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The Importance of Wood Badge Training
February 2007 Comments by
Charles W. Dahlquist, II
Young Men General President
It is vital that we, as Priesthood and Aaronic Priesthood/Young Men
leaders take training seriously. We are part of this great partnership with Boy Scouts of America
for very specific reasons: If we fully participate, our young men will
be blessed and better prepared for missions and for the blessings of the temple.
Part of the
participation is training – especially Wood Badge training.
If we are really intent
in touching the lives of our young men, in building, as Elder Ballard has challenged,"
the greatest generation of missionaries this world has ever seen...," then we will
do whatever is necessary to help us to accomplish that — including getting
trained. For most of us, Wood Badge is life-changing because it has to do more
with vision and understanding than anything else.
Just to be candid with you, I struggle with the goals of "1 per ward per year" or
"two per stake per year" or "3 1/2 per unit per two - three years..." And
even more ridiculous is the goal that a leader take Wood Badge within 1-2 years
after he has taken Basic Training. Statistics tell us that by that time,
90% of our leaders will be doing something else!
I suggest that it would be helpful to re-read D&C 128:19-22 and see just how
important training was to the Prophet Joseph. Granted, his training came from
beyond the veil. However, without it, he could not have accomplished what
he did.
Just because this is God's work, why do we think that we do not need to be trained
in that program which the Church has espoused for nearly 100 years as the "activity
arm of the Aaronic Priesthood?" And the reason why Scouting training is vital
is that, by and large, we do a very poor job in training the leaders we call to
Aaronic Priesthood/Young Men callings — and yet expect them to work miracles
in the lives of their young men. One of the great blessings of our
partnership with Scouting is the marvelous training that is provided.
The call is for every leader, including stake presidency members working with youth,
high councilors, stake Young Men presidents, Bishoprics, ward Young Men leaders
and Scouting leaders to be trained. By my count that is, at the least, 7-10
per ward and 50-75 per stake. I know companies that don't even allow a new
employee to step into the plant or office until he has received initial training.
They do that because they know that, without training, most individuals will be
ineffective in the job they were hired to do. And yet, we call leaders to
strengthen, motivate and prepare young men for missionary service and life in
general — without one iota of training.
In contrast to that, I know one bishop who has 17 Wood Badge trained leaders in
his ward. Imagine the strength of their youth program. I was in another
ward the other day — a new ward with little Scout tradition. I was
there because my grandson, now 11 years old, was getting his Second Class and First
Class badges. As I spoke with a member of the bishopric after the Court of
Honor, he indicated that their entire Scouting team — Bishopric, Young
Men presidency and Scouting leaders were heading to Wood Badge in October. I
can only imagine what a great blessing that will be to the boys those leaders
serve. INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT 1 FROM A WARD AND TWO FROM A
STAKE — WHY DON'T WE JUST COMMIT TO GET EVERY LEADER TRAINED, INCLUDING
FAST START, BASIC TRAINING AND WOOD BADGE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEY ARE CALLED.
Once a priesthood leader makes that type of an investment in the training of a
leader, he will be less likely to release him after 6 months of faithful
service — but will leave him in long enough to have a positive effect in
the life of a boy.
There is one other reason why training is important. In the BSA, we have
approximately 17% of the boys registered nationally. However, 50% of the
fatalities arising from activity-related accidents were in LDS sponsored units.
As we have evaluated each of these, there are three reasons for these accidents:
(1) lack of training (most didn't even know what the BSA "Guide to Safe Scouting"
was); (2) lack of tenure; and (3) lack of common sense.
One final thought and then I'll stop. With some exceptions, generally the
best Duty to God progress is made in those units that also have vibrant Scouting
programs. The lessons on achievement programs learned in Scouting are the
same that will make Duty to God effective. I seldom see a ward or stake that
has a vibrant, exciting, building Duty to God program, that does not also have a
great Scouting program.
Not long ago, I spoke with a ward YM leader who was excited about the Duty to God
program they had for their priests. "One week we have one mission president
come and talk to the boys about this subject, and the next week, we have a returned
missionary come and talk about that subject, ...etc." I asked, "Are they all
lecture/discussions in the Church building?" "Yes," was the answer.
"And do they constitute your full activity program for priests, except for the joint
activities?" Again the answer was "Yes." Then I asked, "And are your
priests excited about what you are doing?" After some reflection, this Young
Men president said, "You know, they really aren't. We are having a very hard
time getting them to attend." Had this leader been to Wood Badge, he would
have learned early that when you take "fun" out of youth programs — most
of the youth take themselves out as well. Scouting teaches us how to build
character and spiritual depth in our young men, and how to help them become involved
in service and making a difference in the lives of others — while they are
having fun. I, personally, am grateful for the effect of my own personal
attendance at Wood Badge at Camp Maple Dell 23 years ago. I may not remember how
to make a woggle, but I can still recall my feelings experienced during the
training — it was life changing for me.
Thanks for all you do to strengthen the programs of the Aaronic Priesthood within
your area. I had not intended to be so long-winded, but have strong
feelings — as if you couldn't tell.
Best wishes,
Charles Dahlquist
Charles W. Dahlquist, II
Young Men General President