President Thomas S. Monson encouraged LDS Scout leaders who gathered for the Boy Scouts of America's annual national meeting May 27 to perform the pivotal work of building boys by enlisting learning, love and service. Meanwhile, two Church members were awarded Scouting's highest commendation at the annual function, held this year in Grapevine, Texas.
Former Primary General President Coleen K. Menlove and Richard M. Miller, a dentist and longtime Scout leader from Virginia, were presented with the 2005 Silver Buffalo Award for distinguished service to youth. (See related article on page 12.)
Sister Menlove and Brother Miller were added to the distinguished list of Church members who have received the honor, including Church presidents George Albert Smith, Heber J. Grant, David O. McKay, Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson and Gordon B. Hinckley, along with President Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency.
Three other Church members — Brent J. Christensen, Donald E. Ellison and Sydney S. Reynolds — were presented the Silver Antelope Award, a regional Scouting honor, during the Texas event.
In his address, President Monson reflected on the message printed on a Christmas card he once received from National Scout Headquarters: "The greatest gift a boy can have is the knowledge that a man cares enough to share a part of his life with him."
President Monson, who holds the Silver Beaver and Silver Buffalo awards, as well as the Bronze Wolf, international Scouting's highest recognition, is the longest-serving member of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America.
He recalled that the late Elder Mark E. Petersen of the Quorum of the Twelve made a statement about how Scouting makes boys better Latter-day Saints, and that when leaders are building Scouting in boys, they are building the work of God and helping establish the Lord's kingdom on earth.
"May we ever help to build the boys of America and the world," President Monson said. He noted that some of the LDS leaders in Scouting are renowned as physicians, attorneys, educators, or are talented in the trades, or engaged in sales, business, engineering and a host of other professions. "In reality, each of us is also engaged in the building trade," he said. "Our product: 'the building of boys.'
"Among you are skilled journeymen, even master craftsmen with many years of service and experience in the Scouting program. Others are just beginning an apprenticeship in this vital effort. All are needed. Where there is one person who is willing and able to build a boy, there are many more who, through greed, selfishness and lust for power, lurk in the shadows of gloom, away from the light of truth, to tear down a boy and destroy a life. I speak of those who peddle pornography, who belittle morality, who violate the law and for filthy lucre sell a boy those products that destroy. There are those who put sin on a pedestal, who conceal truth, who glamorize error, who look upon a boy as a commodity for exploitation.
"The 'get-rich-quick' theories, the philosophy of something for nothing, confusion of proper goals and objectives, have all combined to make our building task more difficult.
"My fellow builders, this is our duty, our responsibility, our opportunity: to guide, to inspire, to build our boys."
President Monson said that the Master Teacher, "the best Builder of all, the Savior Jesus Christ," gave the formula: "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it" (Matthew 10:39).
Further, President Monson said, "May I suggest for each of us builders of boys a Scouter's Standard, even a performance pledge:
"I will learn.
"I will love.
"I will serve."
He then declared: "Of vital importance to our success is learning to win the confidence and respect of the very boys we seek to build. To do this, love is required. You who love and guide our precious youth may never open gates of cities or doors to palaces, but your success will come as you gain entrance to the heart of a boy.
"Fellow builders, now that we have pledged to learn and to love, let us determine to serve.
"First, serve willingly.
"Second, serve faithfully.
"Third, serve prayerfully."
In conclusion, he added: "You builders of boys can be partners with God in bringing to pass His work and His glory — the immortality and eternal life of man. By honoring your pledge to learn, to love and to serve, you indeed will be successful in the great cause of Scouting, which is the activity arm of the Aaronic Priesthood: to build better boys today for a brighter future tomorrow."
Here are highlights of Church members who received awards at the meeting in Texas:
A former member of Scouting's National Advisory Council and the National Cub Scout Committee, Sister Menlove was honored for her "tremendous love for children" that fuels her service for young people.
During her recent tenure as Primary's general president, Sister Menlove was responsible for more than 10,000 Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops. A former Den Mother, Sister Menlove is the mother of five Eagle Scout sons and two daughters and has been involved in community projects promoting community problem-solving experiences for children.
"Encouraging and supporting Scouts to achieve excellence through Scouting has become a family tradition for the Menloves," according to the BSA.
Brother Miller has served Scouting on many levels, from Boy Scouts to Venturing to leader training.
A section adviser for the Order of the Arrow, Brother Miller is the former president of Virginia's Stonewall Jackson Council. He has assisted in many Scout jamborees and will serve as the Venturing chairman for the upcoming 2005 National Scout Jamboree. Brother Miller has also been instrumental in the training of fellow Scout leaders.
"Dr. Miller's influence has touched countless Scouts and Scouters through BSA training and reference manuals," according to the BSA.
Brother Miller has served in a bishopric and on a stake high council and has coached high school volleyball on a championship level.
Brother Christensen has been involved in Scouting for more than 35 years. Besides helping scores of young men earn their Eagle rank, Brother Christensen has served as a council commissioner in Utah's Trapper Trails Council and has been involved in the Wood Badge training program at various levels.
Brother Ellison has been an advocate and servant of Scouting throughout the Northeast Region. Among his many Scouting assignments, he has represented the Church in the Regional Relationships Committee and has served on the National Financial Service Staff at three National Order of the Arrow Conferences.
A mother of eight boys — all Eagles Scouts — (and three girls) Sister Reynolds served as Sister Menlove's first counselor in the Primary General Presidency. Sister Reynolds has served as a Den Mother and on the BSA National Advisory Council. She will soon be joining her husband, Noel Reynolds, in the Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission, where Brother Reynolds has been called to preside.
