Boy,
Do we need Scouting
Keynote
Address
Brandon
Hamblin, Grant Grismore Eagle Court of Honor September 29 2005
I
recall an advertisement on TV some years back where a group of young hoodlums
where beating the snot out of a poor hapless fellow – other than the sounds of
scuffle and the pained gasps of the victim, nothing was said during the
mugging. Then slowly, as the gang ran off, the camera pans out with the man
slumping to the ground. The expanded view reveals a billboard above the
chain-link fence promoting Scouting. A voice breaks in and intones simply, “Boy
Do we need Scouting!”
We live in a world adrift tossed to and fro by every
wind of doctrine. We, the faithful,
survive amongst a nation and world turned to fables - led by a compass spun
about by the uncertain winds of popular opinions rather than the true and
abiding light of the one true God. The Scout badge embodies the search for
and guidance of a certain star – Two stars for an eagle’s crown
symbolize a certain truth proceeding only from a light above. At night Scouts gather close when deep amber
warms body and soul not detracting but embracing the canopy of our Lord’s
heavens above. Like the mariners unerring stars, Scouts learn it is His light
of certain truth the people must seek.
Anciently,
in Egypt and Babylon, to slake their lusts, people made obeisance to animal
gods fashioned of stone and even tore the suckling child from their mother’s
arms to be burnt of Baal. Has man
changed so much in all these years or have the heathens of today again turned
their worship of God to make idols of His creations; to adore and safe their
cats and dogs, seals and porpoises more than even their own offspring whom they
sacrifice on surgical alters behind closed doors. Have we indeed changed so
much from that fateful day when Lot led his family forth from Sodom?
Do
we look with longing, like Lot’s hapless wife Sarah, to blend with the world
until, like a chameleon, we cannot be distinguished there from or will
we walk boldly forth with message and purpose and stand distinctly, even
stridently for something? I’m here to tell you ... Boy Scouts stands for
something and real Scouts stand out and lead.
They will be the “bulwark of righteousness” the Prophet Joseph spoke
of. Joseph Smith surely prophesied of
our day and was recorded in one journal to say, "Even this nation will be
on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground; and when
the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people will be the staff upon
which the nation shall lean; and they shall bear the constitution away from the
very verge of destruction.”
Indeed, the same process
that brings a boy to the rank of Eagle, builds the spiritual basis for a
lifelong devotion to God. Scouting is
the very embodiment of priesthood principles. It is the Saviors guidelines to
life condensed to a few phases that the boys can memorize. It is the Zion’s Camp for refining the Lords
youth.
I
wish to share a few of our journeys together where boys became these men and
saints.
As
a young Scout leader I met one Kendal Gilbert. He was a strapping, but quiet
young man who only occasionally came to Varsity Scouts; he seemed distrustful
and jaded. I promised him adventure - we would not cancel out – so he came. I
soon asked the group to accept him as Captain and on one afternoon he led his
team up a 10,000-foot peak near Yosemite. Problem was we had a couple of more
heavyset youth that while able, could not hold the strident pace. Kendal advanced
well above his team and his team began to loose heart. I had the rest of the
team rest and I whistled Kendal to hold up. We talked about the Saviors love
for each of us with our several abilities and how he gives us opportunities to
in turn reach out in care for others, not out of pity, but out of the flowering
of genuine God like love for a brother. We held up there a bit as the rest of
the crew caught up and proceeded happily together without further discussion.
About a year later, I recorded this journal entry
from a 50 mile backpacking trip In the Sierras Emigrant Wilderness “4:30AM came way
too quick as a few of the brothers rustled up a hardy breakfast. With so much goings on and only 2 hours
sleep, I was unable to eat but 1 hot cake before heading out to assist in the
loading of gear. Somehow I shouldered
the pack, but I was absolutely dead to the world from lack of sleep and little
food. With tent poles and climbing gear, my pack was over 60 lbs and I only
weighed in at 135. All the lifesavers I could suck on could only sustain the
climb for more than about a half-mile.
To their credit and my gratitude, without being asked, Kendal, Matt, and
Steve redistributed my load amongst themselves and quite lightened, I was able
to make good progress with my entourage of young bucks. This was the 1st
time I ever had to look to the next generation for support. I did so with warm
feelings for my young charges as the rallied to my case. At around 11am, quite famished, I persuaded
the group to an early lunch at Camp Lake. Trail mix never tasted so good” I learned about Brotherhood alongside Kendal Gilbert
Kendal
tracked me down to my new home in Fall City some years later just before
departing on a Church Mission and recounted how some of these Scout experiences
had changed his life and taught him how to see and even feel the guiding light
of Christ.
