MORMONS TRUE or FALSE: LdS do not let girls join the Girl Scouts because they don't want them to learn leadership skills and become leaders

Thank you for your answer.

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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on February 22nd, 2011

OK, fair enough.

But one must wonder WHY it's an official sponsor of the Boy Scouts - and heavily engaged in it - and not the Girl Scouts.

Answer?

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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on February 21st, 2011

Now why would they "not" sponsor the Girl Scouts of America, but they will sponsor the Boy Scouts? Hummm hidden agenda?

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by Wendy_J on February 21st, 2011

I don't know why the Church would sponsor the one and not the other. I can assure you there is no hidden agenda or conspiracy with it.

Outside the USA, the Church doesn't sponsor the Boy Scouts focusing instead on its own program.

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by laie_techie on February 21st, 2011

"Outside the USA, the Church doesn't sponsor the Boy Scouts focusing instead on its own program."

Actually, that is inaccurate. The LdS church is indeed affiliated with Boy Scouts outside of the US, mostly in Canada, but also in Australia, the EU, and elsewhere.

"We have strong affiliations with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA); Scouts Canada; the Scouting Associations of Australia, New Zealand, and Great Britain; and other associations in Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa. The vast majority of Latter-day Saint Scouting affiliations, however, are in the western and central United States and Canada.

For boys and young men ages 8-18 in the United States, the Church endorses affiliation with BSA Cub Scout packs, Scout troops, Varsity teams, and Venturing crews. These programs are also endorsed for boys and young men overseas who are attached to military bases or other U.S. expatriates who wish their children to have a BSA Scouting experience. We do not endorse or sponsor Tiger Cub or Exploring programs, and inasmuch as the Church sponsors its own Young Women activity programs, we do not sponsor Girl Scout or Venturing programs for girls or young women.

Likewise, in Canada the Church sponsors strong Cub Scout, Scout, Rover, and Venturing programs for boys and young men ages 8-18. In November 1998, Scouts Canada adopted a national program of coeducational Scouting, but allowed organizations that have a religious or traditional history of all-male Scout groups to maintain that status. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not sponsor coeducational Scouting in any country where we affiliate with Scouting."
http://lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,5169-1,00.html

As you can see, the LdS church is affliated with Scouting troops outside of the US...though it will not affiliate with any women's troops or "sponsor any coeducational scouting in any country where we affiliate with scouting". Which leads back to Mister IT's question of why there is that disparity.

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by k on February 21st, 2011

The LDS Church is an official sponsor of the Boy Scouts but not the Girl Scouts for a very simple reason. _God inspired_ the leadership of the LDS Church to have that church be an official sponsor of the Boy Scouts, and He never inspired them to have that church be a sponsor of the Girl Scouts.

Kevin Sim
kvnsmnsn.wordpress.com

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by kvnsmnsn on February 22nd, 2011

Again, by what objective standard and criteria can someone determine that this is true?

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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on February 22nd, 2011

What does it matter what we type? Conspiracy theorists will always find a conspiracy - even if there isn't one.

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by laie_techie on February 22nd, 2011

What if the Conspiracy Theorist claim that they saw the conspiracy as a result of being inspired by God? How is that any less credible than claiming that:

"...God inspired_ the leadership of the LDS Church to have that church be an official sponsor of the Boy Scouts, and He never inspired them to have that church be a sponsor of the Girl Scouts."

So in the end, the answer to this question . . .

Q: What does it matter what we type?
. . . is . . .
A: It matters because what you all type is often irrational, illogical, contradictory, and unsupported by anything but religious dogma.

Psychologists claim that conspiracy theories arise due to the following factors:

1) Obstructionism
2) Cognitive Dissonance
3) Anxiety

(see http://www.world-mysteries.com/newgw/gw_rmd1.htm ; http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/08/the-psychology-of-conspiracy-theories/ ; http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-narcissus-in-all-us/200809/paranoia-911-and-the-roots-conspiracy-theories ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theory#Psychological_origins )

Perhaps Mormon leaders and LdS Church members would be more open, candid, rational, logical, congruous and supported their assertions with facts and evidence the conspiracy theories would "magically" disappear.

