service.  

Yours in brotherhood,
Mark Kirkham
OA Chapter Advisor

M-skirkham@msn.com
801-604-5811