I'd like to understand this better, what references or articles show this?
First, some info:
Scouting Handbook for Church Units in the United States (This is what the church used to issue to Wards in regards to Scouting) (
Here is an updated 2015 version)
The Truth About LDS Scouting (A fairly pro-LDS take on numbers)
It's a bit difficult to shift though the articles that AREN'T opinion pieces regarding this, but the issue seems to be this:
- Look at Page 8 of the handbook. It mentions the registration process for Scouts and mentions that the roster list include all boys ages 8 through 15, along with certain 16-17. This means
all Mormon boys in the Ward/Unit between those ages. Also notice that the Church pays for all registration fees for these boys. Many of these boys aren't actually involved with Scouting, but their fees get paid regardless.
- Look at the second link or read this quote.
Scouting in the LDS church today
Scouting in the LDS church continues to thrive today. The LDS church sponsors 38,168 units and 449,077 boys in the program, meaning it’s the BSA’s largest chartered organization.
The majority of LDS Scouting units are in Utah and Idaho, where a large population of church members reside. But there are also plenty of LDS units across the nation.
Francis says there are 151 BSA councils with LDS-BSA Relationships committees that work to support and strengthen the partnership. That’s more than half of all councils.
What this means is that the LDS effectively controls the purse strings of the BSA and can dictate policy because it knows that many of the Western councils (situated in low population areas) simply can't exist without the influx of the cash from the LDS. So if the BSA wants scouting to be available to the most members, it has to do what the LDS says. Worse, all other Units and Religious Organizations involved with Scouting ALSO have to conform with the policy set by the LDS for the BSA, even if they disagree with them. That's why
BSA v. Dale was such a huge deal: the LDS threatened to walk out if the BSA didn't fight the lawsuit tooth and claw.
The BSA was later allowed to change their policy to allow gay members and leaders when litigation costs became too expensive and the policy threatened the existence of the organization, but that was not a fight it won easily.
But it's worse than that: because of how the LDS operates it's units, some of the people involved aren't familiar with the program. Basically, the LDS treats being a Scoutmaster as simply another church duty; churches can and do call members to serve the church in that capacity. This means that many of the people involved aren't motivated and the boys in the program aren't getting as much out of it as they could. But these under performing troops still operate because it's how the LDS remains in control.