Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was appointed as a member of the Boy Scouts of America National Executive Board during the BSA’s National Annual Meeting on May 20, 2015.
Holland is the fourth member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to receive this appointment. President Thomas S. Monson was appointed in 1969 and is the longest-standing member of the National Executive Board, holding a lifetime status as a board member.
On May 22, 2015 the BSA National Annual Meeting was held, with approximately 225 LDS Church Scouting leaders in attendance. The leaders represented BSA local councils, areas, and regions across the nation. Holland addressed the audience at the special reception held for the Boy Scouts of America. According to Deseret News Holland shared what’s unique about the scouting program by saying,
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. The Scout Law is a pretty impressive description of what a religious life ought to be.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us. We need to pray,” Holland continued. “We are at a difficult moment in the nation’s history where wonderful institutions like the BSA, will need to be brave, clean and reverent. We’re going to need God’s help, but we’ll have it. The BSA will need God’s help, but they’re entitled to it. Church leaders need God’s help and we’ll have it.”
Holland concluded his remarks by saying, “I’m eternally optimistic. For me the glass isn’t just half full, it’s flowing over the top. A Scout is cheerful. These are sobering moments but we’ll work our way through whatever difficulties come. Good will prevail; truth will triumph and bless the lives of young men in generations to come.”
