BSA – Utah National Parks Council GUIDING PRINCIPLES For Applying “Come, Follow Me” Doctrines in Scouting OVERVIEW… The Utah National Parks Council’s “charge” to the “Applied Gospel Principles in Scouting” (AGPS) Committee: The First Presidency approved “Come, Follow Me: Learning Resources for Youth” that advisers and teachers have been using to prepare for Aaronic Priesthood Quorum meetings and all youth Sunday School classes. The sacred calling of teachers and advisers is to teach as the Savior taught so youth will become converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and live its teachings. The AGPS Committee has developed resources for adult leaders and young men in scouting to apply, in the weekly laboratory of Scouting, doctrine and principles taught and learned by the young men on Sundays. This BSA Utah National Parks Council resource is titled: “Follow Me Scouting.” BASIC GUIDING PRINCIPLES… 1. Many scout leaders do not connect Scouting activities (laboratory) with Sunday teachings (classroom) during the week. They may not know how or do not see the need. 2. A resource with Scouting Program Features is needed to teach adult and youth scouting leaders how to apply Sunday’s quorum and class learning to daily behaviors and decisions. 3. This resource uses the “program features” of each scouting family (troop, team and crew). This resource should help young men develop “personal spiritual practices.” 4. All resource examples should be easy to implement (keep it simple) and reinforce priesthood keys‐‐that Aaronic Priesthood Quorum presidencies preside over and “sit in council with” quorum members in Scouting and on Sunday. 5. This resource recognizes that Scouting is best when it is needs‐based, inspiration‐driven, “boy‐led, boy‐
taught and boy‐directed through priesthood keys. 6. This resource will reflect the Duty to God model to “Learn – Act – Share”: Learning is on Sunday, acting is in Scouting, and sharing includes reflection during and after Scouting activities, and reporting back in Sunday classes. (See D&C 107:99 7. This resource will teach leaders and youth to conduct “reflections” so spiritual principles enter hearts and minds. 8. This resource provides examples that show how scouting activities can enhance learning and applying Sunday‐ taught “Come, Follow Me” (and Duty to God) doctrines and principles. Each scouting leader should study these examples and then apply lessons learned on Sunday in their own planned scouting activities, through using reflection questions and modified scouting agendas. 9. This resource will be reiterated through District Roundtables. 10. Resource content will be age group specific: 12‐13, 14‐15, 16‐18. 18 February 2014 BSA – Utah National Parks Council RESOURCE INTRODUCTION “COME, FOLLOW ME AND SCOUTING ACTIVITIES” RESOURCE FOR VENTURING The purpose for this resource is to help young men apply the Come, Follow Me lessons taught on Sundays with scouting activities conducted during the week. Come, Follow Me is designed to help youth become more converted to the gospel. Part of the conversion process is learning to apply gospel principles in daily behavior. Too often, weekday scouting activities have no connection with Sunday lessons. Well planned scouting activities should create a laboratory where gospel principles taught on Sunday can be applied during the week. The scouting laboratory should be fun, strategic (not haphazard), and spiritually strengthening (not merely entertaining). Planning… Successful Venturing Crews spend time planning. Each young man should complete the Venturing Activity Interest Survey. . It is recommended that each unit conduct an annual planning retreat and create a plan for the year. The annual calendar is populated with activities suggested by the young men. Every unit should then work from their annual plan and have a three‐month calendar ready at any time to present in Bishop’s Youth Council. How to Conduct a Reflection… One of the best ways to solidify gospel principles in Scouting is by conducting reflections. One adult leader’s experience is a perfect example. His Scout group was out canoeing when winds came up on the lake. Many of the youth were losing the battle against the high waves, and their canoes were drifting away from the harbor. The stronger canoeists were sent to rescue the weaker ones. The leader himself struggled to keep his canoe heading into the wind and perpendicular to the waves. Ultimately he succeeded by focusing on a conspicuous tree and keeping the bow of the canoe pointing toward it. Eventually all made safe harbor, and the young men gratefully pulled the canoes onto the shore. The leader