My scout camp experience
Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 3:27 pm
So over the weekend, I had the chance to take my 11 year old son to his first scout campout.
Overall, it was a fun experience. We did the basket weaving merit badge (which I HATE!!). We got to play some night games and did the lame scout program/skits/songs.
The part that disturbed me was the fireside. The called all the boys to the amphitheater where the 3 members of the stake presidency spoke. The first talk about how we are all tools in Gods hands. The leader shows the boys a plain branch and all the boys said how ordinary it was. Then he blew on it and they found out that he had made a whistle. And given help, even the most ordinary thing can become extraordinary. You boys may seem ordinary, but in the hands of the Lord, you too can be extraordinary.
All in all, a good talk. I don't like the idea that you can only become extraordinary with the help of God, but not a big deal.
The 2nd talk was about how the presidency wants all the young men to become better men than they are. In order to become better men than they are, they asked that all the boys committed to getting their Eagle, graduating seminary, going on a mission and getting married in the temple. Then they asked that any boy that is willing to accept this pledge to come down to the stage. They then escorted them all to the lodge where they took their picture and had them sign a paper with the pledge on it.
I was so infuriated by this talk.
First, the idea that doing any of these things makes you a “better person” is complete and utter bull! What happens to the boy that fails at doing one of these? Is he going to forever hold himself in contempt as not being “better”? Also, do these boys then look at other boys/men that don’t do these things as lesser men? Does my son view me as a lesser man because I didn't do 2/3 of these things?
Second, the pressure the presidency put on the boys to accept this pledge was unacceptable. It should have been a silent acceptance in your heart, not a public display where failure to come up would have been looked at in contempt by the other scouts and leaders. There is no way any of these boys could have denied this pledge without looking stupid.
Third, these boys had no idea what they are pledging to do. What is it with the Mormon church and asking people to make serious commitments to things they know almost nothing about?
If I had my way, I’d pull my kids out of the Mormon church so fast it would make their head spin. It always makes me cringe when members say that even if it isn't true, the church only teaches good things. BULL!!!!
Overall, it was a fun experience. We did the basket weaving merit badge (which I HATE!!). We got to play some night games and did the lame scout program/skits/songs.
The part that disturbed me was the fireside. The called all the boys to the amphitheater where the 3 members of the stake presidency spoke. The first talk about how we are all tools in Gods hands. The leader shows the boys a plain branch and all the boys said how ordinary it was. Then he blew on it and they found out that he had made a whistle. And given help, even the most ordinary thing can become extraordinary. You boys may seem ordinary, but in the hands of the Lord, you too can be extraordinary.
All in all, a good talk. I don't like the idea that you can only become extraordinary with the help of God, but not a big deal.
The 2nd talk was about how the presidency wants all the young men to become better men than they are. In order to become better men than they are, they asked that all the boys committed to getting their Eagle, graduating seminary, going on a mission and getting married in the temple. Then they asked that any boy that is willing to accept this pledge to come down to the stage. They then escorted them all to the lodge where they took their picture and had them sign a paper with the pledge on it.
I was so infuriated by this talk.
First, the idea that doing any of these things makes you a “better person” is complete and utter bull! What happens to the boy that fails at doing one of these? Is he going to forever hold himself in contempt as not being “better”? Also, do these boys then look at other boys/men that don’t do these things as lesser men? Does my son view me as a lesser man because I didn't do 2/3 of these things?
Second, the pressure the presidency put on the boys to accept this pledge was unacceptable. It should have been a silent acceptance in your heart, not a public display where failure to come up would have been looked at in contempt by the other scouts and leaders. There is no way any of these boys could have denied this pledge without looking stupid.
Third, these boys had no idea what they are pledging to do. What is it with the Mormon church and asking people to make serious commitments to things they know almost nothing about?
If I had my way, I’d pull my kids out of the Mormon church so fast it would make their head spin. It always makes me cringe when members say that even if it isn't true, the church only teaches good things. BULL!!!!