SATTAHIP, Thailand — The World Scout Movement's 20th World Scout Jamboree began in an atmosphere of harmony with a huge arena show attended by approximately 23,360 Scouts and 10,000 adults from more than 100 countries.
The 11-day event was held in an open field about 110 miles southeast of Bangkok from Dec. 28-Jan. 7. Leaders there were Maha Vajiralongkorn, the Crown Prince of Thailand, who delivered a formal welcome, and Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf, honorary chairman of the World Scout Foundation since 1977.
Among those attending were an estimated 60 LDS Scouts from such countries as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, South Africa, Japan and Thailand, along with various leaders and volunteers.
There from the Church to welcome them was Elder F. Melvin Hammond of the Seventy, Young Men general president, who presided and spoke at a sacrament meeting and at a special New Year's fireside, attended by about 80 boys. One LDS Scout brought 10 of his friends from the troop.
In his remarks, Elder Hammond spoke of the brotherhood of Scouting and in the priesthood. He encouraged all to work for the Duty to God Award and to prepare for missions. He also bore his testimony.
Elder Hammond also visited the Church's display, located in a tent in Prayer Valley, a site set apart for displays of 11 of the world's great religions. The Church's display, located between the Catholic and Protestant tents, in English and Thai, depicted themes of Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and President Gordon B. Hinckley. The family was also emphasized.
The more than 3,000 Scouts who visited were asked to remember two principles about the Church: First, as Christians, Latter-day Saints worship Christ, and second, that Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration, and that the Church has a living prophet today.
Scouts were given an LDS patch, a coin from the 2001 AP Hill Jamboree, an Articles of Faith card in their own language and an ice cream treat. Each boy also received a stamp of either the Angel Moroni or the Salt Lake Temple in his or her Jamboree booklet.
Ten missionaries from the Thailand Bangkok Mission under President Martin R. Slater were rotated in and out each day. Their gift of speaking Thai proved to be very useful, as most of the visitors were Thai.
Volunteers at the Church's display spoke Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Korean and Thai — all of which were helpful for those youth who spoke only their native tongue.
At Church services on the final Sunday, about 60 people attended from Canada, South Africa, United States, Indonesia, Japan and Thailand. Speakers at the Church meetings included Joel Wiest, LDS display coordinator; Jon Lanenga, BSA national staff; and Craig Rust of the International Service Team staff.
Thailand had the largest contingent at the Jamboree with approximately 7,500 Scouts; Great Britain was second with about 3,000 youth. The U.S. Scout contingent numbered about 600. The International Service Team, with about 7,000 adult volunteers whose campsite overlooked a beautiful beach, ran activities that Scouts participated in during the jamboree.
In the evenings, various countries presented cultural events, including dancing. Several of them invited Scouts from all countries to come up on the stage and dance. Many were spontaneous. The Americans and some other nationalities demonstrated aerobic activities following a Thai presentation of kick boxing.
