The following is an article written by Susan Sims from LDS public affairs and submitted to the Cedar Falls Times and the Waverly Independent:
Local Scout Troops Mark 100th Anniversary of LDS Scouting
A record 302,000 scouts and supporters across the country viewed a live satellite
broadcast Tuesday night in celebration of the 100th anniversary of scouting’s
partnership with its first chartered organization, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. By Thursday, the number of people who had viewed A Century of Honor online
or by rebroadcast had climbed to more than 1.2 million. Here in the Cedar Valley,
smaller numbers came together to watch the live production, which emphasized the
scout value of “duty to God” as it described scouting’s history and impact on helping
boys learn principles of good character.
In Waverly, visitors to a pre-broadcast open house could start work on a genealogy
merit badge; meet Winnebago Council Scout Executive, Todd Wordel; learn about the
Winnebago Council’s programs; and mingle with other scouts and leaders.
When asked about what drew him to scouting, Wordel recalled his start 29 years ago,
“Scouting asked me; I didn’t ask them. But I was a product of the system, registered
since I was eight and an eagle scout at sixteen.” Having served in four different
councils in Illinois, Michigan, and Iowa, Wordel feels strongly about the value of
scouting in America. “How I conduct myself, how I raise my family, is all based on the
scout law,” he said.
Wordel remarked on the strong scouting tradition in Latter-day Saint troops, a sentiment
echoed by other visitors like Stephen Becker, Senior District Executive, who had come
in support of the anniversary celebration. All who attended were treated to historic video
and audio, hundreds of singing boy scouts, inspirational vignettes, and elaborately
staged portrayals of scouting activities–including scouts rappelling from the rafters of
the massive Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, site of the multimedia program.
The surprise of the evening came near the end of the broadcast, before the Mormon
Tabernacle Choir sang renditions of favorite patriotic numbers like This Land is Your
Land and Battle Hymn of the Republic. LDS Church president, Thomas S. Monson, was
honored for his commitment to scouting by having a new Leadership Excellence
Complex at the BSA Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia named after him.
Monson has been a member of the BSA National Executive Board since 1969. The
announcement was made by Wayne Perry, BSA National President, who noted that the
leadership complex will be an important anchor at the 10,000-acre premier scout base.
LDS scouts viewing the broadcast in Cedar Falls enjoyed cake and ice cream afterward
and expressed enthusiasm for the event. One teen ruefully recalled his favorite song
from the program: Ma, You Earned Your Eagle. Anyone can view A Century of Honor
online at www.scouts100.lds.org.
