Please note that I did not say that Wood Badge was a bad thing by any means. My point is that it, by necessity is a heavily watered down version of what ought to be known as the doctrine of the Priesthood, so eloquently summarized in the latter part of D&C 121.

That is the price one pays for radical ecumenicism – turning something that ought to be a religion, into nothing more than the propagation of shared values. I am a little cynical about the idea that one can make an arbitrary choice of values (a la much of the corporate world) and plug them into a little org. psych. engine and presto, lots of happy people working together in any cause you choose. Call it guilt by association.

That is not so say with a preference for revealed principles from the heavens, that this program cannot be used effectively in scouting leadership training, even train better priesthood leaders in many cases.

In retrospect maybe I should have said something to someone. But my jaw was still on the ground, and I’m not sure what I would have said or to whom. Whatever I said, it would have been too late to remedy the lack of public recognition to the performers at the performance itself, as at best it would have been after the prayer with the crowd rapidly dispersing.

Did you say anything to this member of the presidency (in private)? It’s possible that he did not know he was being rude and ungrateful. If you spoke with him regarding this incident I would have been more interested with his response to you. If you did not then shame on you (that is, unless you found his behavior appropriate). Relating this event, as is, is little more than petty sniping. I would have thought you, of all people, would have taken the time to offer a little advice to someone else who so obviously needed it.

I’m certain it was not Kevin’s intent for this thread to be hijacked into a bash scouting and Wood Badge thread. I’m actually sympathetic to the intent of his original post, and agree with the thrust of his point about the sometimes only mediocre esteem in which some Church members hold the fine arts, and our lack of appreciation for them.

But, I think you’ve gone off the reservation here with your Wood Badge bashing–and as a current Scouter and Wood Badger I am compelled to respond. So, Kevin, if you feel the need, go ahead and delete my comment–but please keep in mind why I made them.

Not to belabor the point let me just say, Mark, that your position on Scouting and Wood Badge is completely inconsistent with that of the Brethren and the General Young Men’s Presidency. I realize it’s probably not as exciting or “celestial” a topic as how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. But, it is one that the “Brethren” have spoken pretty clearly about, and one which they whole heartily support.

End of forced thread jack.

It exists because it is actively preached and enforced by a very influential senior apostle. Two years ago he visited our stake and before his visit the stake president received specific instructions about music. Hymns only, including prelude and postlude music.

The only person who has ever embarrassed her on a musical level is her untalented non-musical husband.

Thanks for this reminder to “think to thank” to those of us her are musically innept.