Mormon church severing all ties with Boy Scouts, ending long bond

The Mormon church will completely sever ties with the Boy Scouts of America at the end of next year. The religion will move its remaining boys into its own scouting-type program.

The announcement Tuesday night by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Boy Scouts marks an end to close relationship that lasted more than a century built on their shared values.

The exit by Mormon leaders comes after Boy Scouts decided in 2015 to allow gay troop leaders and announced last year it would allow girls in the ranks.

The Boy Scouts last week said it will change its name next year to Scouts BSA.

“It was a shock,” said Clarke Farrer, Scout Executive of the Grand Teton Council. “It was as shock to me I think a lot of people suspected that the LDS church and the BSA might be parting company at some point. I don’t know if anyone expected it to be, I certainly didn’t, as soon as a year and in a half.”

Scout leaders say they don’t anticipate a big change in numbers locally, until the ties are cut.

The religion has long been the biggest sponsor of Boy Scout troops in the United States.