I Love Scouting - An Invitation to Respectfully Remember a Century of Honor

On May 8, 2018, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the decision to discontinue LDS Scouting programs in 2020. Like every other Scouting news release during the past decade, this change was immediately met by both glee and sorrow. Naysayers jumped on the social media bandwagon—cheering that the BSA elephant is "finally off our backs," while those invested in Scouting shed tears at the end of an era—a life-changing century for millions of youth and leaders.

My husband has served as the LDS-BSA Relationships Director for the past five years, and this change directly affects our family in both a professional and a personal way. We have been deeply touched by the many friends who immediately reached out to us, anticipating the emotional trauma we were experiencing at the announcement.

Ironically, I listened to a conference talk on "ministering" earlier in the day. The evening announcement provided a unique opportunity to experience and observe friends who took the time to show us love during a heart-breaking situation, as well as those who simply touted comments on social media, oblivious to the pain many of us were feeling. Ministering is an invitation to live a higher law, and this was a perfect opportunity to serve. A heartfelt "thank you" to those angels who came to our aid.

But on an even more personal note, the announcement came on the eve of my Dad's birthday, May 9th. He is the reason I love Scouting. Let me explain.

My Dad, Tom Hunsaker, was raised in southern California. As a young boy living in downtown Los Angeles, he didn't excel at sports but found that he thoroughly enjoyed Scouting: backpacking, hiking, learning outdoor skills, and leading other youth. Many of the memorable childhood lessons he later taught me were through Scouting. (See my blog: The Hiking Hint.)

In 1963 he was called to serve a full-time mission in Germany. He bid farewell to his parents for 2 ½ years (subsequently, his mother died while he was gone and he never saw her again), and climbed on a plane bound for a foreign country. He spent the first portion of his mission proselyting and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a nation recovering from World War II and already dealing with the Cold War. I'm sure those days were long and sometimes lonely, but he cheerfully persisted.

Then, in 1964 he received a unique assignment change. Elder Ezra Taft Benson—European Area Mission President, apostle, and future prophet of the Church—called my dad and his companion, Elder David Allen, to leave their proselyting duties and actively work to reestablish Scouting in the Church. During the war years, the Hitler Youth organization had abolished German Scouting, but fledgling programs were back on their feet and Elder Benson knew the benefits of Scouting were just what the European young men needed. And so, Elders Hunsaker and Allen exchanged their white shirts and ties for Scout shirts and neckerchiefs and started their quest.

They met with Jochen Senft, leader of the Bund Deutscher Pfadfinder, and started an attempt to align Church and Scouting efforts. Initially, the going was slow. The German Scout group had several policies in place that didn't work well for the Church. For example, campouts were conducted on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and didn't allow LDS youth to keep the Sabbath Day holy. Additionally, patrol leaders were elected by the boys, while Church units wanted boy leaders called by the bishop. These issues and others needed to be resolved before a favorable partnership could be established.

For several months they persisted. After fasting, prayer, and many meetings and conversations, changes were miraculously made in the Scout group bylaws to align with the Church needs, and a partnership was formed. Then the fun began!

The two elders—preceded by a letter sent to every German stake from Elder Benson himself—traveled through Germany, visiting stakes and wards, training leaders and organizing Scout troops for the youth. They met with local Church leaders, provided guidance, sang songs, conducted campfires, organized patrol meetings, and built goodwill between the two organizations. What an inspiring time! Some of my favorite images of my Dad's mission are of him in uniform at Church Scouting activities.

The experiences he had were so spiritual, invigorating, and life-changing that after his mission he changed his university major from Physics to Youth Leadership. He graduated and fulfilled a successful career as a professional for the Boy Scouts of America. My childhood memories include many, many, many uplifting and inspiring experiences around campfires, under the stars, at Scout Expos, in the great outdoors, and on long hikes. (See my blog: Boy Scouting from a Girl.)  I will be eternally grateful for my Dad's Scouting passion. It shaped my life and the lives of my 10 siblings. I love Scouting.

