Regarding Activities that Require Long-Distance Travel

16 November 2014                 

                                                     

TO: All Bishoprics

RE: Activities that require long-distance travel

Dear Brethren,

It has come to our attention that some Young Men organizations want to schedule summer activities that may require long-distance travel.

While Handbook 2 (13.6.24, p.111) authorizes the bishop (or stake president) to make the final decision on this matter, we feel a need to address it as a stake presidency for several reasons:

·   The Handbook specifically discourages long-distance travel;

·   Long-distance travel creates major concerns, including overall cost, burden on families, safety, lodging, etc.;

·   Long-distance travel can cause an imbalance in youth activity expenditures thus perpetuating a perception of favoritism toward the Young Men.

It is also important to note that we do not decide our policy alone, but it must “be consistent among units in the same coordinating council” (see Handbook 2). In other words, all the stake presidents in our coordinating council must agree, with our Area Seventy’s approval, to allow long-distance travel.

While we encourage and support exciting and inspiring outdoor experiences for our youth, please take into consideration the above reasons and keep travel to a reasonable distance of our stake.

We are fortunate to live in an area that has an extraordinary number of facilities and venues to accommodate most any desired outdoor activity. Thank you for taking advantage of this unique opportunity and helping us abide by the directive of no long-distance travel.