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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on February 22nd, 2011

What a pointless answer.

And once again, an ad-hominem, insult, and slur all wrapped up in 4-words.

It would be impressive were it not so sad - and telling.

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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on March 14th, 2011

Thank you for your answer. But . . .
Where is your evidence for this assertion?

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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on February 25th, 2011

DUPE POST PLEASE DELETE.

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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on February 26th, 2011

BTW, you've now been on AnswerBag as "anonymous" for over two-years.

Don't you think that some type of unique alias would be more appropriate? Personally, I tend to consider someone who hides behind "anonymous" for too long as either a coward or uncredible.

But that's me . . .

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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on February 26th, 2011

We do not endorse or sponsor Tiger Cub or Exploring programs, and inasmuch as the Church "sponsors its own Young Women activity programs, we do not sponsor Girl Scout or Venturing programs for girls or young women.

Likewise, in Canada the Church sponsors strong Cub Scout, Scout, Rover, and Venturing programs for boys and young men ages 8-18. In November 1998, Scouts Canada adopted a national program of coeducational Scouting, but allowed organizations that have a religious or traditional history of all-male Scout groups to maintain that status. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not sponsor coeducational Scouting in any country where we affiliate with Scouting."
http://lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,5169-1,00.html

This is the official reason, but the real reason is the GSA's allowance of Gay leaders, you wont find a quote for that however.

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by Does it matter? on February 26th, 2011

Thank you for changing your alias - much appreciated.

OK, but help us understand this . . .

The official statement says, "...and inasmuch as the Church sponsors its own Young Women activity programs, we do not sponsor Girl Scout or Venturing programs for girls or young women."

The LdS Church ALSO sponsors it's own young men activity programs based about the Aaronic Priesthood does it not?

So this seems duplicitous. And surely there are other programs for girls that aren't the Girl Scouts that could utilized in a matter similar to the Boy Scouts.

Why doesn't the LdS Church engage one of those groups the same way that it does the Boy Scouts?

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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on February 26th, 2011

The comments by unanonymous are correct, as far as I can tell. I believe the church does not affiliate with the girl scout program because they allow gay leaders.

The church does sponsor a program within the church called "Personal Progress" for the young women. It takes 5-6 years to accomplish and when completed, is similar to a boy achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in the eyes of the church.

https://beta.lds.org/young-women/personal-progress?lang=eng

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by Mike Astill on February 26th, 2011

@mr. it: the church uses the boy scouts as a tool to teach values to aaronic priesthood holders. it is not necessary

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by Does it matter? on February 27th, 2011

OK, but why didn't the Church use the Girl Scouts as a tool to teach values to the future wives of Aaronic priesthood holders before they allowed Lesbians to be Troop Leaders?

I suspect that if they had the issue of Lesbian Troop Leaders in the Girl Scouts would be moot just as it is now with the Boy Scouts largely due to the presence of Religious Organizations like the LdS and Catholic Churches?

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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on February 27th, 2011

to be honest i dont know why, other than the reasons i have given you, the church doesn't endorse the girl scouts the same way it does the boy scouts. I don't see any evidence to support your hypothesis; that the church doesnt support the girl scouts because they dont want girls to become leaders. I dont see a shred of evidence to support that. and for that matter, as an Eagle scout and army officer, the boy scouts is more about teaching values and life skills than it is about teaching leadership. i cant speak for the girl scouts program because i am not that familiar with it but i assume it is the same.

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by Does it matter? on February 28th, 2011

Thank you for the clarification.

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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on February 28th, 2011

welcome

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by Does it matter? on February 28th, 2011

Thank you for your answer. However. . .

By what objective criteria and standards can we determine that this is true?

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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on February 22nd, 2011

I never heard that the choice to sponsor the BSA was inspired by God.

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by laie_techie on February 22nd, 2011

Good catch Laie!

Indeed Kevin, please cite your source for your assertion that the LdS Church leadership's decision to support the Boy Scouts was God inspired.

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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on February 22nd, 2011

Thank you for your answer.

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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on February 22nd, 2011