Twenty years after my dad returned from his mission, our family had the unique opportunity to visit the now prophet President Benson in his office in the Church Administration Building. It was thrilling to hear him share Scouting-missionary memories and learn of his continued devotion to the program. That visit remains a highlight of my life.

Two weeks ago I traveled to downtown Salt Lake City to do some Scouting research. Sitting in a small cubicle deep in the bowels of the Church History Library, I personally examined and read Scouting papers and letters from Elder Ezra Taft Benson—correspondence he sent and received as a member of the BSA National Executive Board. The letters were enlightening and thrilling! I read about his experience visiting the World Scout Jamboree in Greece with his wife, Flora; attending BSA National Meetings; speaking with Elder Harold B. Lee at National Scouting functions; visiting Philmont Scout Ranch; and giving active input and ideas to the organization. I was amazed to read first-hand of the significant role he played on the BSA National Executive Board. His devotion and love for Scouting were obvious due to the time and energy he spent during his already busy life as both an apostle and a national political leader.

My recent days in the Library reminded me of another sacred experience I had in 2013 when I worked as a writer on the book Century of Honor: 100 years of Scouting in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Those months of research and effort are holy to me, and filled with sacred experiences that taught me of the inspired nature of Scouting. I am grateful for Baden-Powell and other world and Church leaders whose vision ultimately blessed my own sons and millions of youth worldwide. (See my blogs: Behind the Book and How Scouting Prepared My Son to be a Missionary.) I fervently believe that the Scouting movement throughout the world and in our nation was inspired by God.

Since President Benson's time, Primary and Young Men General Presidents as well as apostles have continued his legacy, serving on the BSA National Board and advisory councils. Their input has continued to shape and strengthen Scouting for America's youth.

But those days are over, and in 2020 the Church and the BSA will no longer be partners.

So, what next? With all due respect I invite Church members not to jump on the "social reaction" bandwagon. If there's anything I've learned during the past five years of my husband's job it is the inevitable "twist" that comes through media reporting. We are a society who reacts to thrills, including breaking news and the opportunity to point at the person left on the side of the road instead of lovingly considering another viewpoint.

Many will say the Church is leaving Scouting because the BSA changed their name, welcomed girls into their programs, or allowed people with alternative lifestyles to join their ranks. Yet in the same breath we as Church members correct those who call us "Mormon" instead of using the full name of our Church (the Boy Scouts of America has not changed their name); we wish out loud for "equal" high adventure opportunities for our young women (the BSA has included girls in their programs since the 1970s); and we quickly remind each other to invite everyone to our meetings--including those of alternative lifestyles. These issues are no different in the Church.

In fact, the recent changes made in BSA programs and membership actually reflect similar changes made by the Church to welcome and include all who wish to come unto Christ. There is nothing dramatic or drastic about these events. Isn't it ironic that we sometimes speak of ministering from one side of our mouth, yet in the same breath openly criticize a partner organization that mirrors our standards and has maintained their Scout Oath and Law for more than a century? (See my blog: Thoughts on BSA Membership Policy Changes.) We can live a higher law as we bid farewell to our faithful Scouting counterparts.

The only real tragedy I feel at this "break" is that Church members have not been better, more respectful partners with an organization that has provided a natural bridge to other good, God-fearing people throughout the world. And I am saddened at the lost opportunities to serve, to love, to strengthen and to support youth in a desperately evil society.

However as a Scouting volunteer, wife, and mother I will be forever grateful for the relationships, the good will, the growth, and the never-to-be-forgotten Scouting experiences that have been a blessing to us as a people, a blessing to me and my family, and a blessing to our nation. Scouting has shaped our young men and changed millions of lives. What a legacy!

Of course we will follow the prophet. Of course we will move forward with these inspired changes, but the manner in which we initiate this new era is up to us as a people. I invite all of us who call ourselves saints and proclaim Christ as our head to proceed respectfully, kindly, and even reverently, paying tribute to a partnership that has directly and indirectly positively affected each one of us during the past century—the Century of Honor that I will always hold dear. Happy Birthday, Dad!