The Twelve Scout Laws

The Twelve Scout Laws" With Correlated Outlines from the Junior Manuals For Boys in the Junior Class Doing Regular Scout Work Lesson IV. —A Scout is Cheerful "A scout is cheerful."He smiles whenever he can. His obedience to orders is prompt and cheery. He never shirks nor grumbles at hard- ships. In other words, it is his plain duty to spread sunshine in the world, to cultivate a sunny disposition which is worth more than gold. He be- lieves, with Ella "Wheeler Wilcox:

It is easy enough to be pleasant, When the world moves along like a song, But the man worth while is the man who can smile, When everything goes dead wrong.

"THE TWELVE SCOUT LAWS" 77

There is a sharp difference between cheerfulness and light-mindedness, A boy can be wicked and light-minded, but he cannot be wicked and be cheerful, because a good conscience is one of the necessary conditions of cheerfulness. Give examples of cheerfulness, of light-mindedness. What is the true basis of cheerfulness? Read, "Come, come, ye Saints." Relate the circumstances under which it was written. What was Brigham Young's motive in having it written? What would be the effect of singing this song, on the weary and discouraged traveler? Why do they have music in the army? How can one cultivate cheerfulness in himself? How can he best encourage it in others? "Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power, and then may we stand still with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." (Doc. & C. 123:17.) What is the meaning of this quotation? How would it affect its meaning to cut out the word "cheerfully?" Discuss the statement, God demands cheerfulness of his children.

Lesson V. — A Scout is Thrifty

(For much valuable matter on this lesson see Junior Manual II. Les- sons on Conduct, chapter 10, "Work-Idleness." "A scout does not wantonly destroy property. He works faithfully, wastes nothing, and makes the best use of his opportunities. He saves his money so that he can pay his own way, is generous to those in need, and helpful to worthy objects. He may work for pay, but must not receive tips for courtesies or good turns." One of the elements of thrift is going without things which are not necessary to one's own or others' comfort and happiness. An M. I. A. scout should learn early to deny himself these things. Name some of them, such as summer drinks, and picture shows. If a boy begins a savings bank account when he is twelve years old and saves a dollar a month, how much will he have when he is twenty? To what good uses could he put this money? What Church service is nearly every young man expected to give? Name some of the bad results of unnecessary spending. Give some of the good effects of the saving habit. What is the difference between being stingy and being saving? A miser saves because he loves his money. Is that a true spirit? What purposes should be back of one's saving? Why should not a boy accept tips for doing a good turn? The Lord has said to the Latter-day Saints: "Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor - ?ar the garments of the laborer." (Doc. and Cov. 42:42.) Why may boys going to school not be classed as idlers? What can boys do to help pay for their food and clothes?

Lesson VI. —A Scout is Brave

(The lesson "Courage," chapter 6, in the Junior Manual, Lessons on Conduct, will give both teacher and the boys many illustrations on brave conduct.) "The scout has the courage to face danger in spite of fear, and has to stand up for the right against the coaxings of friends or the jeers or threats of enemies, and defeat does not down him." The courage of the boy scout will be tested in many ways, chiefly in not doing what the boys of his crowd do. A brave boy will not use bad language simply because he hears other boys do it; a brave boy will not smoke because other boys smoke. It is harder to be different in a crowd of boys than to be one with them. When the crowd, therefore, does wrong, it takes a brave boy not to join them.

— — —

78 IMPROVEMENT ERA

Tell in what way the following men and women were brave: Martin Luther, Mary Fielding Smith, Edith Cavell, Joseph Smith. It is important to be brave in the right direction. To be brave for the mere showing off is foolish. Riding a bucking horse when there is no real need for it, belongs to this class of bravery. Trying to stop a run- away horse when others are in danger would be a commendable act of bravery. "I'm afraid" is some boys' excuse. That should be no excuse for not doing one's duty. Many noble things are done by people who are afraid. When a thing is right, fear should not stop us. The soldier is often afraid, but he does not run away. Many public speakers say they are fearful each time they get up to speak; but this does not prevent them from filling their appointments.