After more than 100 years The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has decided to end its partnership with the Boy Scouts of America.
In a joint statement made by the Church and the Boy Scouts on May 8, they said the Church will end its relationship “as a chartered organization with all Scouting programs around the World” effective on December 31, 2019.
In an interview with BYU-Idaho Radio Clarke Farrer, Scout Executive of the Grand Teton Scout Council, said this will be a major change in the LDS culture.
“This is a fundamental shift in the culture of the LDS church,” Farrer said. “…in a year and a half that will completely change, and in the meantime the void that is going to be created by the Church leaving scouting will be filled by this new unnamed program.”
According to The Associated Press this announcement means 18.5 percent of the 2.3 million youth in the organization will be leaving the program.
Ferrer said his council there are 23,000 members and 80 percent are LDS. His council is made up of areas in Idaho such as Blackfoot, Pocatello, Rigby, Rexburg and areas outside of Idaho such as Jackson, Wyoming.
The Church said in the statement, as they have grown from a US-centered institution to a worldwide organization, they want to implement a program which will serve all of the youth around the world.
According to Mormon Newsroom, the Church has been trying to prepare for a new program to help provide more opportunities all the children and youth of the Church.
“This new approach is intended to help all girls and boys, young women and young men discover their eternal identity, build character and resilience, develop life skills and fulfill their divine roles as daughters and sons of God,” the Church said, according to Mormon Newsroom. “The initiative is designed to allow local leaders, families and even the young people themselves to customize their efforts, while providing service opportunities and activities, fostering healthy relationships and supporting communities.”
The Church said they honor Scouting organizations and said hundreds of thousands of young men have been blessed by the organization.
Farrer hopes all LDS members read the statement by the Church carefully and be fully engaged with scouting until the end of next year.
“I really hope people read the statement carefully because it says that the Church still supports scouting and encourages members to do the same.”
The Church said they honor Scouting organizations and said hundreds of thousands of young men have been blessed by the organization.
For more information about the new youth initiative you can visit childrenadnyouth.lds.org.