WELCOME to the official LDS-BSA Blog! We’re excited to inaugurate this forum to share specific ideas, information, and inspiration for LDS-BSA leaders.
The Boy Scouts of America and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been chartered organization partners for over a century. Did you know that after nearly 40 years of partnership, in 1951, the “Mormon Relations” office was organized at the request of Elder Ezra Taft Benson? Other religious organizations already had professional representation on the National staff, and Elder Benson desired the same for the LDS Church.
In the early 90’s, the name was changed from “Mormon Relationships” to “LDS-BSA Relationships.” Our office, located in downtown Salt Lake City, is a satellite office of the National BSA Offices in Irving, Texas. We work directly with the Young Men and Primary general presidencies and boards in the LDS Church to facilitate Philmont Priesthood Leadership training, General Conference weekends for Scouting professionals, LDS-BSA Relationships committees, and other tasks.
The purpose of this blog is to assist LDS Scouting leaders across the country. With one hundred years of successful LDS Scouting behind us, we intend to move forward in this fast-paced world and provide leaders with specific tools for the next century. Our blog is also a forum to share Scouting success stories.
If you have an idea you’d like to share, or a story that needs to be told, please email us at ldsbsablog@scouting.org.
We look forward to many wonderful discussions!
Yours in Scouting,
Mark R. Francis
LDS-BSA Relationships Director
Fun Facts – See the list of Mormon Relations and LDS-BSA Relationships Directors below:
1950–1964 D. L. “Lou” Roberts
1964–1974 Folkman D. Brown
1974–ca. 1980 Ross J. Taylor
ca. 1980–1988 John Warnick
1988–1992 Robert M. Mills
1992–2001 K. Hart Bullock
2001–2006 C. Bradford Allen
2007–2012 David C. Pack
2012 C. Bradford Allen
2013–Present Mark R. Francis