Saints & Scouts

06/14/2026

What would you say?

Imagine a Latter-day Saint family in your Ward.

Good folks. Active in the Church. They've heard of Scouting - maybe dad was an Eagle Scout, maybe they have vague memories of Ward troops before 2020. Their son just turned 11. Their daughter is 13.

They're not against Scouting. They're just not sure it's worth the effort anymore. No Ward troop. No one else from Church doing it. A busy family schedule already stacked with youth activities and sports.

They're on the fence. And they're about to decide without all the information. What do you tell them?

Not the brochure version. Not the elevator pitch. The real thing - what you'd actually say if you sat across from them at their kitchen table and had 5 minutes to share what Scouting has done for the kids in your life.

We're asking because YOUR answer matters.

The families on the fence aren't checking out Scouting websites. They're not going to walk into a troop meeting on their own. They need to hear from someone they trust, why it's worth it.

That might be you. But you need to know what to say. So tell us: What would you tell a Latter-day Saint family who's on the fence about Scouting?

Drop your answer below. Be specific. Be honest. Be yourself.

We'll be sharing the best responses because they deserve to be heard beyond this comment section : )

06/10/2026

06/07/2026

New research reinforces what members of the Scouting movement already know — becoming an Eagle Scout leads to a happier, healthier life long after achieving the rank.

“These findings affirm what Eagle Scouts have long experienced firsthand — the values learned through Scouting endure for a lifetime,” says Rich Pfaltzgraff, president of the National Eagle Scout Association. “Earning the rank of Eagle Scout is more than an achievement in youth. It helps shape confident, purposeful and resilient adults who continue to lead and serve throughout their lives.”

Eagle Scouts are more likely than non-Eagles to be content, positive and purposeful long after they earn the rank, according to new research by The Harris Poll. Part 1 of this three-part series about the study looks at well-being.

06/02/2026

"Youth need tough experiences before the mission. They need them so that when they get on the mission, it's not the first time they encounter difficulty. Scouting gives them those tough experiences. On purpose. In a safe place. With Scouters who believe in them."

There's something missionaries figure out fast in the field. Hard things don't wait until you're ready.

You're tired before you want to be tired. You're frustrated before you've had a chance to settle in. You're living with someone you didn't choose, in a place you don't know, doing work that's harder than you imagined.

The missionaries who handle that best? They've been uncomfortable before.

Youth need tough experiences before the mission. They need them so that when they get on the mission, it's not the first time they encounter difficulty.

Scouting gives them those tough experiences. On purpose. In a safe place. With Scouters who believe in them.

Sleeping outside when it's cold. Leading a group when you're not sure how. Finishing a project when you've lost motivation. Serving someone when you're already tired.

Research identified 6 key outcomes for Latter-day Saint Scouting: 1) Building a testimony, 2) Learning to serve others, 3) Preparing for a mission, 4) Building confidence, 5) Learning life skills, and 6) gaining integrity (Ensign, Oct ’04).

Every single one of those is a mission skill.

A young woman/man who's earned their Eagle knows how to do hard things and keep going. A young woman who's led her patrol knows how to guide people she didn't choose. A Scout who's served his community knows what it feels like to give when it costs something.

That's not a coincidence. That's preparation.

If you're a Latter-day Saint Scouter, you're not just teaching outdoor skills and merit badges. You're raising future missionaries.

Were you a Scout before your mission? Did it help? Tell us about it - your story might be exactly what a parent or Scout leader needs to hear today.

05/29/2026

Scouting has a strong foundation in faith. It was designed that way, and continues today. Our youth have the opportunity to share their support and encouragement for one another on their individual journeys. This is one place our youth can practice their own individual discipleship. ❤️

The Scout Oath starts with one sentence before anything else.

"On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country…"

Duty to God. First. Before country, before others, before yourself. That's not an accident.

The first part of the Scout Oath is Duty to God, and the last character value in the Scout Law is "a Scout is Reverent." Duty to God is one of the basic tenets of the Scouting program from beginning to end.

Lord Baden-Powell, who founded Scouting, didn't build a camping program. He built a character program with faith at its center. He believed you couldn't fully develop a young person without connecting them to something bigger than themselves.

As Latter-day Saints, we already know this. We've been teaching it in Primary, in family home evening, in Seminary for years.

What Scouting does is give that belief legs.

A young man or woman who promises to do their Duty to God - and then goes out and earns a merit badge, leads a patrol, serves thier community, sits around a campfire and talks about what they believe - that's not just Scouting. That's discipleship in hiking boots.

The first Scouting handbook stated, "No boy can grow into the best kind of citizenship without recognizing his obligation to God."

We believe that too. We always have. That's why we're still here.

Which part of the Scout Oath or Scout Law resonates most with your faith? SHARE below in the comments

03/29/2026

Today kids are growing up in a world that pulls them inward - Scouting offers somthing far more powerful: a chance to look up, step out, and discover who they can become.

03/05/2026

Mormon Battalion Celebration in Old Town San Diego 2026. What an amazing event this year! A huge shout out to members of Troop 702 for reminding us how much we love Scouting!