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The Pleasanton stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) will join in a nationwide multi-media celebration today celebrating the church’s 100th anniversary of its affiliation with the Boy Scouts of America.
The community and families of all faiths are invited to share in the free celebration broadcast, called “A Century of Honor,” which will start at 6 p.m. at the Pleasanton LDS center, 6100 Paseo Santa Cruz.
Scout uniforms are encouraged but not required. A traditional Scouting “Cracker Barrel” (refreshments) will follow the broadcast.
Ken Mano, a member of the Pleasanton stake, said the LDS church officially affiliated with the Boys Scouts on May 21, 1913. Since then, millions of youths and adults have registered in LDS-sponsored Scouting units and the leaders of the two organizations have worked together on character, citizenship and fitness programs to help the young men.
He said the LDS Church was BSA’s first official chartered organization to sponsor Scouting, and it remains today the largest single institutional partner in number of boys and number of units served.
The 100th anniversary commemoration is being held in the 21,000-seat Conference Center in Salt Lake City. The event will report on activities and achievements of the Scouting organization over the past century and will include three Scout choirs including a multi-generation Eagle Scout choir.
I’m a former scout. But, I’m an atheist these days. As of this year, gays are allowed in the scouts. But, atheists are still blatantly discriminated against and barred from joining the scounts. Am I still welcome at an event like this? I would certainly like to help celebrate all that is good about the scouts. But, I don’t want to be run out with pitchforks either. What’s a heathen to do?
Christopher…
And Christians are being run out of the public square so cry me a river!
Is there a form you fill out when joining the Scouts that asks if you’re an atheist? I don’t recall being asked by the Scouts if I was an atheist, or gay for that matter. If you don’t like their program, go somewhere else.
My partner and I are both openly gay males who have recently married. We love kids, we love the outdoors, and we’d love to be Scout Masters. I realize both Mormons and the Scouts have been very tolerant of human diversity over the years, so may I presume neither the Mormons or Scouts will have a problem with this?
Chris, the Mormons are working their way through the ‘diversity’ alphabet and haven’t made their way to sodomy yet. I believe they are still stuck on a related topic, pedophilia. Maybe once they figure out all the benefits of that affliction, they will move on to your situation.
Oh, because sodomy is a sin, right? And gays are pedophiles, right? My, Right, you must feel terribly put upon by people who aren’t boring like yourself. I bet even your wife finds you boring. Yep, it’s a sin. Right up there with eating pork.
Gee, I didn’t think an announcement about a Scouting / LDS event would cause so much controversy, but I guess both groups are a bit controversial for some. Certainly, there was no checking at the door for gays or atheists, everyone was welcome and could even share in the refreshments (or crackerbarrel as we scouts call it). Scouting does have an oath which includes doing one’s duty to God & Country and Mormons expect a belief in Christ, so those are necessary when joining either one, just as one needs to declare alliegence to our country when beooming a citizen. Anyhow, it was a great presentation, over a million people have seen it and it is available on line at: http://scouts100.lds.org/?cid=HPSA102613127 and yes, anyone can look at it.
Fed Up – Not feeling a lot of sympathy here. Religion is a private matter. Let’s keep it there. It doesn’t need to be in the public square.
Your complaint seems to be that you’re receiving push back from people who don’t want their tax dollars used to help religious organizations to proselytize. Are you opposed to following our laws?