Under the direction of President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, some 5,000 LDS Scouts and their leaders rose to their feet together and silently delivered the Scout salute.
It was a unifying gesture for those gathered July 31 for a special, open-air sacrament meeting at the National Scout Jamboree in Ft. A.P. Hill, Va. A gesture of tribute, mourning and healing.
Days earlier, LDS Scoutmaster Michael La-Croix and three of Brother LaCroix's fellow Alaskan Scout leaders were killed in an electrical accident while setting up a large tent for the Jamboree. A second Alaskan Church member, Larry Call, was injured but was able to remain at the encampment following a night in the hospital. (Please see Church News, July 30.)
The tragedy made for a bittersweet Jamboree for the thousands of Church members participating in the national event. President Monson — a longtime champion of youth and the longest-tenured member of Scouting's National Executive Board — shared words of comfort, encouragement and counsel to Scouts and Scouters hungry for spiritual sustenance. He was joined on the program by Young Men General President Charles W. Dahlquist.
"It was a very healing and comforting meeting — to have the sacrament and listen to President Monson and President Dahlquist," said Dean R. Burgess, first counselor in the Young Men general presidency.
The sacrament meeting was held in a natural, grass-covered bowl that included a patch of land where the July 25 accident occurred. A small picket fence framed the accident site and the area was decorated with flowers brought to the Jamboree from Alaska.
Speaking of the fallen Scout leaders, President Monson reminded the thousands participating in the meeting that men who serve boys, in effect, serve God. He enlisted the hopeful words found in Alma 40: 11-12: "Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection — Behold it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from the mortal body . . . are taken home to that God who gave them life. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness . . . ."
President Monson then spoke of the lasting influence a dedicated, enthusiastic leader can have in a Scout's life. He cited the experience of a long-time juvenile court judge from Utah who reported that 96 percent of the boys who had appeared before his bench had not participated in Scouting.
"Who touches a boy by the Master's Hand," said President Monson, reciting a poem,
"Is shaping the course of a future man,
"Is dealing with one who is human seed,
"And may be the man whom the world will need."
President Monson then turned his attention to the Scouts — offering direction from several time-tested Scouting principles such as tenacity, honesty, service, and the global brotherhood of Scouting.
Tenacity
President Monson recalled playing in a youth, fast-pitch softball game. He wasn't his team's star and found himself relegated "to the deep pocket of right field." The contest was at a decisive moment when an opposing batter hit a mighty drive in young Tom Monson's direction. He raced toward the falling ball, uttered a silent prayer and, to his surprise, snatched the fly ball from the air. His team won the game.
"This one experience bolstered my confidence, inspired my desire to practice, and led me from that last-to-be-chosen place to become a real contributor to the team," President Monson said. "We can experience that burst of confidence. We can feel that pride of performance. A three-word formula will help us: Never Give Up."
Honesty
Citing a story from Boy's Life magazine, President Monson shared the experience of a junior high student named Bobby who was intent on setting a school record in a rope climbing contest. For several years, Bobby trained and trained until the day of the rope climbing contest arrived. After first tying the record, Bobby scurried up the rope for his second attempt. His time was a tenth of a second faster than the record mark. But when the coach asked Bobby if he had made the required touch of the board at the top of the rope, the honest boy shook his head negatively.
"In this simple gesture, I witnessed a moment of greatness," the coach recalled.
On his final attempt, Bobby hustled up the rope and touched the board for an official school and city record. That day, Bobby indeed climbed high.
Service
President Monson spoke of a 1980 food drive, for distribution to the hungry, dubbed "Scouting for Food." Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Explorers worked together to collect more than 60 million cans of food. "This was the largest collection of foodstuffs ever undertaken in the United States," President Monson said.
Brotherhood of Scouting
The unity that exists among Scouters stretches across time and space. President Monson spoke of a Wood Badge training course in California where Scout leaders gathered together. At the conclusion of the rugged camp, the leaders were treated to a meal prepared by a professional chef — a native of Greece named Dimitrious.
Dimitrious' young life was forever changed by the horrors of World War II. His small village, said President Monson, was occupied by the Nazis. The freedom-loving men of the village would engage in acts of sabotage to demonstrate their resentment of the occupation.
President Monson recalled that the Nazis' patience for the saboteurs reached its limit when a hydroelectric dam was destroyed. An order was issued to execute every fifth man or boy from Dimitrious' village. As young Dimitrious and his fellow males lined-up, it was evident Dimitrious would be designated for execution because of his place in the row. A Nazi soldier stood before Dimitrious and noticed the boy was wearing a belt buckle that carried the Scout insignia. The soldier pointed at the belt buckle, raised his right hand in the Scout sign and spoke three words. "Run, boy, run!"
Dimitrious' life was spared thanks to the lasting, worldwide brotherhood forged from Scouting.
"That night in California, a much older Dimitrious reached into his pocked and produced that same belt buckle," President Monson said. "The emblem of Scouting still shone brightly. Not a word was spoken. Every man wept. A commitment to Scouting was renewed."
President Monson concluded by saying that the principles and skills learned from Scouting can help prepare young men for successful full-time missions. To illustrate his point, the Church leader shared some advice written by his grandson Alan Dibb to his younger brother, Mark Dibb, when Mark received his Eagle Scout Award.
"The Scout Program," wrote Alan, "is the single greatest thing that has helped me prepare for and serve my mission."
Scouting, added Alan, is more than learning to build a fire. "You learn things that will help you for the rest of your life."
Both Alan Dibb, a graduate student at Duke University, and his youngest brother, Jeffrey, a Scout, attended the sacrament meeting presided over by their grandfather.
In his remarks, Brother Dahlquist promised the LDS Scouts that God answers prayers and offers peace in hours of need.
He challenged the Scouts to be like Samuel, who answered the Lord's thrice-repeated call.
"We need young men who, when the voice of God calls them to service, are prepared and willing to serve and who are worthy of sweet whisperings of the Spirit," Brother Dahlquist said. "We need young men who have a testimony that God lives, and who have faith in Him sufficient to work miracles in the lives of those they teach in the mission field."
In a special testimony, Larry Call of Alaska spoke of his ordeal and expressed his gratitude for his Scout son, Kendell, who saved Brother Call's life when he pulled his father from the electrically charged tent pole. (Kendell Call would later receive Scouting's highest award for heroism for his actions at the Jamboree.) Brother Call also spoke of his firm faith in his Heavenly Father.
Music at the Jamboree sacrament meeting was provided by a 400-voice Aaronic Priesthood/Scout Jamboree chorus. The chorus, under the direction of Jamboree Chaplain Arlo Luke , sang "I am a Mormon Boy," and "Joseph Smith's First Prayer." A special musical selection, "The Mighty Priesthood of God," was presented by eight Scouts from Mesa, Ariz.
"I had such a great spiritual experience (at the sacrament meeting)," said Curtis Bevan, an assistant Scoutmaster from the Valley View 9th Ward, Salt Lake Holladay North Stake. "It brought tears to my eyes singing the songs and being part of the meeting."