Documenting the bumpy history between BSA and LDS
 

Interesting find. Sounds like calls for scoutings demise in the LDS church are nothing new. I find it interesting that the whole reason the church adopted scouting is because the boys essentially demanded it.

Scouting's biggest problem right now (aside from small troop size and poor leadership in the LDS church) is that it's simply not popular like it used to be. It's not cool. The military culture it was modeled after has faded from favor with boys.

Scouting can still remain relevant, but it must change. Getting rid of uniforms is a good start. Moving it more towards the varsity model (which was developed specifically for the LDS church anyway) may be beneficial as well.

The outdoor program may have to be tweaked or scaled back a bit simply because camping isn't as popular as it was, and to make room for more "modern" stuff. However, I still think the outdoors is a vital part of scouting. If anything, it's more important than ever because the population at large is so disconnected from the land.

Scouting was not based on the military model, but the nature clubs that sprouted up in the latter 19th century and early 20th century in Europe.

Scouting tried to "modernize" by deemphasizing the outdoors in the 60s and 70s in order to appeal to urban, inner-city youth. It was a miserable failure. Scouting should not try to be what it's not.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scouting

Scouting not based on the military? Where do you think the very name "Scout" comes from?

Baden Powell modeled the whole thing after the military....uniforms, ranks, achievements, badges, and closeted homosexuality.