This week in Church history
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
50 years ago
The age at which boys could join Church chartered Boy Scout troops was lowered from 12 to 11 years old, it was announced by the First Presidency and reported in the Feb. 26, 1950, Church News.
The announcement was released by President David O. McKay, second counselor to President George Albert Smith.
The Church News article said: "The change in the age for Scout is effective immediately when approved by the local Boy Scout Council, MIA General Superintendent Elbert R. Curtis said. Wards must first secure the approval of their council before they make the change, he stressed."
It continued that the 11-year-old Scouts would not meet with troops in evening sessions of the Mutual Improvement Association, "but instead will receive their Scouting at a time to be determined jointly by the bishop of the ward and the ward MIA superintendency — Saturday mornings or afternoons, or other weekday time other than during the Primary Association hour."
The 11-year-olds were to be trained primarily by an assistant Scoutmaster, junior assistant Scoutmaster, and older Scouts and Explorers.