recounts that as they were standing on the shore together‐‐all still in life jackets, and all still holding their paddles‐‐he asked, “What did we learn from this?” The youth responded to his queries about their difficulties and what they did to overcome them. He told them about his focusing on the tree and asked, “How could we make this a spiritual lesson? What might the tree represent?” One of the Scouts said, “The tree could be the priesthood, or Jesus Christ.” “That’s good,” the leader responded. “What about the wind and the waves?” Another Scout said, “They could be the temptations of Satan or trials in our lives.” It was easy then for the leader to point out that focusing on Christ can save us from temptation and guide us through our trials. He continued, “I noticed that when I used proper paddle technique and concentrated on strong strokes, the canoe moved faster and better through the wind and waves.” One of the Scouts observed, 18 February 2014 BSA – Utah National Parks Council “The proper technique and strong strokes could be like daily scripture study and prayer; they help us overcome temptations and progress spiritually.” As those Scouts headed home, they weren’t just thinking, “Wow that was fun!” or, “That was sure hard!” They were also pondering the importance of focusing on Jesus Christ and the necessity of daily personal prayer and scripture study. Canoeing provided a physical experience, and reflection enabled that experience to have spiritual meaning. There are four simple rules for good reflection: First, the reflection should be conducted during or immediately after the event. Do not hold an activity on Wednesday and reflect on Sunday. Second, reflection is best accomplished through open‐ended questions to which there are no right or wrong answers. Positive questions are asked first: “What was good about what happened today?” “What did the group do well?” Improvement is asked about: “What could we have done better?” “Were there any problems with what happened?” Reflection always includes the question, “What did we learn today?” Third, no putdowns are allowed. Every response is welcome and valid. The person conducting does not show verbal or nonverbal disapproval of a response or a person. Every member of the group shares his thoughts, and those who are less assertive or confident learn that their insights are valued. Fourth, end with a spiritual application. Reflection provides an opportunity to ponder the spiritual applications of temporal experience. Christ spoke in metaphors and symbols. Alma declared: “…all things denote there is a God; yea, even the
earth, and all things that are upon the face of it,…do witness that there is a Supreme Creator” (Alma
30:44).
The adult or youth conducting the reflection should seek to end with a spiritual application. The leader may need to ask, “How can we find spiritual meaning in this activity?” The youth will rise to the occasion. After an adult models how to do a reflection several times, young men should help conduct them. Keep In Mind… The young men are learning to be leaders, and they learn by observing as well as by instruction and practice. Help them become accustomed to conducting meetings with written agendas. Help them become familiar with all BSA provided resources. Take time to mentor the youth leader BEFORE they conduct meetings or activities so they are confident in what to say and do without looking to you for prompting. Help them learn to rely on the Spirit of the Lord. 18 February 2014 BSA – Utah National Parks Council Crew Meeting Agenda (pg. 44 of Venturing Leader Manual) March Focus: Religious Life Bronze Award Activity Description Call to Order Prayer Unfinished Business New Business— Upcoming Activities Discuss and Decisions Crew Activity Person In Charge Crew President Crew President Crew Members  Activity Ideas for applying principles from the “How do I help Activity Chair others receive the blessings of the Atonement?” Sunday lesson. 1. Religious Life Bronze Award Requirement 3a – see p. 33 of the Venturer Handbook: Plan and lead a service project such as helping to build a Habitat for Humanity house, participating in a community cleanup project, or taking on a fix‐up project for a nursing home or nursery. 2. Gold Award requirement, personal growth, item f. ‐ page 47 Venturer Handbook – Visit a nursing home, help write letters or read to patients or provide personalized service. It would be good if the service project was one where the crew
members targeted a group of people or an individual that could not
do the work that needs to be done by themselves—perhaps because
of some kind of physical or mental handicap.
