Boy Scouts of America
Utah National Parks Council
Scouting Executives,
It is with a heavy heart that I write to resign from all volunteer posts with the Boy Scouts of America. I cannot bring myself to carry on assuming that despite the enormous amount of news coverage, and discussion regarding this issue, it appears that the Boy Scouts of America is moving forward with a policy change that tramples the very Oath and Law I have taught boys for nearly two decades! I cannot raise my arm to the square and say the Scout Oath without shaking my head and quivering that if the words “Morally Straight” does not mean chastity then what does it mean? And further what does “Duty to God” mean while the scouting organization itself is trampling His laws and justifying that it is in fact ok to accept homosexual practices!
I am grateful beyond measure to be the mother to five sons and four daughters. They are my joy! I spend my everything in an effort to follow the commandments of God who has granted me such blessings. I love Him. I desire to teach my children to follow His Commandments. I believe that great people through all ages of time have shown that when people follow the commandments as outlined in Holy Scripture, they are stronger, happier, and indeed blessed by God!
I have been taught by the examples of great people that the road to the future is not always easy. Indeed my ancestors had to flee England and come to America, at great expense because they sought religious freedom. Then my ancestors in the early 1800’s were converted to a new religion that was unaccepted and they fled to find a place they could worship as they believed, following the commandments outlined in Holy Writ.
I do not pretend to understand the underpinnings of what is happening within the Boy Scouts of America. I believe that for 103 years in America, young men have been led by great men along a lofty trail towards goals of being Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent while teaching them to do their duty Daily to God, and Country by being physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. In this year 2013, I fear I witness the down fall of that organization, and I am choosing to post my objection to such changes by withdrawing my volunteer time, energy and monies to this organization!
I do not buy rated R movies, in fact in my home we don’t view PG-13 movies! In fact, I have never seen an R rated movie in my entire life! I have walked out, thrown away when purchased without realizing they were poor, but I have never sat through an R rated movie. I have chosen to take a stand, and draw a line of which I will not pass. That is the line. There is so much of beauty and good in this world. We don’t need to experiment in the filth! I do not allow magazines into my home which contain nudity or sexual suggestions. I am active every trip into the grocery store even to cover the filth on the magazines in the isle so as to shield my eyes as well as those of my children. I cannot see how BSA can expect me to say I expect chastity and yet sanction open homosexuality.
Years ago when my oldest son was a scout, my husband was the scoutmaster for our local troop. We had a neighbor boy who was a year older than my son. I was good friends with his mother and esteemed her a great example and mentor to me. She would not allow this, her youngest child to attend any of the campouts my husband was leading. I questioned her, and learned that prior to our moving into the neighborhood, there was a simple campout for scouts where a porn magazine was taken into the tents with the boys. The leadership, following the outlines of Safe Scouting were not in the tents with the boys, and most likely did not know what was happening in the tent, but word got back to mothers of the boys that this had happened. I don’t believe her son was old enough at the time to be on that campout, but she would NOT allow her son to ever attend a campout with other boys who might have such a thing happen! I totally respected her position, but have chosen for the past 10 years to continue to support scouting, watching carefully who my sons are camping with, and cautious with discussions of what is and is not appropriate in the tents.
As I read the proposition, I cannot even see how to protect my sons. Define Morally Straight!
In paragraph nine of the proposition it reads:
Boy Scouts of America does not have an agenda on the matter of sexual orientation, and resolving this complex issue is not the role of the organization, nor may any member use Scouting to promote or advance any social or political position or agenda….
I read that to say that as a BSA leader, I can’t say what it means to be “morally straight.” So why include that in the BSA oath? It means nothing!
I question…how can a morally straight person know that they have sexual orientation without practicing otherwise?
I note carefully the wording chosen in the proposition. The eighth paragraph reads:
“any sexual conduct, whether homosexual or heterosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting.” I note the word choice of virtue here and the word choice later in the proposition reads:
Membership in any program of the Boy Scouts of America requires the youth member to (a) subscribe to and abide by the values expressed in the Scout Oath and Scout Law, (b) subscribe to and abide by the precepts of the Declaration of Religious Principle (duty to God), and (c) demonstrate behavior that exemplifies the highest level of good conduct and respect for others and is consistent at all times with the values expressed in the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
And then it concludes…
No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.
So what happens when you have boys acting on Sexual orientation? Can you then kick them out? I don’t believe so because it is not a ”value” of scouting. It is only a “virtue.” Who will dare to say anything? Exactly WHAT ACT is considered unacceptable? French kissing? Touching? I dare not think further! I am not ok with that behavior being demonstrated regularly in front of my boys! NO! I regret that I have witnessed acts as these in public places, and I would hate to think what might happen in a tent! I won’t send my boys there! I won’t stand as an advocate for a program where that might happen! I have for more than 10 years stood opposed to my neighbor and friend, as an advocate for BSA. I have given more than 20 hours a week for years and years to scouting because I believed it was a noble cause.
No longer. I will not stand with an organization who won’t stand for themselves! I won’t join that slippery slide to acceptance of homosexuality! Indeed…
Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As, to be hated, needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.
— From Alexander Pope's An Essay on Man.
I believe that this action by BSA is in fact embracing the practices of homosexuality.
Another of my heros, Elaine Dalton, of the LDS Church Young Women’s Presidency said at BYU:
Do not be just a spectator or a critic. You didn’t do that in the premortal realm. You weren’t neutral then. You stood firm. Do not allow the very voices who cry for tolerance to not tolerate you or your view. This is the arena where all that you defended and chose then is taking place now. Do not get tired or distracted or disqualified! Be willing to step out of your comfort zones and “press forward with . . . a perfect brightness of hope” (2 Nephi 31:20).
Dalton, Elaine. "Zion is the Pure in Heart." BYU Speeches. (2009): Web. 1 May. 2013. .
I am not tired or distracted. I choose to stand as a witness of God, and to show by my example and dedication of time, talent, energy, and means that I believe the Family is ordained of God. I believe that marriage is to be between a man and a woman. I will teach my children to seek for anything virtuous, lovely or of good report or praiseworthy. Indeed, I will seek after these things!
Scouting leaders, as you raise your arm to the square next time to repeat that oath, I challenge youto question, what those words mean to you? Why do you take the time to repeat them? Do you believe them to be true? Then you should be BRAVE enough to LIVE them!
Sincerely,
Märta