1. LDS SCOUTING
AND THE
PRIMARY ORGANIZATION
Under the direction of the bishopric, the
ward Primary President is responsible for
Scouting programs for Primary-age boys.
--Handbook of Instructions,
Section 5, Primary, pg 237

2. Contents, by Slides
3. Brief history of Scouting in the Church
4. Scouting Aims, Ideals and Methods
5. What is Primary Scouting?
6-7. Purpose of Scouting in Primary and the purpose of this
presentation
8-9. Some differences between LDS Scouting and “traditional” Scouting
10-11. About Cub Scouts
12-13. How to have a well run Cub Scout Pack
14. How to define Success in the Pack
15. Scouting for the 11-yr Old Boy, 1
16-17. Some differences between the LDS 11-yr Old Scouting Program
and “traditional” Scouting
18-19. Scouting for the 11-yr Old Boy, 2
20. Training
21-22. The Patrol Method
23. Three guiding quotes
24. How to define success in the 11-yr Olds Scouting Program
25. Resources and links 2

3. History of Scouting and the LDS Church
• The Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association (YMMIA) was
organized in June of 1875 by Junius F. Wells, under the direction of
Brigham Young, to provide spiritual and cultural activities during
leisure time for the young men of the Church.
• Scouting, with its spiritual background and cultural ideals, appealed
to Church leaders as an excellent program for boys. The YMMIA
thoroughly investigated Scouting in 1911, and, on motion of
President Anthony W. Ivins of the YMMIA general superintendency,
the MIA Scouts were officially organized.
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints formally affiliated
with the Scouting movement in the United States in May of 1913 as
its first institutional sponsor, and today sponsors more Scouts and
Scouting units in the United States than any other organization.
Hundreds of thousands of young men are enrolled as Scouts in
groups or units sponsored by the Church.
• The Church adopted Scouting as part of the activity program for
Aaronic Priesthood quorums and later for Primary boys ages 8 and
older. By providing opportunities for boys and young men to put
into practice the gospel lessons they learn in the home and at
Church, Scouting programs have supported the priesthood. 3

4. Scouting
The Aims of Scouting
Growth in moral strength and character.
Participating citizenship.
Development in physical, mental, and emotional fitness.
The Ideals of Scouting
The Ideals of Scouting are found in the Oath, the Law, the Motto and the
Slogan. A Scout measures himself against these Ideals.
The Methods of Scouting The Methods of Cub Scouting
Living the Ideals Using the Patrol Method
Belonging to a Den Living the Ideals of Scouting
Using Advancement Outdoor Programs
Involving Family and Home Using Advancement
Participating in Activities Association with Adults
Serving Neighborhood and Community Personal Growth
Wearing the Uniform Leadership Development
Making Character Connections Wearing the Uniform
4

5. The Scout Oath, Law, Motto & Slogan
Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my
best to do duty to God
and my country and to
obey the Scout Law; to
help other people at all
times; to keep myself
physically strong, mentally
awake and morally
straight.
Scout Law
A Scout is trustworthy,
loyal, helpful friendly,
courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave,
clean and reverent.
Scout Motto
Be prepared.
Scout Slogan
Do a good turn daily.
6

6. What is PRIMARY SCOUTING?
• Cub Scouts (for boys 8 to 10) program Leadership Positions
in the Pack
– Cubmaster
– Wolf Den Leader (for 8-yr olds)
– Bear Den Leader (for 9-yr olds)
– Webelos Den Leader (for 10-yr olds)
– Assistant Leaders
– Pack Committee Chair
– Pack Committee Members (must have at least 3 members to
charter a Pack), the Primary presidency member over 8-10 year
old boys is a member of the Pack Committee
• 11-yr Olds Scouting program Adult Leader Positions
– 11-yr Olds Scout Leader
– Assistant 11-yr Olds Scout Leader
– The Primary president is a member of the Troop Committee
6

