The strong and sometimes colorful history of the partnership between the Church and Boy Scouts of America is detailed in the October 1993 issue of Scouting magazine.
A candid article reflected on the 80-year relationship. The article is enhanced by a large, colorful illustration of President Ezra Taft Benson and LDS Scouting awards set into a backdrop of mountains, clouds and seagulls.After recounting the numbers of LDS units and Scouting participants - and explaining how virtually every ward sponsors Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity and Exploring units and how they function - the story traced the history of the partnership from its inception in 1913. It mentioned some of the challenges that occurred from time to time in that relationship, and how they were overcome due to cooperation by leaders, and the foundation of shared values common to both organizations.
It concluded: "For the past 40 years the BSA and LDS have teamed up more smoothly. America's fastest-growing religious group, . . . the Mormons have been a major factor in Scouting's growth.
"The Great Salt Lake Council is the [secondT largest in the country, and one of every 20 Scout units nationwide is now Mormon-chartered. Not bad for a Peculiar People who still comprise only one-fiftieth of America's church-goers."
