LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The greatest gift a man can give a boy is a willingness to share part of his life with him. Such is the spirit of Scouting.
That was one of many rich messages President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, shared Oct. 14 with more than 5,000 Las Vegas-area Scouts, friends and their leaders.
The circumstances and surroundings of President Monson's visit made for a memorable morning. For starters, the event was held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway — a massive outdoor sports venue generally used for high-profile stock car races. Then there was the weather. Las Vegas is, of course, a dry, desert city where months sometimes separate rainfall. But on the morning of what would become the city's largest-ever Boy Scouts gathering, buckets of rain fell, and flash flood warnings were in effect.
The elements might have slowed Las Vegas for a few hours, but by the time a group of uniformed Boy Scouts presented the colors to open the historic meeting the rain had disappeared and the late-morning sun was punching holes through gray storm clouds.
President Monson is at home in front of Boy Scouts. He is one of Scouting's most supportive and tenured friends. For almost four decades he has served on the organization's National Executive Board and is a recipient of the Silver Buffalo and the Bronze Wolf, Scouting's highest national and international award, respectively.
"How many boys have had their lives blessed — even saved — by Scouting?" President Monson asked. "It's impossible to guess just how many."
By enlisting the values taught by the Scout Oath and Law, Scouting has helped boys and men become "monuments to patience, to understanding, to effort, to kindness, to service, and to love," President Monson said.
The Church leader added that when those same values become a blueprint that overlays and undergirds the members of the American family, "hope will conquer despair, and faith will triumph over doubt. Such values, when learned and lived in our families, will be as welcome rain to a parched soil."
President Monson said boys of Scout age have seen greater strides into the mysteries of science than have others throughout all of history.
"This is not the age of small goals, mediocre accomplishment or shallow thought," he said. "We must think big. Don't restrict your thinking to today's problems. Plan for tomorrow's opportunities. Get clearly in mind your purpose in life. You are only limited by your thoughts and personal determination to convert these thoughts to realities.
"Scouting will help."
President Monson then spoke of several events that demonstrate the lifesaving lessons of Scouting.
While a young man, President Monson enrolled in a swimming class at the University of Utah taught by Charlie Welch, a legendary coach who trained countless boys how to swim and successfully earn the Life Saving merit badge. Tom Monson was in attendance the day Charlie's swim class was interrupted by a young man in a Navy uniform. World War II was still raging and the sailor had something to say.
President Monson quoted the sailor's words to his old swimming instructor: "I want to thank you for saving my life. You once told me that I swam like a lead ball, yet you patiently taught me to swim. Two months ago, far off in the Pacific, an enemy torpedo sank my destroyer. As I swam my way through the murky waters and foul-tasting, dangerous film of oil, I said to myself, 'If I ever get out of this mess alive, I'm going back to Salt Lake City to thank Charlie Welch for teaching me the skill of swimming."'
President Monson said he and the other young men in Charlie's class were too proud to cry openly. "But there wasn't a dry eye in that gym that day, and I saw great tears well up in the eyes of Charlie Welch and then tumble down his cheeks and fall upon his old gray sweatshirt....We were grateful that Charlie saved a life."
Decades later, a Scouting skill saved another life — from President Monson's own family. His nephew's son, 11-year-old Craig Dearden, had completed the requirements of Scouting's swimming award and received his badge at a Court of Honor. Later that day, Craig spotted a dark object at the deep end of the swimming pool of the motel where the Deardens were staying. Without fear, Craig plunged into the water and brought to the surface his own little brother, Scott Dearden. Recalling the life-saving procedures he had learned and practiced, Craig and others responded in the true tradition of Scouting. Suddenly there was a cry, breathing, movement and life.
"Is Scouting relevant?" President Monson asked. "Ask a mother, ask a father, ask a family who know a Scouting skill saved a son."
President Monson also spoke of the service opportunities Scouting provides young men and their leaders. Several years ago, he presented the Eagle Badge to a Scout named Samuel Barnes. Life has not been easy for Samuel. He has battled Crohn's Disease and spent much of his life in hospitals. "But that boy did not let that get him down."
Eager to serve others — particularly those who also suffered with illness — Samuel decided to build a train track and village for his doctor's office at Primary Children's Medical Center. The job would satisfy Samuel's required Eagle project and bring pleasure and diversion to the many sick children waiting in the office lobby to see their doctors. They could watch the merry train wind through the decorative village and forget, for a moment, about their troubles. The train village project became a community effort, and countless hours were spent fund-raising and building the festive village and track.
President Monson spoke of others who had faced physical challenges, yet chose to move forward with a Scout-like spirit, blessing the lives of others.
"Don't let handicaps hold you back," he said. "Let them help you press forward."
The Church leader said he enjoyed the sort of childhood experienced by Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. He spoke of the fun and adventures realized while vacationing at the family cabin in Provo Canyon. There he swam in the Provo River and learned lessons that would remain with him for a lifetime. On one occasion, young Tom Monson — who was about 12 or 14 at the time — was floating down the river in a large inner tube. Suddenly, he heard voices of panic as he was approaching a deep and potentially treacherous swimming hole. "Save her, save her!" screamed several people huddled along the side of the river.
The people belonged to a large group of Greeks who had been enjoying an outing near the river. A teenage girl from their party had been wading in a shallow segment of the river and had unknowingly stepped into the 18-foot deep swimming hole. She, like those who called from the riverside, did not know how to swim.
President Monson said as he was floating through the rapids a head bobbed up in front of him. It was the drowning girl. He snatched the girl by the hair, pulled her up across the inner tube, maneuvered across the whirling water and delivered the gasping, crying girl safely to the shore. The girl's grateful relatives and friends — both women and men — began kissing her rescuer. The embarrassed young Tom made a quick exit.
President Monson said he initially did not think much of that unexpected yet fortunate encounter with the girl. "But later in life, I began to think: no fishermen, no swimmers, no help for a drowning girl but a little boy floating on a tube. It wasn't a coincidence that the little boy knew how to swim and that he arrived just before a girl was going down for the third time."
He added, "I know of very few coincidences in my life. I thank God for His guiding influence and I recognize and acknowledge Him."
President Monson has witnessed many ways lives have been blessed by boys and men who have been committed to Scouting and its virtues.
"As for me, I'm going to continue to build the lives of boys that they may become men of stature — and that they too may walk the Scouting trail," he said. "It's a good trail. It's uphill, but you never can regret following the Scout Oath and the Scout Law."
Those who lead Scouts will have opportunities to change lives.
"Take a boy by the hand and show him the way," President Monson counseled. "Keep him on that straight and narrow pathway. I testify to you that your reward will be eternal in nature, for there was one named Jesus who took men by the hand and showed them their opportunities so that they might become more like Him."
In closing, President Monson invoked an apostolic blessing upon his audience "that you may have joy in your lives. That you may have peace within your homes. That you may remember that great Scouter, for He, too, obeyed the Scout law, His Heavenly Father's law."
Las Vegas Nevada Highland Hills Stake President Todd Moody spoke of Scouting's rich Las Vegas history and the pivotal role wise Scouting and Aaronic priesthood leaders played in his own life. As a boy, President Moody faced many family challenges at home. Thanks to a few dedicated mentors, he was shown a better life path.
There are young men "who need heroes close by today, much as I did then," he said.
Phil Bevins, a Scout executive for the Las Vegas Area Council, reminded those at the event that Scouting isn't defined by merit badges and building fires without matches.
"What Scouting is about is preparing young people to have the confidence, to have the moral compass, to do what's right," Mr. Bevins said.
E-mail to: jswensen@desnews.com
