--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Brimhall, George H. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 14 number: 6 published: 1911-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'George H. Brimhall, "The Boy Scout Movement in Utah," *Improvement Era* 14, no. 6 (April 1911): 540–542.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1406unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1406unse start_page: 540 end_page: 542 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1911-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1406unse publication_year: 1911 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1911, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Boy Scout Movement in Utah "On my honor, I promise that I will do my best — "1. To do my duty to God and my country. "2. To help other people at all times. "3. To obey the scout law." THE SCOUT LAW. "1. The scout's honor is to be trusted. "2. A scout is loyal to his country, his officers his par- ents and his employers. "3. A scout's duty is to be useful and to help others. "4. A scout is a friend to all, and a brother to every other scout, no matter to what social class the other belongs. "5. A scout is courteous. "6. A scout is a friend to animals. "7. A scout obeys orders of his parents, patrol leader, or scoutmaster without question. "8. A scout whistles under all circumstances. ''9. A scout is thrifty." SPIRIT OF THE ORGANIZATION. The spirit of the organization seems to be character-building by acquiring ability to do common things, rather than book learning or book education. It encourages out-door life 'and has a dash in it of patriotism, since the candidate for admission must know something of the history and significance of the Amer- can flag, and provides a special salute to it, but not military. ORGANIZATION. The organization partakes of a military character in that it provides special uniforms, badges, and a system of promotion for service-merit; it declaims, however, the military spirit, and holds that boy scouting "comprises the attributes of colonial frontiers- men and self-reliance" (Boy Scouts of America, p. 50); and discour- ages the use of firearms in its work. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. The scout movement does not contemplate, by its originators, interference w;th other organizations. As witness the following THE BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT. 541 statement: "It should be noted that the rules given in this book (Boy Scouts of America — Seton) are generally intended to apply to units of Boy Scouts which do not belong to existing organiza- tions." And also the following: "Scoutmasters will not accept boys as recruits from other organizations, unless by desire of their officer." Also this: "Where scouting is taken up by any society," Mr. Seton says, "that society takes upas much or as little as it likes of the training." THE MOVEMENT IN UTAH. The movement as it is developing in Utah, according to litera- ture bearing on the subject, is "The enrollment of all organized boy's clubs in the state," and "The extension of club organizations in all parts of the state." Any club or organization "whi?h makes some form of character training th.9 center of their activi- ties, of at least ten members of boys between the ages of ten and eighteen with an adult leader, are eligible to be made members of the proposed confederation." Sunday school classes and priesthood quorums are named as among the organizations that will be ac- ceptable. WHAT SHALL BE THE ATTITUDE OF THE Y. M. M. I. A. TOWARDS THIS BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT? Of the general excellence and practicability and desirability of the Boy Scout Movement in general there can be no doubt; es- pecially in communities where organizations for such purposes do not exist. In the Latter-day Saint communities, however, our youth are amply provided with organizations for the achievement of all that is proposed in the Boy Scout Movement, and more. If on inquiry it is found that enough emphasis has not been placed upon outdoor life activities, such as would make "scouting" at- tractive to the junior members of our associations, then it only requires that instruction be given to that effect, and the necessary changes can be made to bring the desired results. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. In review of all that has gone before in this report, your com- mittee, while recognizing the very great excellence of the Boy Scout Movement in and of itself, and appreciating the high aims of the very distinguished gentlemen with whom it originated, feel no necessity either for giving encouragement to the creation of units of Boy Scouts, or for entering into confederation with such sepa- rate units and other organizations taking up scout work; since in our Y. M. M. I. Associations we are already provided with both sufficient and efficient organization to cover the field of activities proposed by ' 'scouting;" and manifestly to multiply organizations where they are not needed would be a waste of energy. Moreover, to create new scout units, or to confederate with other organiza- tions would likely result in dividing the interests of the junior members of our associations, and perhaps wean them from love and loyalty to their own organization founded through the inspired leaders of our Church, for which there would be and could be no compensating returns. Your committee therefore recommend that the General Board say in answer to all solicitations to participate in the "Scout Move- ment' ' in Utah and in other places where the organizations of the Church of Latter-day Saints are established, that we are provided with organizations that cover and provide for the good work pro- posed, and that it would not be to the best interests of our own organizations to take up the Scout Movement and organization. And we also recommend that this decision, if it meets with the approval of the General Board, be at once imparted to the stake superintendents and ward presidents. Your committee would further recommend, however, that while our associations contemplate providing for all possible activi- ties that look to the improvement of our youth, spiritually, morally, and physically, it may be that, except in the matter of athletics, wc have not given sufficient attention to out-door life and activities for our junior members. We therefore suggest that our standing committee en "Athletics and Field-sports" have its duties en- larged so as to include out-door activities that may not be strictly regarded as "sports," but will have for their purpose the promo- tion of ability in boys to do things that are useful to themselves and to others; and that will also have a tendency to develop and manifest the aptness of the individual boy for some useful trade, calling or profession in life. To cover this larger field of activity