7. Purposes
• The purpose of Scouting in Primary is to
“…support the purpose of Primary by helping
boys put into practice the gospel principles they
learn on Sunday and by preparing them to
receive the priesthood.”
• The Scouting positions job descriptions and
organization chart can be found in the other
sections of this binder.
• The purpose of this presentation is to address the
Ward Primary Presidency responsibilities over
Scouting for Primary-age boys…Cub Scouts first.
7

8. Some Differences between LDS Scouting for
Cub Scouts and “Traditional” Cub Packs
• LDS Pack leaders are called by the bishopric. They may not be
members of the Church, but must agree to adhere to the Church
standards.
• All boys in primary who are Scouting-age are registered in the
Scouting program that fits their age group. Most “traditional” Packs
are completely voluntary.
• Because of the nature of LDS Packs, we usually do not recruit new
boys, but non-member boys are completely welcome to join and
LDS Pack. They will not pay dues or registration fees. They are
welcome to complete the religious award of their choice or may
earn the LDS Faith in God for Boys religious award.
• Boys in LDS Packs advance by age while many other Packs advance
boys by school grade and their dens advance together at the end of
the school year.
• Cub Packs in the Church do not participate in fundraising and they
do not pay dues or other fees to participate. The program is
financed by the ward’s Primary Organization’s budget.
8

9. More Cub Scout Differences
• LDS Cub Scouts do not sponsor or participate in campouts
or other overnighters.
• The Church does not participate in Scouting for boys under
age 8. Many, but not all, “traditional” Packs offer Tiger Cubs
for boys in first grade.
• Because the Primary President is responsible for the
Scouting programs for the Primary-age boys the Pack
Committee reports to the Primary President. The
counselor over Cub Scout age boys is a member of the Pack
Committee. In “traditional” packs the committee reports to
the head of the Chartered Organization.
• While the Pack Committee Chair and other members are
called by the Bishopric, parents and others can volunteer to
serve on the committee. In “traditional” Packs leaders may
be recruited, but are all volunteers.
• The bishopric member assigned to Primary helps provide
direction and ensures that leaders are called and trained.
9

10. Cub Scouts
•As noted on the title page,
…the ward Primary President is responsible for the
Scouting programs for Primary-age boys.
(This direction is found in the Handbook of Instructions,
Section 5, Primary, pg 237).
•But what does that mean?
•How can you ensure that:
–The weekly den meetings are not only held, but are substantive
and fun for the boys?
–The boys are advancing?
–The monthly pack meeting celebrates the boys and their
accomplishments while being fun for them and their families?
–The program meets the BSA’s and the Church’s guidelines ?
•Is anyone there to help?
10

11. More Cub Scouts
• First of all, who is out there to help?
– Your priesthood leaders…the bishopric…are there to make sure
the organization is in place, that people are called to fill the
scouting positions. You make recommendations to them. They
encourage leaders to get trained and ensure training on the
ward level happens.
– Your Pack Committee is there to help plan and execute the big
events like Pack Meetings, Pinewood Derbies, Rain Gutter
Regattas, and Cub-mobile races. They also take care of the
rechartering process.
– Your Pack Leaders…the Cubmaster is there to head up and lead
the Pack and the Den Leaders are there to implement the
program, lead and guide the boys, and make sure they advance.
– Your Unit Commissioner is there to offer advice, help organize
and just be a friend to the Pack and Troop.
– The local BSA District and Council has volunteers and
professionals to help with training, to offer programs and
program helps, and to stand ready to help in any area that is
needed. 11

12. A Well Run Cub Scouts Program
• The best, surest way to make sure your Pack runs well is,
first, study the Primary Handbook and the Scouting
Handbook and second, to get your leaders registered with
BSA and trained to their positions.
• The other sections of this binder contain information on
the courses that are needed for each position as well as an
organization chart. This information is also available on
your Council’s website and from your District leaders.
• Local Councils offer many useful courses, but the most
important are 1, Youth Protection (now also offered online,
must be taken every 2 years and must be taken before a
person can register as a leader); 2, This Is Scouting (offered
online); 3, Fast Start (also offered online); and 5, position-
specific training which will be offered periodically by the
council. Many times if the need is there, and enough
people commit to attend, council trainers will come to your
meeting house to train. You just have to ask.
12

