Scouting Award Presented to President Thomas S. Monson

Following Elder Carlos H. Amado’s address, President Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor in the First Presidency, introduced executives of the world Boy Scout organization prior to their presenting President Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, with the Bronze Wolf Award:

We are honored to have with us this evening Mr. Jere B. Ratcliffe, chief Scout executive; Mr. Eugene F. “Bud” Reid, member of the National Executive Board and International Committee of the Boy Scouts of America and immediate past president of the World Scout Committee; and Mr. C. Michael Hoover, assistant chief Scout executive. It is my privilege to call on Mr. Ratcliffe and then Mr. Reid, who will make a special presentation to President Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency. President Monson will then address us. Mr. Ratcliffe, please.

Mr. Ratcliffe:

It is indeed an honor for me to be at the general priesthood conference on this occasion of recognizing President Thomas Monson with International Scouting’s Bronze Wolf Award. President Monson is one of the Boy Scouts of America’s most distinguished friends and the longest-tenured member of our national executive board, having begun his service with election in 1969.

During that period of time, the Boy Scouts of America and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have enjoyed an unprecedented partnership in the development of young men. The partnership between the LDS Church and the BSA is, to me, a precious one. It is precious because of our organizations and what they embrace in terms of similar basic beliefs—beliefs that include a commitment to religious principles and to strong, traditional family values.

The leadership of the Boy Scouts of America recognizes that religious principles are the important part of life. When a young man begins to grow in his faith, he will begin to grow from within and thereby be better prepared to make a positive difference in our society.

Scouting also continues to emphasize the traditional family values. President David O. McKay, a great and supportive Scouter, often stated, and I quote: “No success can compensate for failure in the home.” Together Scouting and the Church continue to encourage the growth of family value and of family values.

President Monson has helped the Boy Scouts of America remain very much focused on our mutual basic beliefs. He is an exceptional Scouter. He has very much dedicated his life to upholding and to placing into practice the teachings of the Church and the mission of the Boy Scouts of America, a mission of teaching values to last a lifetime.

On behalf of all your Scouting colleagues, President Monson, I wish to congratulate you and to wish to you and your lovely wife, Frances, much continued happiness and success.

Mr. Reid:

By virtue of the authority vested in me by the World Scout Committee, I have the honor and the privilege to present the Bronze Wolf Award to Thomas S. Monson. This is the only award given by the World Organization of the Scout Movement. I would like to ask President Monson to please arise.

I shall now read the citation for the award of the Bronze Wolf.

“President Thomas S. Monson, U.S.A., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

“Member, National Executive Board, Boy Scouts of America

“President Monson has been active in Scouting throughout his life. As a Scout in his youth, he achieved the rank of Life Scout and later served as Explorer and Institutional Representative.

“Within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he has directed the activities of Scouting at many levels. He has served as a merit badge counselor and also as a member of the Canadian LDS Scouting Committee and chaplain at a Canadian Jamboree. He was a member of the General Scouting Committee of the Church for ten years. For the past several years, he has been involved in a Scouting for Food drive to aid the poor of the community.

“In 1969, Thomas S. Monson became a member of the National Executive Board of Boy Scouts of America, where he also serves as a member of the International Committee. He is a recipient of the Silver Buffalo Award and has represented Boy Scouts of America as a delegate to the World Conferences in Tokyo, Nairobi and Copenhagen.

“In his assignments throughout the world as a leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Monson has worked tirelessly to bring about the advancement of Scouting in many countries. He has worked closely with the World Organization of the Scout Movement to find ways to strengthen the links between the Church and national Scout associations. He is a committed, solid, hard-working volunteer in the Scout Movement. His Scouting leadership has been exemplary.”

I will now place around the neck of Thomas S. Monson the Bronze Wolf.