LDS Scout Encampment
President Dalton Urges Scouts to Face Life with Courage
Over 700 Aaronic Priesthood Scouts and their Scout Leaders recently attended an eight day Scout Encampment July 15 to 22, 2006 with Youth from most of the 15 Stakes in Orange County. Many Stake presidencies, bishoprics, and Young Men’s leaders, along with many parents and grandparents spent time with their sons throughout the Shoepe Scout Reservation at Lost Valley near Warner Springs, California. The Orange County Council Latter-day Saint Committee, in conjunction with Rusty Carter and the other organizers of the encampment, chose the theme for the week of activities was “Prepared for a Purpose” [Missionary Preparation].
Among many Latter-day Saint programs planned by the 2006 LDS Encampment Committee was the multi-Stake Sacrament meeting held outdoors for all the youth and their leaders. Elder John Dalton of the Western Area Seventy attended as the presiding authority.
The two youth speakers preceding President Dalton spoke about the Aaronic Priesthood and serving a mission. At one point Brenden Campbell of the Garden Grove California Stake told about the many converts to the Church that received their membership due to the proselyting of one of his progenitors. He said this family history had convinced him that he must go on a mission so he too could bring to people the message of the Gospel.
The other youth speaker Ryan Taylor from Anaheim California East Stake exclaimed, “The Aaronic Priesthood gives us blessings of happiness and joy.” He spoke about a faithful Polish couple whose diligent service among their people had been the deciding factor for the Polish Government who praised the Latter-day Saint people and granted permission for the Church to build buildings and operate in Poland.
Elder John Dalton, the featured speaker at the 2006 LDS Scout Encampment at Lost Valley, began by saying, “This is a great event and it is time for all you Young Men to thank your leaders who organized this Scout encampment.” In what time remained, Elder Dalton spoke about how special the American Continent was in God’s plan, referring to the Jaredites and the people of Nephi who came to the Americas to find a land of promise. He emphasized the need to follow the admonition in Ether which urged those living in America to be righteous so the land would be preserved for their inheritance. He added, “The Garden Eastward in Eden was located on this continent and the Savior Jesus Christ taught the Gospel here as well.”
Later, Elder Dalton spoke about the American Revolution, beginning with a detailed anecdote about the hallowed fate of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and spoke about their willing sacrifices they unhesitatingly made for their freedom. Later after asking what value participants would today place on their freedoms, Elder Dalton stated, “We may take our freedoms a bit for granted without realizing it.” He taught further that all of the Aaronic Priesthood and their leaders should continually strive to develop courage and loyalty. Referring to the Scout Slogan [“Be Prepared”] He suggested the Youth and their leaders strengthen their character in preparation for the hard times and he encouraged everyone by saying today is the best time to raise a family.
LDS SCOUTING
Just what do our Latter-Day Saint Young Men dream about when they think about the wilderness and their surroundings in the mountains or when they are in Church
and participating in their weekly Family Home Evening?
In July, they searched for answers to questions like this while attending a County-wide LDS Encampment at the Schoepe Scout Reservation (Lost Valley) from July 15 to July 22, 2006.
Latter-day youth from south of San Clemente to areas surrounding Fullerton and La Palma attended. "And we definitely had a wonderful LDS Summer Encampment this Summer," said the LDS Relations Committee Camp Coordinator Rusty Carter.
Among the thousands of LDS Scouts in Orange County, over 70 units [including Youth from San Bernadino and Escondito Stake units] from many of the 15 Stakes responded and enthusiastically reserved their spots so that their Scouts could enjoy the outdoor worship activities, usual fun Scout Camping and outdoor activities including bicycling, canoeing, swimming, COPE Course (high adventure), backpacking, rock climbing, horseback riding and an assortment of science as well as first aid and lifesaving merit badge courses.
According to Joe Ham, serving as a member of this Summer Encampment Committee, "This was a historic event where our Young Men truly enjoyed Scouting together with their Stakes, and Quorums, and also learned more about the Priesthood and their Church heritage as well."
The schedule was full and provided an assortment of Duty to God activities as well as a very authentic Mormon Battalion reenactment of their trek West on site at the camp.
Brothers and sisters in the Battalion arrived at the campfire bowl dressed in authentic shirts, pants, skirts and hats or bonnets along with muskets and other uniform items from the 19th Century.
Their delivery of vignettes, based on actual accounts from pioneer journals, told of the sacrifice and grueling hardships faced by the faithful Latter-day Saint members of the battalion. One highlight for the boys was the reanactment of Melissa Coray’s story.
Over 17,000 fantastic Stake-designed patches and trading cards were available all week to attendees for trading among all the boys at camp. Many LDS boys found countless opportunities to mix with and become closer friends with the many other LDS youth from all over the Orange County Council area.
According to President Price of the Garden Grove Stake, “This encampment was a golden time for the youth to get closer to their Heavenly Father, further develop themselves into men who possess the confidence as well as the life skills necessary for successful family life, and time to develop a vision for serving in Church leadership as well.
Scott Catheral readily responded, “Surely the firesides and outdoor sacrament meeting events also aided them while they contemplated why the Church is powerful in their lives and so key to them building their spiritual strength as well.”
President David Price, Orange County LDS Relations, explained, “In 2002 we talked about organizing a County wide Encampment at Lost Valley in LDS Relations. It would be a special camping experience where most all LDS troops could get together. We could have guest speakers and Church Authorities come speak to the Young Men. It would focus on missionary preparation in keeping with the Boy Scout slogan – ‘Be Prepared’ and be in a beautiful mountain setting. It was primarily the idea of Huntington Beach Stake President Bruce Miller to have an LDS Encampment at Lost Valley.”
Price went on to recall, “We were fortunate to have a member of the Area Presidency, Val R. Christensen and his wife speak at our fireside. Sadly, the side of the mountain near camp caught fire and forced us to evacuate and abandon part of our planned program.”
Two years ago, the Orange county LDS Scouting Relations Committee decided to plan another encampment that, due to the Dedication of the Newport Temple, was readily postponed to occur in the Summer of 2006.
Lost Valley can only hold 850 Scouts and, for this encampment, filled up within two months.
Again the focus of the camp was missionary preparation and provided for Duty to God workshops, a camp Sacrament Meeting for all attendees, and a visiting member of the Area Seventy of the Church.
In addition, the individual Stakes sponsored their own firesides in their own campsites. President Price explained the goal of all the Scouts was to collect the Stake “trading cards” to qualify for the extra reward of a “Moroni Coin” (a coveted memento similar in design to the 2006 National Jamboree LDS Scouting coin). Finally, On the last day of camp-wide activities, “The Strength of Youth” games consisted of team (patrol) activities designed to bring together all the Stake organizations in friendly competition starting with the “Tenderfoot” races and others like a swimming competition, rifle shooting match, Shotgun shooting, archery, and a catapult lashing and tennis ball launching for distance and accuracy match in the large Lost Valley meadow area.
President David Price grew up in Long Beach and has been involved in various Scouting positions since his youth. He served as a leader over the Eleven Year Old Scouts and as District Chair in El Capitan District. He is the father of one Eagle Scout and two others who have advanced to Life and Star Scout.
posted by ReunionGal @ 6:12 AM
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