May 7, 2012
February, 2007 email response. It is vital that we, as Priesthood and
Aaronic Priesthood/Young Men leaders take training seriously. We are part of
this great partnership with Boy Scouts of America for very specific reasons: If
we fully participate, our young men will be blessed and better prepared for
missions and for the blessings of the temple. Part of the participation is
training – especially Wood Badge training.
If
we are really intent in touching the lives of our young men, in building, as
Elder Ballard has challenged," the greatest generation of missionaries
this world has ever seen...," then we will do whatever is necessary to
help us to accomplish that — including getting trained. For most of
us, Wood Badge is life-changing because it has to do more with vision and
understanding than anything else.
Just
to be candid with you, I struggle with the goals of "1 per ward per
year" or "two per stake per year" or "3 1/2 per unit per
two - three years..." And even more ridiculous is the goal that a
leader take Wood Badge within 1-2 years after he has taken Basic
Training. Statistics tell us that by that time, 90% of our leaders will
be doing something else!
I
suggest that it would be helpful to re-read D&C 128:19-22 and see just how
important training was to the Prophet Joseph. Granted, his training came
from beyond the veil. However, without it, he could not have accomplished
what he did.
Just
because this is God's work, why do we think that we do not need to be trained
in that program which the Church has espoused for nearly 100 years as the
"activity arm of the Aaronic Priesthood?" And the reason why
Scouting training is vital is that, by and large, we do a very poor job in
training the leaders we call to Aaronic Priesthood/Young Men callings —
and yet expect them to work miracles in the lives of their young men. One
of the great blessings of our partnership with Scouting is the marvelous
training that is provided.
The
call is for every leader, including stake presidency members working with
youth, high councilors, stake Young Men presidents, Bishoprics, ward Young Men
leaders and Scouting leaders to be trained. By my count that is, at the
least, 7-10 per ward and 50-75 per stake. I know companies that don't
even allow a new employee to step into the plant or office until he has
received initial training. They do that because they know that, without
training, most individuals will be ineffective in the job they were hired to
do. And yet, we call leaders to strengthen, motivate and prepare young
men for missionary service and life in general — without one iota of
training.
In
contrast to that, I know one bishop who has 17 Wood Badge trained leaders in
his ward. Imagine the strength of their youth program. I was in
another ward the other day — a new ward with little Scout tradition.
I was there because my grandson, now 11 years old, was getting his Second Class
and First Class badges. As I spoke with a member of the bishopric after
the Court of Honor, he indicated that their entire Scouting team —
Bishopric, Young Men presidency and Scouting leaders were heading to Wood Badge
in October. I can only imagine what a great blessing that will be to the
boys those leaders serve. INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT 1 FROM A WARD AND TWO
FROM A STAKE — WHY DON'T WE JUST COMMIT TO GET EVERY LEADER TRAINED,
INCLUDING [YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING,]
FAST START, BASIC TRAINING AND WOOD BADGE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEY ARE
CALLED. Once a priesthood leader makes that type of an investment in the
training of a leader, he will be less likely to release him after 6 months of
faithful service — but will leave him in long enough to have a positive
effect in the life of a boy. [By the way, it’s interesting to note that
100% of the members of the two most recent Young Men General Presidencies were
and are Wood Badge trained. And those
that weren’t when they were called completed the Wood Badge Course within 6
months after their call. That alone
should send a fairly clear message on the importance of training.]
There
is one other reason why training is important. In the BSA, we have
approximately 17% of the boys registered nationally. However, [in 2005] 50% of the fatalities arising
from activity-related accidents were in LDS sponsored units. As we have
evaluated each of these, there are three reasons for these accidents: (1)
lack of training (most didn't even know what the BSA "Guide to Safe
Scouting" was); (2) lack of tenure; and (3) lack of common sense.
One
final thought and then I'll stop. With some exceptions, generally the
best Duty to God progress is made in those units that also have vibrant
Scouting programs. The lessons on achievement programs learned in
Scouting are the same that will make Duty to God effective. I seldom see
a ward or stake that has a vibrant, exciting, building Duty to God program,
that does not also have a great Scouting program. [As one
of our great Church leaders said, “I can’t imagine a fully functioning Aaronic
Priesthood Quorum without a vibrant Scout program.”]
Not
long ago, I spoke with a ward YM leader who was excited about the Duty to God
program they had for their priests. "One week we have one mission
president come and talk to the boys about this subject, and the next week, we
have a returned missionary come and talk about that subject,
...etc." I asked, "Are they all lecture/discussions in the
Church building?" "Yes," was the answer. "And
do they constitute your full activity program for priests, except for the joint
activities?" Again the answer was "Yes." Then I
asked, "And are your priests excited about what you are doing?"
After some reflection, this Young Men president said, "You know, they
really aren't. We are having a very hard time getting them to
attend." Had this leader been to Wood Badge, he would have learned
early that when you take "fun" out of youth programs — most of
the youth take themselves out as well. Scouting teaches us how to build
character and spiritual depth in our young men, and how to help them become
involved in service and making a difference in the lives of others — while
they are having fun. I, personally, am grateful for the effect of my own
personal attendance at Wood Badge at Camp Maple Dell 23 years ago. I may
not remember how to make a woggle, but I can still recall my feelings experienced
during the training — it was life changing for me.
Thanks
for all you do to strengthen the programs of the Aaronic Priesthood within your
area. I had not intended to be so long-winded, but have strong
feelings — as if you couldn't tell.
Best wishes,
Charles Dahlquist
Charles Dahlquist