I
am reminded of lessons in bravery taught to me by one Aaron Fuller. Now Aaron
and I share something in common in our respective pasts; we were both unreasonably
fearful of heights; it’s called acrophobia.
Wanting to overcome this I took a challenge some years ago to learn rock
climbing. So, when I met Aaron and began training his team for an upcoming
climb and rappel, I was in a position to understand. He was petrified to climb
even a few feet, yet we climbed that ladder together to the top of this
sealing. When it came time for his turn
at a real 80 foot rappel, we had a chance to talk about the soul of man and the
importance of mastery; the spirit over the flesh. I said, “Bravery did not mean
you were not scared, bravery, in fact, is doing what you must do even when you are
scared.” He stepped off the perfectly solid ground and conquered - twice in
fact, to prove to himself that he was the master.
On a
recent trip to the slot canyons of southern Utah, we took lunch at a favorite
cliff jumping spot well populated with fellow hikers of all ages. Suddenly a
very brazen lady stripped off all of an already skimpy outfit and dove in. My
companions saw the spectacle and warned I averted my eyes for some minutes for
her to get out and re-clothe. I finished my lunch and then glanced back to the
cliff and well - there she was. Do you cause a confrontation with her? and
possibly her biker buddies? or hold your head down and try to convince and
rationalize to yourself that tolerance is some kind of supreme virtue. Frankly,
I was afraid. This was my own 1st rappel all over again at Goat
Rock. It was Aaron’s ladder. I could hear my own words echo, “Bravery, in fact,
is doing what you must do even when you are scared.” My conscience stung
until finally I flung hesitation to the reeds and commanded, ”Put some clothes
back on!” She did and in a few minutes we and others all amicably enjoying the
jumping and refreshing water. My fears
were in fact more conjured than real. Regardless, even as an adult, I had still
to learn the 10th Scout Law.
When
I hear Paul’s language about Charity - the pure love of Christ, I translate
Helpful, Friendly Courteous and Kind. The actions of Grant, Danny, and Jordon
inspired this journal entry from when our Varsity team climbed Mt Olympus,
“The next day was 9 miles and 2500 feet of elevation gain. We got in 5 miles and suddenly Mark near
collapsed from fatigue as multiple muscle systems began to cramp up. He had had
almost zero sleep the previous day and then when we lifted his pack off him we
found out he was packing far more than his fair allotment of weight – perhaps
trying to help lighten the load from his girls. It was really heartwarming to watch how the young men rallied to
the need willingly offloading heavy items to their own packs. Then his two
daughters said almost in unison, “Ill take some weight Daddy.” Jordon massaged
his legs as we took even more of his weight and we scavenged all the banana
chips we could from the gorp to help boost his potassium level. With all the
climbing gear, our packs were nearing 40% body weight, to begin with so this
was pretty taxing, but our bodies all held up to the task.”
Last year the crew planned a 50 miler from
Snoqualmie Pass to Goldemyer Hot Spring. The 1st day is a real grind
with our packs the heaviest and a long relentless grade to the exposed catwalk
at the top. Somewhere near the top
Brother Patteson became suddenly acutely ill.
Now understand that Phil is Paul Bunion the unstoppable. But dead
stopped he was. He was shaking, pale and all the strength had gone out to be
replaced by dismal nausea. We came to understand later that both he and his
wife had both eaten tainted food at a restaurant. We Elders laid our hands on
his head and the newest elder, my son Jordon, spoke for the Lord a
blessing. As soon as we said “Amen,”
one of the young Scouts said, “we should all pray” and so that’s exactly what
we did; one at a time until all had petitioned God. Phil told me that no sooner
had the last boy prayed that the pain in his stomach stopped and in a few
minute we proceeded up the rest of the grade with no further trouble. A
scout is Reverent.
Brothers & Sisters, my friends and you young folks,
if your life is too busy for scouts, then you are too busy with counterfeits.
Scouting is not just an activity that LDS picky diners can take or leave at the
whims of the soccer league, it is part of your religion and any coach worth his
salt would respect that. Like the Lords
Tithing or missionary service, it is no real sacrifice to puts Gods squad first
because he will make up the difference in blessings and growth that you cannot
anticipate.
Only those who have been to the top of the mountain
can appreciate fully the benefits of the climb. So too, only those who follow
the prophet will even know why I am so emphatic about your participation in
Scouting.
Look around you! Our Prophet has told us that our
society is falling apart and the moral depravity is worse than even in the time
of Sodom and Gomorra. I'm not saying to retrench entirely from the world. My
own children engaged, to a point, with community activities. Baseball,
football, etc. can be plenty of fun not taken to excess, but it does not rise to a need and for all it may offer
it will not buy you what the currency from Zion’s camp would tender.
Truly, in these times like no other “our society…Our
Boys, need Scouting.”
(By
Steve Marquis