Presentation of Scouting Award to President Benson

President Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency: Brethren, we are honored this evening to have present with us on the stand Mr. Edward C. Joullian III, International Commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America and past president of the Boy Scouts of America, and Mr. Eugene F. “Bud” Reid, chairman of the International Committee of the Boy Scouts of America and member of the World Scout Committee. Both Mr. Joullian and Mr. Reid are members of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America.

Also in attendance is Mr. Julian L. Dyke, National Director of Public Affairs, representing Ben H. Love, Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America, who is on assignment abroad.

They have flown a long way to be here, and we welcome them. I now invite these three men to come to the stand.

It is my privilege to call on Mr. Reid to make a most important presentation to President Ezra Taft Benson.

Mr. Reid:Thank you, Mr. Monson. There are more than sixteen million Scouts in over 150 countries and territories around the world. In the eighty years since the Scout movement was founded, some 250 million Scouts have benefited from its programs designed to help educate young people to take a constructive place in their society.

The Boy Scouts of America is the largest single Scout association in the world, with almost four million members. The Bronze Wolf is an award instituted by the founder of the world Scout movement, Robert Baden-Powell, and is the only international award given by the World Scout Committee. The award is made for outstanding services given by the individual to Scouting in his own country and internationally.

I request that President Ezra Taft Benson come forward. I am going to read a citation for the award of the Bronze Wolf:

“President Ezra Taft Benson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, member of the Boy Scouts of America Advisory Council.

“President Ezra Taft Benson first joined Scouting as an assistant Scoutmaster and served subsequently as Scoutmaster before graduating through the ranks of adult leadership in a number of regional and national committees and boards.

“He has served with distinction on the National Executive Committee, National Executive Board, and National Council International Committee of the Boy Scouts of America.

“As President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ezra Taft Benson has exerted vast influence regarding the Church’s strong support of Scouting throughout the world. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is today the largest sponsor of Scouting in the United States and its relationship with Scouting in other countries is also strong.

“The World Scout Committee confers on President Ezra Taft Benson the award of the Bronze Wolf for outstanding services to the Scout Movement.”

President Benson, here is your certificate, together with a copy of the citation. Thank you for your leadership and your devotion and commitment to Scouting. It is a well-deserved recognition.