Brave, Clean, and Reverent

June 26, 2015 is a day we will always remember.  Yes it was a day when same-sex marriage was legalized in all 50 states by a ruling by the Supreme Court.  But aside from the fact that the very institution of marriage that has served as the foundation of healthy societies since the beginning of time was significantly altered, and the future of our nation and world hang in the balance; there is even more at stake.  Freedom itself is in jeopardy.  Our very system of government has taken a significant blow and unless we right this ship we are headed for very troubled waters.

The system of checks and balances is out of balance.  When we have our chief justice and half of the court writing such scathing dissenting arguments in a landmark case, it only goes to prove the division that this country is experiencing.  I dare say that Abraham Lincoln would not have wished to be in our day any more than his own.  The dissent is more about the courts usurpation of power to legislate than the moral bearings of the nation.  The court is making law from the bench, and that is exactly what our system is supposed to check.  Chief Justice Roberts said in his dissent, "If you are among the many Americans—of whatever sexual orientation—who favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate today’s decision. Celebrate the achievement of a desired goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of commitment to a partner. Celebrate the availability of new benefits. But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it."

With all of this, the President of the Boy Scouts of America is suggesting that on a national level we change the membership requirements to allow homosexual leadership into the program.  This is a political move to stay a step ahead of the government in an effort to continue to protect our religious liberties and allow each individual unit to operate under their own guidelines for membership.  This would mean that the LDS units would continue to espouse the edict of living "morally straight" as it was intended in the original law.  But others will allow homosexuals into leadership positions.

I personally do not see how this is sustainable and quite honestly I worry about the future of the BSA.  Our own Elder Jeffery R. Holland urged us to pray for the BSA.  He said,

"We have a lot of work ahead of us,...We need to pray.  We are at a difficult moment in the nation's history where wonderful institutions like the BSA, and supporting organizations like the Church, will need to be brave, clean, and reverent.  We're going to need God's help, but we'll have it.  The BSA will need God's help but they're entitled to it.  Church leaders need God's help and we'll have it."

So while I personally struggle with recent history and the direction of our great nation and the BSA, I have made a decision that I am going to cling to hope.  I am going to pray that Divine guidance will bless the leaders of the BSA, the Church, and our great nation.  And more than ever, I will work to teach our youth the values and ethics that has been the tradition of the BSA since its inception.  Now more than ever the youth need these values.  Now more than ever they need leadership to help them navigate this dark and dreary world.  Now more than ever they need good, morally straight, clean, brave, and reverent leadership to show the way; to lead from the front.  Now more than ever they need to understand their civic duties and be involved in their neighborhoods and communities.  Now more than ever they need to understand the foundations of this great nation and it's moorings to all that the oath and law stand for.  Now more than ever we need to help tie it all together for them so they can see the greater picture and work toward the greater good.

What the future of the BSA will look like, I do not know.  What I do know is that the mission and vision of the program is true and based on heavenly principles.  That can not be altered.

One last thought.  It was pointed out to me the other day by my good Stake President that the Prophet is not just the Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He is also the prophet for the whole world.  And we have a commandment to be in the world, but not of the world so that we can be the salt that lends savor.  We can be the leaven that raises the whole.  So even though the BSA may seem to be an unnecessary program for the LDS Church - that "we can do it better on our own", I think President Monson as a prophet, seer, and revelator and the other 14 members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve see the program as a means to do good in the world at large.  It is still a good program and we should continue to pray that it will have positive influences in the lives of boys everywhere.  I for one will continue to be a champion for the values and mission the BSA established as a beacon of hope for a better future.

YIS - Tom Brand - The Regal Eagle