13. A Well Run Cub Scouts Program
• Next make sure your leaders are using the Den
and Pack Meeting Resource Guide and other
ideas that are published regularly by BSA. This
information is delivered to Pack Leaders at Round
Table meetings and in Boys Life Magazine.
– Round Table meetings are held monthly by your local
Council.
• It is extremely important that the Primary
Presidency is closely involved with the Pack,
attending Pack meetings, Round Tables and
committee meetings.
• It is equally important that the bishopric member
over Primary is closely involved with the Pack
and the Pack leaders.
13

14. Success?
• So how do you judge your success? The signs of a
successful program are pretty overt.
– Are the boys attending their meetings?
– Are they advancing in the program and earning awards?
– Are your Webelos earning The Arrow of Light Award? Is
there a special ceremony around the presentation of the
award?
• The Arrow of Light is earned during the Webelos year and it is the
highest award in Cub Scouts
• The Arrow of Light Award is the only Cub Scout award that the boy
also wears on his Boy Scout uniform and its accompanying square
knot is worn on the adult leader uniform
– Are the monthly Pack meetings a big deal? A production?
Are they FUN??
– Do you have a crossing over ceremony to celebrate when
the Cub Scout turns 11 and transfers to the 11-yr Olds
Patrol?
14

15. Scouting for the 11-yr Old Boy
When a boy in Primary turns 11 he graduates
from Cub Scouts and becomes a Boy Scout. He
becomes a member of the 11-yr Olds Patrol in
the Troop. For the boy this is a very important
event! Worthy of an elaborate ceremony.
15

16. Some Differences between LDS
Scouting for the 11-yr Old Boy and
“traditional” Scouting
• LDS Scout leaders are called by the bishopric. They may not be
members of the Church, but must agree to adhere to the Church
standards.
• All boys in Primary who are Scouting-age are registered in the
Scouting program that fits their age group. Most “traditional” Packs
and Troops are completely voluntary.
• “Traditional” Scouting allows boys to join Scouting at 10 if they have
their Arrow of Light or are in the 5th grade. LDS boys join when they
turn eleven.
• The ward Troop Committee serves the 11-yr old Scouts, and the
Primary President is a Troop Committee member, representing the
needs of the 11-yr Olds Patrol.
• The LDS 11-year Olds Patrol does not participate in fund raising nor
do they collect dues. Their program is financed by the Ward
Primary Budget.
16

17. More Differences between LDS
Scouting for 11-yr Old Scouts and…
• LDS 11-yr old Scouts only attend 3 overnight
camps in a year. This is so they can earn the
rank of 1st Class before they turn 12. The 11-yr
old Scouts do not attend summer Scout camp.
Many other Scouting groups allow their 11-yr
olds to camp more often and attend summer
scout camp.
17

18. Scouting is very different
from Cub Scouts.
18

19. Some Information about
Scouting for the 11-yr Old Boy
• The 11-yr Olds Patrol is part of the Troop, but
– It still falls under the direction of the Primary
– It is financed out of the Primary budget
– They don’t camp with the Troop
– They do not attend summer Scout Camp
– They only occasionally meet with the Troop
• The Patrol does
– Let the boys lead and make decisions just like the troop
– Have a Patrol Leader who is called by the bishopric and then with the
help of the 11-yr Olds Leader chooses the other youth Patrol leaders
– Concentrate on advancing each boy to 1st Class Rank, not much
attention to merit badges (3 campouts is enough to get them there)
– Join in with the Troop in Courts of Honor
– Participate in day camps, either on the stake or ward level, or with a
Council day camp
– Practice the Patrol Method. This is so huge it needs its own slide!
19