Come, Follow Me Application—
Reflection Reflection Question Examples (Please see the 4 rules of reflection in the introduction page.) 1. Remember what we learned in Priesthood meeting on Sunday? Let young men reflect on what they learned last Sunday. 2. What did you learn from this activity? 3. How does service to others, particularly for those who could never have done it for themselves, relate to Christ's Atonement? Discuss how service is like being a "vicarious" or "proxy" substitute for those
who may not have power to do something themselves—our hands
and strength and effort substitute for theirs. Ask how that relates to
Christ's sacrifice for us—draw out the point that He did for us that
which we were powerless to do for ourselves. Duty to God—Is there a “learn, act, share” that should be included in this plan? Crew Advisor Minute Ideas (examples). Consider using personal experiences, scriptures, quotes, reflection Qs)  Talk about how going to the temple and doing proxy work

for the dead is more like Christ's great vicarious work for
us than any other—thus literally helping them receive all
of the blessings of the atonement. “I think that vicarious work for the dead more nearly 18 February 2014 BSA – Utah National Parks Council 
Prayer Date, Place, and Time of Next Meeting Closing and Refreshments approaches the vicarious sacrifice of the Savior Himself than any other work of which I know. It is given with love, without hope of compensation, or repayment or anything of the kind. What a glorious principle” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Jan. 1998, “Excerpts from Recent Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley”). "Then, in a spirit of love and consecration, we must extend ourselves in the work of redemption of the dead through service in the temples of the Lord. This service more nearly approaches the divine work of the Son of God, who gave his life for others, than does any other work of which I know” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, May 1983, "He Slumbers Not, nor Sleeps"). 18 February 2014 BSA – Utah National Parks Council Crew Meeting Agenda (pg. 44 of Venturing Leader Manual) March Focus: Ranger—Caving/Exploring Activity Description Call to Order Prayer Unfinished Business New Business— Upcoming Activities Discuss and Decisions Crew Activity  Activity Ideas for applying principles from the “What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ?” Sunday lesson. Ranger Award elective, Caving/Exploring, pp. 31‐33, Ranger Handbook. Requirement 8 or 9 requires using some “expert” to lead you into the unknown or teach you how to operate when you are in an environment that is new to you, such as a cave—hazards, etc. Come, Follow Me Reflection Question Examples (Please see the 4 rules of reflection in Application—
the introduction page.) Reflection 1. Remember what we learned in Priesthood meeting on Sunday? Let young men reflect on what they learned last Sunday. 2. What did you learn from this activity? 3. How is exploring and caving like exercising faith? When one explores or caves, do you always know exactly what is ahead of you? Reflection should draw out the idea that when one exercises faith, they act without necessarily seeing or knowing everything that may be coming their way. In caving and exploring we often must trust the maps and guidance of others—and believe in things that we cannot yet see for ourselves, but that we trust others have seen. Life, in a very real way, is an exploration that we have never done before. We trust the “expert”—God—by exercising faith in doing what He instructs us to do to make it through safely. Duty to God—Is there a “learn, act, share” that should be included in this plan? Crew Advisor Minute Ideas (examples). Consider using personal experiences, scriptures, quotes, reflection Qs) Point out that caves are naturally quite dark [perhaps during the outing it would be good to illustrate this by turning out all lights for a moment]. Ask the boys to think about how they felt in the complete darkness. Were you afraid to move? Tell them that sometimes faith requires us to take a step into what seems like darkness—often requiring real courage and trust—but then the light appears around our footsteps as we are willing to move forward. The lights we had in the cave never really illuminated the entire cave or the entire path we were going to walk—only a few steps in front of us. As we moved forward, Person In Charge Crew President Crew President Crew Members Activity Chair 18 February 2014 BSA – Utah National Parks Council Prayer Date, Place, and Time of Next Meeting Closing and Refreshments the light would illuminate the next few steps. This is how faith works—
we must move without necessarily seeing the entire path—light appears in front of us as we move forward. Point out that without Christ as our light, we would be left in utter darkness, unable to move. Our faith must be in Christ, because He provides the light. 18 February 2014 BSA – Utah National Parks Council Crew Meeting Agenda (pg. 44 of Venturing Leader Manual) March Focus: Ranger Mountaineering Elective Activity Description Call to Order Prayer Unfinished Business New Business— Upcoming Activities Discuss and Decisions Crew Activity  Activity Ideas for applying principles from the “What is Grace?” Sunday lesson. Venturing Ranger Award, Mountaineering Elective, Ranger Handbook, pp. 51‐52, requirement 8. This requirement is
Person In Charge Crew President Crew President Crew Members Activity Chair about learning to rappel and/or rock climb. The suggested
activities of rappelling down or climbing up would both be
appropriate. Come, Follow Me Application—
Reflection Reflection Question Examples (Please see the 4 rules of reflection in the introduction page.) 1. Remember what we learned in Priesthood meeting on Sunday? Let young men reflect on what they learned last Sunday. 2. What did you learn from this activity? 3. These particular activities probably involve having help from
a buddy, or using ropes, pulleys, etc. to assist in climbing.
