LDS Church decision to part ways from Boys Scouts could affect local scouts

More changes have made their way to the Boys Scouts this week.

Earlier this month it was announced that the word ‘boy’ would no longer be in conjunction with the word ‘scouts’. This week it was announced that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), often referred to as the Mormon Church, was cutting ties with the Boys Scouts.

In Yuma County, half of their Boy Scouts are LDS troops and this change could affect the organization.

Many local scouts and church members have shared this decision has been in the works for a time now.

“It is a huge deal because there are so many of us that were brought to scouts as kids, we are eagle scouts, and we want our kids to have the same opportunities,” local Bishop John Kempton said.

According to the LDS church, their decision to part ways with the Boys Scouts of America is primarily to explore global youth programs that can serve its growing number of members outside of the U.S. But this will have a big impact locally.

Rick Rademacher, local district chairman for the Yuma Scouting community said, “It is going to have a big impact on scouting in Yuma if everybody that is LDS leaves that is half of our membership.”

That is partly because the LDS church is one of the biggest sponsors for the Boy Scouts in the western region. Out of 750 members in Yuma County, half of them are LDS troops.

“LDS troops are very good at raising money through scouting and I guess it will disappear,” Rademacher said.

He believes this could potentially affect their staff. Scaling back could be a possibility, though local BSA leaders said they are working for this not to be the case it ultimately comes down to the number of scouts in their district.

“There is a staff in Phoenix at the council office that does certain things for us and it is built for so many scouts and if half those scouts disappear I am sure something will happen with the staff,” Rademacher added.

The church’s decision follows a marked shift towards inclusivity in recent years by the organization, but the scout oath and scout law still hold a strong message.

Kempton adds, “The purpose of the church wanting to be involved in scouting was teaching those core values and those life principles that we all need throughout our life is what we want our kids to have.

The change will take over 400,000 registrations out of BSA. In Tuesday’s joint statement, the church shared it will continue to support the goals and values of the Boy scouts wishing them continuing and growing success.