20. Training Is Critical !
• Adults
– Each adult leader should be registered with BSA
and then trained to position
1. Youth Protection
2. This Is Scouting
3. Fast Start course for your position
4. Training for your position
5. Outdoor Leadership Skills (OLS) and Wood Badge are
worthy training goals to set your sights on
• Youth
– Troop Leadership Training (TLT)
20

21. The Patrol Method for
the 11-yr Olds Scouts Program
The Patrol Method is the way Scout Troops are organized. It
means the program is boy-led and it fits nicely with the
Aaronic Priesthood program, as that program is boy-led as
well. Read over the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) Handbook and
the Troop Leadership Training (TLT) material for details and
training, but here are some bullet points that Primary leaders
and bishoprics should know:
• The Troop and Patrols are boy-led. The adults are
facilitators, coaches, advisors.
• The Troop is divided into Patrols in a way that fits the youth
group in the ward, but the 11-yr Olds Patrol is always
separate.
• The 11-yr Olds Patrol is led by the Patrol Leader who is
chosen, called and set apart (with input from the Primary
president and the 11-yr Olds Scout Leader) by the bishopric.
21

22. More Patrol Method Bullet Points about
the 11-yr Olds Scouting Program
• The Patrol Leader, with help and advice from the 11-yr Olds Scout Leader,
chooses the other patrol leaders (Asst. Patrol Leader—APL, Scribe,
Quartermaster, Grubmaster, Cheermaster…get the picture…each boy has a job).
• These boys meet regularly in the Patrol Leader meeting to plan activities,
including the weekly activity nights, the 3 campouts for the year, how to
reactivate less active boys and what the individual Patrol members need for
advancement.
• The adult leaders teach the boys how to lead, conduct meetings, use an
agenda, delegate, etc.; which is a critical part of preparing them for the Aaronic
Priesthood.
• The leaders let the boys lead. With the help of adult leaders, they make the
phone calls to make arrangements for activities, to follow up on assignments,
etc. Sometimes an activity does not work out, which is an important learning
tool for them too. While helping the boys be successful and not get
embarrassed, the adults let the boys be responsible for their plans.
• Patrol plans are approved by the Primary President and bishopric. They are also
presented to the Troop Committee, who helps to make their plans come to
fruition. 22

23. 3 Guiding Quotes
To Always Keep before You as You Administer This Program
“Training boy leaders to run their troop is the
Scoutmaster’s most important job.”
But read it this way…
“Training boy leaders to run their patrol is the 11-yr Olds
Scout Leader’s and Primary President’s most important
job.”*
*paraphrased
“Train Scouts to do a job, then let them do it.”
“Never do anything a boy can do.” ̂
̂ emphasis added
—Robert S.S. Baden-Powell
23

24. Success?
• So how do you judge the success of the 11-yr
Olds Scouting Program?
– Are the boys attending their meetings?
– Are they leading?
– Are they advancing and earning awards?
– Are they wearing the uniform?
– Are they excited about Scouting?
– Are they achieving 1st Class Rank before they turn
twelve?
24

25. Resources, Links
Most of the information in this presentation was found in the resources listed below
• LDS Aaronic Priesthood Handbook
• LDS Primary Handbook
• LDS Scouting Handbook
• BSA Scouting Guidebooks
• http://www.scouting.org
• http://www.ldsscoutertools.org
• http://www.ldsbsa.org
• http://scoutmaster.org
• http://lds.org
• http://www.scoutstuff.org
• http://meritbadge.org
• https://myscouting.scouting.org
• http://www.mcctraining.org
• http://mccscouting.org (Mecklenburg County Council, find local contacts and other useful
links)
• http://www.centralnccouncilbsa.com (Central NC Council, find local contacts and other
useful links)
• http://palmettocouncil.org (Palmetto Council, find local contacts and other useful links)
Developed by Mike Deal, Stake Scouting Coordinator, 10-2010 25