Reflection should direct Venture Scouts towards what the
"enabling powers" are and how that relates to grace and
what it is. The discussion should try to bring out how when
certain powers are applied we can do much, much more than
we could if those powers had not been applied. Something as
simple as leverage can teach a great deal about grace—
enabling power. If the activity involves using anything that
enhances our powers—like ropes and pulleys, it can be
turned into a discussion on enabling power, and then grace. Duty to God—Is there a “learn, act, share” that should be included in this plan? Crew Advisor Minute Ideas (examples). Consider using personal experiences, scriptures, quotes, reflection Qs) Prayer Date, Place, and Time of Next Meeting Closing and Refreshments 18 February 2014 BSA – Utah National Parks Council Crew Meeting Agenda (pg. 44 of Venturing Leader Manual) March Focus: Service Activity Call to Order Prayer Unfinished Business New Business— Upcoming Activities Discuss and Decisions Crew Activity Description Person In Charge Crew President Crew President Crew Members  Activity Ideas for applying principles from the “What Is The Resurrection?” Sunday lesson. The activity should be one that will bring the crew into contact with
Activity Chair the impact that dying has on people—a children's hospital, veteran's
organization, etc. The activity might be a service project, which
meets any number of “service” type requirements for earning the
Ranger Award or other Venturing awards. Come, Follow Me Reflection Question Examples (Please see the 4 rules of reflection in Application—
the introduction page.) Reflection 1. Remember what we learned in Priesthood meeting on Sunday? Let young men reflect on what they learned last Sunday. 2. What did you learn from this activity? 3. What impact does dying have on the loved ones who are left behind? How does the hope of resurrection affect all of this? What do you suppose it means to those who have lost loved ones? Duty to God—Is there a “learn, act, share” that should be included in this plan? Crew Advisor Minute Ideas (examples). Consider using personal experiences, scriptures, quotes, reflection Qs)  Show the “Honorable Manhood” segment from the Civil War

Documentary by Ken Burns. It contains a letter written by a
soldier named Sullivan Ballou to his wife just before being
killed at the Battle of Bull Run set to some really moving
music and pictures. Read Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address. Focus on the
part that says, But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—
we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The
brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have
consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
The world will little note, nor long remember what we say
here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us
the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished
work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly
advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the
great task remaining before us—that from these honored
dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which
18 February 2014 BSA – Utah National Parks Council 

Prayer Date, Place, and Time of Next Meeting Closing and Refreshments they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here
highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. Abraham Lincoln's letter to a mother who lost five sons in the
war: “Dear Madam. I have been shown in the files of the
War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of
Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who
have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak
and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt
to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But
I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may
be found in the thanks of the republic they died to save. I
pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of
your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory
of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be
yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of
freedom” President Monson's account of visit to Flanders field in
France. “This past November I stood on a very old bridge
which spans the River Somme as it makes its steady but
unhurried way through the heartland of France. . . . I tried
to imagine what the River Somme looked [at the end of
WWI]. How many thousands of soldiers had crossed this
same bridge? Some came back. For others, the Somme was
truly a river of no return. For the battlefields of Vimy Ridge,
Armentieres, and Nueve Chappelle took a hideous toll of
human life. Acres of neat, white crosses serve as an
unforgettable reminder” (Thomas S. Monson, “Lost
Battalions,” Ensign, April 1971). 18 February 2014 BSA – Utah National Parks Council Crew Meeting Agenda (pg. 44 of Venturing Leader Manual) March Focus: Ranger First Aid Activity Description Call to Order Prayer Unfinished Business New Business— Upcoming Activities Discuss and Decisions Crew Activity  Activity Ideas for applying principles from the “What does it mean to repent?” Sunday lesson. Some First Aid activity that helps fulfill the core or elective requirements of the Venturing Ranger Award. See page 22 or 39 of the Ranger Handbook. Come, Follow Me Reflection Question Examples (Please see the 4 rules of reflection in Application—
the introduction page.) Reflection 1. Remember what we learned in Priesthood meeting on Sunday? Let young men reflect on what they learned last Sunday. 2. What did you learn from this activity? 3. How does first aid relate to repentance? Reflection should try to draw out the idea that repentance allows us to “fix” what is broken in our lives. Receiving first aid is like receiving the help of the Atonement—to heal, to change. When we make mistakes or sin it is like being injured. It requires treatment to heal. Repentance is a treatment to heal the effects of sin. It is our personal first aid kit. Duty to God—Is there a “learn, act, share” that should be included in this plan? Crew Advisor Minute Ideas (examples). Consider using personal experiences, scriptures, quotes, reflection Qs) Prayer Date, Place, and Time of Next Meeting Closing and Refreshments Person In Charge Crew President Crew President Crew Members Activity Chair 18 February 2014