We are in favor of the separation of Church and Scout for the following reasons:

1. Family time is sacred, and also scarce. Many families are over-scheduled with too many activities and participation in weekly Scouting meetings is a strain. For some, Scouting fails the "good, better, best" test and they want to spend their limited time and resources elsewhere.

2. Separation would benefit the LDS-Scouting troops. Just as members who clean their own building have a greater sense of respect for their meeting houses, members who made the effort to register and pay for their boys would be more involved in and have greater appreciation for Scouting.

3. We love our daughters and our sons and strive to show them that love equally and fully. The current LDS Scouting arrangement teaches the daughter that her church (as an institution), her parents, and the families in her ward value her brother more than her. They say he is more important by spending more money on Cub Scouts than its female counterpart, meeting for Cub Scouts twice as often, and holding community recognition meetings for the boys but not the girls. 

When Scouting is done right it can be great, but by making it obligatory and marrying it to the Church, Mormons are doing Scouting wrong. The compulsion of the experience cankers the entire endeavor for boys, parents, and leaders. Scouting is designed to be led by volunteers, not voluntolds.

The Church is currently evaluating it's relationship with Scouting (see: http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/church-re-evaluating-scouting-program) and we believe it would be beneficial for Church leaders to be aware of how many members desire a separation of Church and Scout.

Separation of Church and Scout could have the following positive effects:

*LDS Scouting troops would be led by people who were invested in and enthusiastic about the program.

*There would be a simplification and reduction of costs and stress at the ward level. Scouting callings are often difficult to fill.

*Families who were over-scheduled would have fewer commitments and more time together.

*Those who did not want to participate in Scouting would not feel forced to do so. This would lessen feelings of resentment towards the BSA.

*The Church could have the opportunity to change their Scouting policy to be more equitable. If they wanted to offer reimbursement for the registration costs to families who couldn't afford Scouting, and could offer this for both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.